Medical Certificates
The University has a system of medical certification for students based, primarily, on the assumption that most courses are designed to take account of minor illnesses and occasional periods of sick leave and that these episodes should not normally require a doctor’s note.
A standard University form has been designed to be completed by the student, followed by their doctor (see details below), for any period of absence due to illness at exam or significant assessment times or for significant medical problems at other times. You should bring a completed certificate with you to your appointment otherwise an unecessary delay will occur. A certificate will be issued only if the doctor thinks the condition merits it and note that a charge may be made for its completion.
The form may be signed by a GP, hospital doctor, relevant nurse or counsellor, who have been involved in your care.
Please note that a medical note is never needed so urgently as to require seeing the duty doctor. Please book an appointment with your usual doctor or the doctor who has already dealt with the problem.
Categories of Certification
| 1 | Significant medical problem. e.g. glandular fever, hospital admission or illness lasting more than 7 days. |
|---|---|
| 1r | As 1 but retrospective i.e. applied for after the illness has ended or late in the course of the condition. This will carry significantly less weight with the University. |
| 2 | On-going or chronic, significant illnesses e.g. diabetes, severe asthma, CFS etc. You will also need to book an appointment at Student Support Services at 3 Elms Road on North Campus to complete a Student Support Advice Form for forwarding to your department. In addition a letter may well be required by your department from the doctor completing the medical certificate outlining the effect of your illness on your studies. |
| 3 | Sudden disruptive illness (only at exam time or during assessments counting towards your degree.) |
Students must make their personal tutor/supervisor/mitigations officer aware of the impact which they believe that this illness has had on their performance in the assessment. This information should be provided as soon as possible and certainly before the meeting of the relevant Board of Examiners.
The University may well also require completion of a mitigation form as part of the process of illness assessment - this does not need to be seen by the health professional completing your medical certificate.