Student support and wellbeing documents

This section consists of information and resources to help with issues affecting student life. You will find policies on fitness to study, mitigating circumstances, academic advising and information on the University's wellbeing programme. 

The University has a duty of care to its staff and students and must comply with health and safety legislation. If there are significant concerns about the health, wellbeing, behaviour and/or conduct of a student, or their impact on others, the University is obliged to take action and will do so under the Procedure on Support to Study. 

Mitigating circumstances

The University defines mitigating circumstances as ‘unforeseeable or unpreventable circumstances that could have, or did have, a significant adverse effect on the academic performance of a student’ (full policy available here).

Grounds for mitigation

Possible mitigating circumstances include:

- significant illness or injury; or worsening of an ongoing illness or disability, including mental health conditions; (please see the following DASS webpage for examples of disabilities http://www.dso.manchester.ac.uk/who-do-we-support/current-students/);
- the death or critical/significant illness of a close family member/dependant;
- significant family or personal crises or major financial problems leading to acute stress; and
- absence from the University for public service, for example, jury service.

Circumstances that will not normally be regarded as grounds for mitigation include:

- holidays, moving house and events that were planned or could reasonably have been expected;
- assessments that are scheduled close together;
- misreading the timetable or misunderstanding the requirements for assessments;
- inadequate planning and time management;
- failure, loss or theft of a computer or printer that prevents submission of work on time; students should back up work regularly and not leave completion so late that they cannot find another computer or printer;
- the act of religious observance;
- consequences of paid employment (except in some special cases for part-time students);
- exam stress or panic attacks not diagnosed as illness or supported by medical evidence; and
- disruption in an examination room during the course of an assessment which has not been brought to the attention of, or recorded by, the invigilators (including instances such as fire alarms or other noise disruption).
 
Procedure for Submitting a Request for Mitigation

Applications for mitigating circumstances must be submitted on the University's 'Request for Mitigation’ form. If your students or advisees wish to apply for mitigating circumstances, please direct them to the MSc & UG Programme Services office located in AMBS 2.091 where they can discuss their circumstances with the Student Support and Guidance Team and fill in the form. 

Student wellbeing

The Directorate for the Student Experience put forward a Wellbeing Strategy, its mission being to promote and enhance wellbeing across the University of Manchester through the development of a proactive and enabling culture, under the provision of effective leadership, management and support.

The New Economics Foundation came up with the Five Ways to Wellbeing: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give as part of the Mental and Capital Wellbeing government funded-project. The University of Manchester built on this approach to wellbeing and has included Be Healthy to emphasise the importance of behaviours that promote good health and personal safety. The University’s programme is called the Manchester Six Ways to Wellbeing. 

It aims to help both staff and students to make positive changes to keep feeling good and living well and an opportunity to take time out to reflect, relax and find balance.