Dalhousie University Exam Deferral: Course, Assignment & Final Exam Guide
If illness affects a Dalhousie assessment, start with the course outline, instructor, and Faculty process. The right route depends on the type of assessment, the duration of the absence, and the rules that apply to your program. Academic consideration is a Faculty and university decision; documentation may support a request but does not itself guarantee an extension, deferred exam, or other outcome.
Student Declaration of Absence: When It May Apply
Dalhousie’s Faculty of Computer Science describes a Student Declaration of Absence pilot for CSCI, INFX, HINF, and ECOM. For an eligible absence of three days or fewer, students should notify the instructor on the day of the assessment or assignment deadline and then file the self-declaration within three days. Instructors may specify how it is submitted.
This pilot is course- and Faculty-specific. Check your own course outline and Faculty guidance before relying on it.
Courses, Assignments, Midterms, and Final Assessments
| Situation | Practical first step |
|---|---|
| Missed assignment or midterm | Notify the instructor promptly and check the course outline for the Faculty's absence or accommodation process. |
| Eligible short absence in the Computer Science pilot | Follow the Student Declaration of Absence instructions for that course. |
| Final test, final presentation, or term project | The Computer Science pilot page says these cannot be accommodated by self-declaration. Contact your instructor and Faculty/academic office for the applicable process. |
| Longer, repeated, chronic, or complex circumstance | Use the Faculty and student-accessibility process rather than treating a short-term note as a complete accommodation plan. |
When Documentation May Help
Your Faculty or course may ask for supporting information under its own rules. If a physician reviews a short-term illness request and documentation is clinically appropriate, a note can support your academic-consideration request. It should be submitted only through the channel your course or Faculty specifies. Dalhousie—not MedLetter—decides what documentation is sufficient and what academic consideration is granted.
A Calm, Time-Sensitive Checklist
1. Check the assessment type and course outline.
2. Notify the instructor or Faculty as soon as you are able.
3. Use the Student Declaration of Absence only where your course and Faculty make it available.
4. If supporting documentation is requested, follow the Faculty's instructions and submit it through the designated process.
5. Keep copies of your submission and confirmation for your own records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I self-declare a missed Dalhousie assignment or midterm?
For the Faculty of Computer Science pilot, eligible short absences may use a Student Declaration of Absence with day-of notice and filing within three days. Rules vary by Faculty and course, so check your outline.
Can I self-declare a final exam, final presentation, or term project?
The Computer Science pilot page says those final assessments cannot be accommodated by self-declaration. Contact the instructor and Faculty for the applicable academic-consideration process.
Does a medical note guarantee a deferred exam at Dalhousie?
No. Documentation can support a request when clinically appropriate, but the Faculty and university control whether and how academic consideration is provided.
Where can I check the official rule?
Review Dalhousie’s Student Absence Regulation and your Faculty or course guidance.