About Petitions

New Changes:

Verification of Illness

Please note that as of September 1, 2023, all petition submissions will require documentation. This includes the Verification of Illness form for medically related absences, with the exception of one term-work petition per term if specific requirements are met.

Absence Declaration

Starting September 1, 2023, Engineering students can no longer declare their absence on ACORN. Please refer to the "Self-Declaration of Illness" for more information.

Sometimes, things do not go as planned. A petition is your formal request for an exception to a Faculty or University rule, regulation or deadline. 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.

Through the petition process, you may seek a resolution for the academic consequences that may have resulted from extenuating circumstances. However, you are expected to make every effort to complete term work and examinations. Petitions that arise from a failure to prioritize academic responsibilities or carelessness will not be granted.

Some examples of reasons you may consider submitting a petition:

  • Severe personal illness
  • Illness or death of a close family member
  • Personal or family crisis
  • Other extenuating circumstances

There are three types of petitions:

If your petition is denied, you have thirty days to submit an official appeal to the Faculty. Typically, an appeal will include additional information that was not submitted with the original petition.