About Petitions

Important Notes:

Students are expected to make every effort to complete term work and final exams. However, the university understands that sometimes, things do not go as planned.

What is a Petition?

A petition is a formal request for an exception to a Faculty or University rule, regulation or deadline, due to a documented extenuating circumstance. The University of Toronto acknowledges that students sometimes encounter unforeseen or uncontrollable circumstances that can severely interfere with their ability to fulfill their academic obligations. The petition process allows students to seek a resolution for academic consequences that may have resulted from extenuating circumstances.

Petitions that arise from a failure to prioritize academic responsibilities or carelessness will not be considered.

What is an Extenuating Circumstance?

Some examples of reasons you may consider submitting a petition:

  • Severe personal illness or injury
  • Illness or death of a close family member
  • Personal or family emergency
  • Co-curricular activities (academic conference, academic competition, etc.). Speak to your academic advisor before submitting a petition due to this circumstance.
  • Significant student commitment to a U of T or recognized athletic association
  • Other extenuating circumstances

What are the Petition Types?

There are three types of petitions:

  • Term Work: petitions related to assessments during the term (i.e., midterms, term tests, labs, quizzes, etc.).
  • Final Exam: petitions related to final exams and final assessments during the final exam period.
  • Special Consideration: petitions related to exemptions from a specific academic regulation of the Faculty.

Appeals

If your petition is denied, you have thirty days to submit an official appeal to the Faculty. Appeals should include additional documentation and/or information that was not submitted with the original petition.