Student guidelines

Students need to be familiar with the University of Queensland’s Assessment Policy. Each School at UQ has guidelines for students to help them understand how the policy relates to their studies. This page details the guidelines for the School of Psychology.

The best preparation for a successful semester is to start your assignments early. Whilst extensions and deferred exams can help alleviate pressures due to temporary illness or unforeseen circumstances, they should not be relied upon for more significant and ongoing disruptions to study. If you have been ill, or unable to attend class or do any study for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to request a Removal of Course.

There are staff available within the School who can provide advice about how to manage workload, withdrawing from courses, interruptions, modified study plans and similar. Students should monitor their own progress in a course and consider if they will be able to perform at their best. There are several check-in points in the semester where students should seek support if they have queries about their progress including census dates.

Our number one piece of advice is read the Course Profile and take note of specific course details and rules.

Extensions and deferred quiz/exam

Some courses will have specific hurdles or requirements and/or extension rules, these will be stipulated on the Course Profile.
Students with an ongoing illness, carer responsibilities or short-term injury can apply for a Student Access Plan (SAP). This helps when applying for extensions.
Students with an SAP may be eligible for a one week extension without providing additional documentation. Additional documentation (depending on the reason the extension is needed) is required for any further extensions.
If you have an SAP be sure to carefully read what it can and cannot be used for in relation to assessment and adjustments.
The Admin Team aims to process all requests for extensions and deferred quizzes within two business days. However, it can take longer.
The approved duration of an extension is calculated based on supporting documentation provided and the requirements of the course. We cannot give you longer than is stipulated on your supporting documentation. Additionally, maximum extensions limits are enforced. Regardless of how long your supporting documentation entails, we are bound by maximum extension limits as outlined in the ECP.
If the basis of the application is a medical condition the illness should be within the period two weeks prior to the advertised due date of the assignment.
It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the provider of a medical certificate is a genuine medical practitioner. If you use an online medical service, please ensure this is a genuine service (many are not). Please note that submission of fraudulent or altered documentation of any kind constitutes misconduct and will be referred to the Schools Integrity Officer for investigation. In some instances it can also be considered a criminal offence.
Supporting documentation must adhere to the UQ guidelines on Acceptable Reasons for an extension.
In general, when applying for a deferred quiz that is open for 24 hours or less students need to complete a Deferred Exam Request in My SI-Net . Applications must be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original quiz. Your supporting documentation should cover the entire period the quiz is open. Students are required to click on the "Decision Status (Approved or Denied)" link in My SI-Net to determine the outcome of your deferred exam application. Here you will be provided your new deferred exam date (if approved). Failure to check this link is not grounds for a new deferred examination date.
In general, if your quiz is open over a period of more than 24 hours you should apply for an extension via MyRequests. Your documentation will need to cover the entire timeframe that the online quiz is open. Applications for extension should be submitted before the date/time the quiz closes.

Late extension requests

Any request submitted after the due date, even if you have an SAP, must meet additional requirements and will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.
Students applying for an extension after the due date need to provide a detailed explanation of why they could not apply before the due date and time in their application in addition to why they require the extension itself and should note that late extensions may not be approved.

Late penalties

Late penalties are awarded in line with the University’s policy, which is 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item, for each 24-hour period after the due date, including weekends and public holidays. For example, assignments submitted 4 hours late attract the same penalty as those submitted 22 hours late.
Students with an extension will receive a new due date and time. Submissions after that revised due date and time will have late penalties applied as per the policy.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity in their work. They should be familiar with the University's Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy.

Unless otherwise advised individual assignments must consist of entirely original material that has been developed solely for the current course. Electronic checks will be conducted to identify instances of plagiarism and collusion.
Self-plagiarism, i.e., using work you have previously submitted for any other course (including repeating a course), is also considered plagiarism.

School of Psychology policy on AI use in assessment

The assessments in our courses have been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Successful completion of assessment in our courses will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence can provide only limited support and guidance. To pass the courses, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools. Unless specifically advised by the Course Coordinator students are advised that the use of AI technologies to complete assessment is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. Please note that AI spans a range of programs from ChatGPT to Google translate and many others.