Extending your submission date

PhD, EdD, EngD, BusD, MSc and MLitt

Submission deadline: your deadline will be set as 12 terms from your admission date (full-time) or 21 terms (part-time 0.60 FTE) or 16 terms (part-time 0.75 FTE). Your submission date is under 'Thesis Submission Details' on the academic tile in your CamSIS self-service.

How to apply for an extension?

If your submission deadline falls over a weekend or holiday period you will still be required to submit by this date. 

If you need an extension to this deadline and have valid reasons, you apply via your CamSIS self-service account. Instructions can be found on the 'Applying for a change in your student status' page. 

You should apply no earlier than 3-6 months before your submission deadline. Applications received any earlier than this will be declined and you will be asked to reapply at the appropriate time.

MPhil by Thesis

Submission deadline: your submission deadline will be set by your Department and will be within one year (full-time) or two years (part-time). Check with your Department what your deadline is.

How to apply for an extension?

If you need an extension to this deadline and have valid reasons, you apply via CamSIS self-service account. Instructions can be found on the 'Applying for a change in your student status' page. 

You should apply no earlier than 2 months before your submission deadline. Applications received any earlier than this will be declined and you will be asked to reapply at the appropriate time.

MPhil by Advanced Study/MEd/MRes/CPGS

Submission deadline: your submission deadline will be set by your Department and will be within one year (full-time) or two years (part-time). Check with your Department what your deadline is.

How to apply for an extension?

If you need an extension to this deadline and have valid reasons, contact your programme administrator in your Department in the first instance.  Short deadlines which would not impact on the dates on which the marks would be considered by the Exam Board and Degree Committee can normally be considered locally.  For longer extensions, students should initiate an application for an extension via their CamSIS self-service account (Instructions can be found on the 'Applying for a change in your student status' page).

You should apply no earlier than 2 months before your submission deadline. Applications received any earlier than this will be declined and you will be asked to reapply at the appropriate time.

Submission date for thesis corrections

If you are required to complete corrections to your  thesis following your viva (doctoral, MSc, MLitt, or MPhil by thesis degrees), the deadline for submitting these will be given in the email confirming the examination outcome. If you will not be able to submit by this deadline, and you have valid reasons for an extension, you should apply via CamSIS in the same way as for an extension to the deadline for the original thesis submission. 

All requests for an extension must include the following information:

• Why has your submission been delayed?

  See sections above for valid and invalid reasons. You should give a clear explanation of the reason(s) why you cannot submit your thesis on time. Include a summary of any action taken to try to mitigate for the circumstances that have led to your extension request.

• Why is it essential that you remain registered beyond your current submission date?

  You must provide a brief, non-technical, summary outlining what work you still need to complete and why it is critical to your thesis/dissertation. You should explain why it is essential that you remain registered as a postgraduate student at this stage. For example, do you need access to particular resources? If so, please specify which resources.

• How much additional time is required?

  You should upload a timeline for your submission that clearly explains how you have determined the amount of additional time you need. If you are requesting an extension because you had a phased return from medical intermission you are not required to provide a timeline.

  Extensions are normally limited to a maximum total length of three to four months full-time (or part-time equivalent), except for applications on medical grounds or for academic reasons which are normally limited to one month (or part-time equivalent). Applications for longer extensions are likely to be rejected or may be approved for a shorter time than you requested.

  Longer extensions may be considered as an adjustment for a disability.

• For extensions on medical grounds, medical evidence must be provided. The medical evidence, including your Student Support Document if you choose to submit this in support of your application, will be referred with the rest of your application to Medical Advisors, who will confirm whether the extension is warranted.

  You must provide sufficiently detailed contemporary evidence from a medically qualified practitioner, for example a doctor’s report. Where appropriate, evidence from an accredited counsellor may also be considered. The University is not able to cover the cost of medical documents submitted in support of an application. The evidence:

  • should provide a clear diagnosis which includes the nature and severity of the illness;
  • should state when and how the condition is likely to have affected the candidate’s ability to submit their thesis by their deadline;
  • should be precise and self-explanatory. The amount of evidence required will vary from case to case. For example, hospital admission will need a shorter explanation than will a less obvious or less serious condition where background information and details of the candidate’s medical history may be required;
  • must be in English. If the documents are not originally in English, they must be translated by a professional translating service. In some cases, it is acceptable for documents to be translated by a member of your College;
  • should be on headed paper which includes full address and role title of the practitioner, dated and signed by the practitioner (or other appropriate professional).

• For extensions on grounds of a phased return from medical intermission

  If you are requesting an extension because you had a phased return following a period of medical intermission, you should upload your Phased Return Calculator as supporting evidence.

• Unavoidable delay

  Examples might be a lab move, equipment failure or political unrest in a fieldwork area. The delay must be caused by something out of your own control.

• Academic reasons (doctoral, MSC and MLitt students only)

  Where there is a strong academic case that you are actively working on the final stages of your thesis and need a short extension to enable you to submit. Extensions for academic reasons are normally limited to one month (or part-time equivalent).

• A short delay due to medical issues or grave cause

  Students who find themselves unable to study because of medical reasons or family emergencies should normally apply for intermission. For this reason, extensions based on medical grounds or grave cause are normally limited to one month (or part-time equivalent). If your application is for medical reasons, you will need to include supporting medical documents.

• Disability

  If you will be unable to submit your thesis by your submission deadline for disability-related reasons, you may apply, in advance, for an extension. You may find it helpful to discuss the timing of this and the impact of your disability on your academic work, with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre. You will need to provide clear specialist evidence in support of an application for an extension. If you receive support from the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre, a Student Support Document or a supporting statement from them, will be taken into account when your application is considered.

• Phased return from intermission

  If you had a phased return following a period of medical or non-medical intermission, you can apply for an extension to your submission deadline. You should upload your Phased Return Calculator as supporting evidence.

• The impact of pandemic, war/conflict, or natural disaster

  It is recognised that pandemic, war/conflict, or natural disaster may have a significant impact on some students' progress. You are required to provide a clear statement of the extent and nature of the impact to explain the amount of additional time needed. Acceptable reasons for an extension on grounds of pandemic, war/conflict, or natural disaster:

  • Lack of access to facilities/resources, including University premises, premises of external partners, fieldwork sites
  • Lack of or limited supervision
  • Caring responsibilities where intermission is not appropriate
  • Impact on mental health where intermission is not appropriate
  • International students who may be required to return to their home country for a period as a result of a pandemic, war, or natural disaster in the UK

• Visa issues
• Medical issues or family circumstances, where a period of intermission should have been requested or a break from study is currently needed
• Attending conferences
• Writing/publishing papers
• Undertaking further research, unless your supervisor, department or Degree Committee make a very strong academic case for this
• A safety net 'just in case' additional time is needed
• Taking up employment - this includes employment if you are working while completing corrections to your thesis after your viva
• Job applications
• Not wishing to leave Cambridge
• Continued funding
• Poor planning - it should be feasible to complete your research project within the maximum time-frame for your degree (for example, 4 years for a full-time PhD). Therefore reasons such as having collected too much data or a change of direction (unless due to circumstances outside your control) will not normally be considered valid
• Wanting to incorporate new material at a late stage unless there is a very strong case for this material being essential to your thesis rather than merely enhancing its quality
• Needing time for proofreading, editing or support with academic writing or wanting more time in order to improve the quality of your thesis - students are expected to produce a thesis to the required standard within the normal time-frame for submission. In planning your thesis you should factor in time for proofreading/editing. 

Research students who do not submit their thesis by their submission date and do not have an extension approved, will be withdrawn from study. They may be able to apply for reinstatement when their thesis is ready for submission for examination but not to continue studying. You can find more information about the effects of withdrawal from study on the Withdrawal from Study page.

Students on taught Masters courses should contact their Department for information about the penalties applied for late or non-submission of work. 

PhD students are advised to read the information outlined on the International Student Office webpage: www.internationalstudents.cam.ac.uk/immigration/student-visa/extending-your-visa-current-phd-student

 It is advisable for MPhil students to contact the International Student Office to check the implications of a change to your submission deadline. Some considerations include:

• Graduate visa eligibility – you may no longer be eligible if your new deadline means that degree approval would not be considered on the same timeline as the rest of your cohort.
• Student visa extension –   Masters students are not normally eligible for a student visa extension.
• ATAS requirements – If ATAS is required for your course and nationality, a change in your course dates may mean that a new ATAS certificate is necessary.

The International Student Office can be contacted by emailing international.students@admin.cam.ac.uk.