Can’t attend your exam due to illness?
Life happens! Illness, injury, or unexpected personal issues can make it impossible to sit an exam. Don’t worry, the Extenuating Circumstances Application (ECA) process at ANU is designed to help when things are genuinely beyond your control.
If you realise you can’t attend an exam:
Don’t skip it quietly.
Get supporting medical documentation.
Apply for a Deferred Examination through the ECA process instead.
Don’t delay booking an appointment or schedule it too far down the track. If you wait a few days and your symptoms have resolved, doctors and nurse practitioners will not be able to issue a Medical Certificate that meets the ECA requirements.
The most important part of your application is independent evidence, especially for health-related reasons.
Steps to get supporting medical documentation and applying for ECA
Step One: Book an appointment to see a registered health professional
See a registered health professional (doctor, nurse practitioner, or pharmacist) as soon as you can, to obtain your medical documentation, ideally on or near the date of your exam.
Don’t delay visiting a health practitioner; retrospective certificates (written days after the event) may not be accepted.
Step Two: Ask them to complete Evidence
Ask them to complete the ANU Medical Evidence Form or provide a medical certificate that clearly states: the date(s) you were unwell or unable to attend:
- that your condition significantly affected your ability to sit the exam
- their professional details and signature
Step Three: Complete the Extenuating Circumstances Process
To complete the Extenuating Circumstances Process, please go to Extenuating Circumstances Application | Australian National University or click the call to action button.
The ECA must be lodged within five (5) working days of the assessment due date or scheduled date of examination.
Here are some options for obtaining your medical documentation:
ANU Medical Centre
The ANU Medical Clinic is open 8am to 4pm daily.
Bookings can be made by calling 02 6125 2211 and check if they have any available appointments for that day or next. The Clinic is often fully booked, but it is worth checking whether there is an available same or next-day appointment.
Bookings can be made through the , in-person over the counter, or over the phone by calling 02 6125 2211.
If you cannot get an appointment at the ANU Medical Centre the same day of your exam, or the day following your exam, please see the following options:
ACT Walk-In Centres
There are several walk-in centres available in Canberra. They provide free health care for non-life-threatening injuries to anyone over one year of age. The closest walk-in centre to ANU is located in Dickson.
The centre is located on Dickson Place, between Joan Kellert Way (previously called Dickson Place) and Cowper Street. The centre backs on to Antill Street and faces the back of the Dickson Library.
For more information and other locations:
Doctors on Demand Telehealth (free with Allianz OSHC)
International students with Allianz OSHC cover can access free telehealth services offered by Doctors on Demand.
Doctors on Demand GPs are authorised to issue medical certificates.
For more information:
After hours care - Canberra After-Hours Locum Medical Service (CALMS)
CALMS provide after-hours medical care to everyone in the ACT.
This is not a free service. To use this service, call 1300 422 567.
For more information:
After hours home doctor
Requests for after-hours home doctor visits can be made through 13 SICK (13 74 25).
Service hours are:
- Weekdays after 6pm
- Weekends and public holidays: after 12 noon.
For information on alternative medical centres in the Canberra region, please see