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Retaking exams or modules
Updated July 2023
Mitigation
Exam attendance and coursework submission are an essential component of most programmes. If you are unable to attend an exam or complete your coursework for any reason, medical or otherwise, you should let your Hub know as soon as possible. They will advise you on the process of applying for mitigation. If you are unable to do this yourself, you may need to ask someone to do so on your behalf.
More information about the mitigation process can be found here.
If your mitigation application is successful, this may affect your visa status and your eligibility to apply for a Graduate visa after your studies. For further guidance, please select the option below which fits your situation.
Referred/deferred assessments or modules
A referral or deferral may affect your visa status. In some circumstances your Student visa has to be curtailed (shortened), and you may need a new visa to complete your course. The consequences vary according to your course and whether you are required to attend during the period of referral/deferral.
For further guidance, please select the option below which fits your situation.
Undergraduate
For students who have referred or deferred assessments from May to August, in the same academic year, there are no visa implications.
If following the outcome of the exam board in September, you do not progress onto your next academic year, see other sections below for visa implications.
The University cannot continue to sponsor your Student visa because you will not be in attendance during 2024-25. The University will make a report to UK Visa and Immigration to withdraw sponsorship of your Student visa.
For referrals the report will be made after the appeals deadline, or at the end of the appeals process if you have made an appeal.
For deferrals, the report is made after the relevant exam period.
UK Visas and Immigration will shorten your visa to 60 days from the date they receive and action the report. On leaving the UK your visa lapses, so you should not attempt to re-enter the UK during the 60 day period.
If your deferred assessments take place on campus you will require a new visa to return. This may be a Visitor visa for short term study if the assessment takes place in January, or a Student visa if the assessment takes place in May or August. This Student visa will then cover the remainder of your course.
This applies to students who have completed all teaching elements and only have assessments remaining. The University will continue to sponsor your current visa and it will not be curtailed.
If your referred/deferred assessments take place after your current visa expires, there are different immigration implications depending on the type of assessment:
Exams (online) and coursework/dissertations which can be completed remotely: We cannot sponsor you for a visa to complete these assessments, you will need to complete your programme remotely. Unfortunately, this means that you will not qualify for a Graduate visa after you complete your studies.
Exams (on-campus): We can sponsor you for a visa to complete your assessments. You will need to return home before your visa expires and apply for your new visa up to 60 days before you are required on campus. To request your CAS, you will need to contact International Student Support approximately 3 months before you need to return to the UK. You may be eligible for the Graduate visa after you complete your course depending on your previous residence in the UK.
We are not able to advise on or influence the location or type of exam, please refer to your Hub for details.
The University cannot continue to sponsor your Student visa beyond Term 1 because you will not be in attendance for the rest of the academic year. The University will make a report to UKVI to withdraw sponsorship for your Student visa in January.
UK Visas and Immigration will then shorten your visa to 60 days from the date they receive and action the report. On leaving the UK your visa lapses, so you should not attempt to re-enter the UK during the 60 day period.
To resume your studies in the following academic year you will need a new Student visa. Please contact International Student Advice 3 months before your return to request a CAS number.
If your current visa expires before the end of term 1, please contact International Student Advice for guidance and a CAS number as soon as possible.
You will not be required to attend during Term 1 and the University will therefore have to withdraw sponsorship of your Tier 4/Student visa.
For referrals the report will be made after the appeals deadline, or at the end of the appeals process if you have made an appeal.
For deferrals, the report is made after the relevant exam period.
UK Visas and Immigration will shorten your visa to 60 days from the date they receive and action the report. On leaving the UK your visa lapses, so you should not attempt to re-enter the UK during the 60 day period.
If the start of Term 2 is within 28 days of the expiry date of your visa you may be able to apply for a new Student visa inside the UK. Otherwise, you can apply for a Visitor visa or a Student visa to return for Term 2. Please contact International Student Support at an early stage for advice on the best option.
Your current visa will not be affected but you will need to extend your visa to complete your programme. This can be done at any time before the expiry of your current visa.
Please contact International Student Advice for guidance and a CAS number to support your application at least 3 months before your visa expires.
Postgraduates - September
The University will continue to sponsor your current visa and it will not be curtailed. If your referred/deferred assessments take place after your current visa expires, there are different immigration implications depending on the type of assessment:
Exams (online) and coursework/dissertation which can be completed remotely: We cannot sponsor you for a visa to complete these assessments, you will need to complete your programme remotely. Unfortunately, this means that you will not qualify for a Graduate visa after you complete your studies.
Exams - on-campus: We can sponsor you for a visa to complete your assessments. You will need to return home before your visa expires and apply for your new visa up to 60 days before you are required on campus. To request your CAS, you will need to contact International Student Advice approximately 3 months before you need to return to the UK. You may be eligible for the Graduate visa after you complete your course depending on your previous residence in the UK.
We are not able to advise on or influence the location or type of exam, please refer to your Hub for details.
The University will continue to sponsor your current visa and it will not be curtailed. If your referred/deferred assessments take place after your current visa expires, there are different immigration implications depending on the type of assessment:
Exams (online) and coursework/dissertation which can be completed remotely: We cannot sponsor you for a visa to complete these assessments, you will need to complete your programme remotely. Unfortunately, this means that you will not qualify for a Graduate visa after you complete your studies.
Exams - on-campus: We can sponsor you for a visa to complete your assessments. You will need to return home before your visa expires and apply for your new visa up to 60 days before you are required on campus (unless there is less than 60 days between the end of your visa and your exam date). To request your CAS, you will need to contact International Student Advice approximately 3 months before you need to return to the UK. You may be eligible for the Graduate visa after you complete your course depending on your previous residence in the UK.
We are not able to advise on or influence the location or type of exam, please refer to your Hub for details.
Your current visa should cover Term 1. The University will continue to sponsor your current visa and it will not be curtailed. In order to be eligible to apply for the Graduate visa you will need to be awarded before your current visa expires.
We are not able to advise on or influence award dates, please refer to your Hub for details.
If your current visa expires before the end of term 1, please contact International Student Advice guidance and a CAS number as soon as possible.
Your current visa will not be curtailed. However, it is likely that your visa expiry date will fall during Term 2. You will need to extend your visa to complete your programme. Please contact International Student Advice for guidance and a CAS number as soon as possible.
The University will continue to sponsor your current visa and it will not be curtailed but you will need to apply for a new visa to complete your programme. This can be done at any time before the expiry of your current visa.
Please contact International Student Advice guidance and a CAS number to support your application at least 3 months before your visa expires.
Advice and support
The Guild Advice Unit (Exeter) or The Students' Union Advice Service (Cornwall) offers advice on the University’s academic regulations. If you need further advice about the implications for your visa contact us.