Students who must miss a Registrar-scheduled final exam due to extenuating circumstances may apply for a deferred final exam.
Deferred final exams are scheduled by the Office of the Registrar. They may be scheduled anytime, Monday to Saturday, during the official deferred exam period as noted below. Students must be available for their scheduled exam time.
Final exam dates
December 10 - 21, 2022
Deferred final exam dates
January 24 - 28, 2023
Final exam dates
April 15 - 26, 2023
Deferred final exam dates
May 23 - 27, 2023
If you're approved to write a deferred exam, the schedule will be emailed to your UCalgary email address approximately one week prior to the start of the deferred exam period. The schedule will not be available in the Student Centre. Students are fully responsible for identifying the exact date, time and location of the deferred exam when it's available.
Due to the scheduling of deferred final exams, your standing for course requirements (such as prerequisite requirements and graduation applications) may be impacted. Please contact your faculty advising office to discuss the situation if you defer an exam for a course that's a prerequisite for the following term, or if you apply to graduate in the current term.
If you personally experience an illness or medical emergency that physically prevents you from attending a final exam, you can apply to write a deferred final exam.
In the event of a religious observance causing a direct conflict with a final exam that prevents you from attending a final exam, you can apply to write a deferred final exam.
In the event of a domestic affliction, compassionate or other circumstance (e.g. death or illness of a family member) that prevents you from attending a final exam, you can apply to write a deferred final exam.
Students with three final exams scheduled to start and finish within a 24-hour period may defer one of their final exams to the deferred final exam period.
You must select the exam you wish to defer on your application. If your schedule does not meet the criteria, you will not be able to select this reason on your online application.
For example, if you have exams at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on one day, and an exam on the next day at noon, you're eligible to apply under this criteria.
An exam schedule with the first exam at 8 a.m. and the second exam at 3:30 p.m. on one day, and then a third exam at 8 a.m. on the following day, does not qualify as three exams in 24 hours.
If your attendance is required elsewhere during a scheduled exam due to civil obligations or a faculty-approved activity (such as jury duty, academic competitions, or high-level athletic competitions), you can apply to write a deferred final exam.
To apply to defer a final exam, submit your application and any required supporting documentation through your Student Centre. Supporting documentation can now be uploaded right in your application. See the instructions and application deadlines as listed below.
Please note: We have suspended requirements for students to provide evidence of illness. Please do not visit medical clinics for medical notes or Commissioners for Oaths for statutory declarations.
Click to view a step-by-step guide for how to submit and review your online application.
Supporting Documentation
No supporting documentation is required.
You're only able to select this reason to defer if your schedule consists of three exams within 24 hours.
Application Deadline
Winter 2023 - Friday, March 10
Click to view a step-by-step guide for how to submit and review your online application.
Supporting Documentation
Provide a rationale in the comments area of the application.
Supporting documentation is not required.
Application Deadline
Winter 2023 - Friday, March 10
Click to view a step-by-step guide for how to submit and review your online application.
Supporting Documentation
Provide a description of the reason for your absence in the comments area of the application.
Supporting documentation is not required at the time of application; however, you may be asked to provide documentation or additional information at a later time.
Application Deadline
Two business days after the scheduled final exam.
Click to view a step-by-step guide for how to submit and review your online application.
Supporting Documentation
Provide a rationale in the comments area of the application.
Supporting documentation is required to be submitted to your faculty office, i.e. written statement from a third party, an accident report, notice (certification) of a death, etc.
Application Deadline
Two business days after the scheduled final exam.
Click to view a step-by-step guide for how to submit and review your online application.
Supporting Documentation
Provide a rationale in the comments area of the application.
Supporting documentation is required, i.e. letter from a coach, nomination letter, etc.
Application Deadline
Two business days after the scheduled final exam.
Supporting documentation, if required, can now be uploaded right with your application. However, if you are having difficulty attaching your documentation, please send it via email as follows.
For reasons of illness/medical emergency (any faculty): dfedocs@ucalgary.ca
Please note: We have suspended requirements for students to provide evidence of illness. Please do not visit medical clinics for medical notes or Commissioners for Oaths for statutory declarations.
For reasons other than illness/medical emergency:
Once you have submitted your application, you can review the details and the application status on the Deferred Final Exam page in your Student Centre. If you have submitted incorrect information and need to amend your application, please notify your faculty office or Enrolment Services in the case of illness/medical emergency related deferrals.
If a decision is made on your application, you will see it's “approved” or “denied”. You will be able to view comments in your application if one is provided. If you have questions regarding a denied application, you can contact the appropriate office listed above.
If your application is approved, your next step is to wait for the deferred exam schedule to be available, approximately a week prior to the date of the deferred exam. You will receive the schedule from your UCalgary email, and will not be available on your Student Centre. You're fully responsible for determining the exact date, time and location of the deferred exam when it's available.
Regulations for deferred final exams are very similar to final exams. The steps below outline expectations for in-person deferred final exams.
View a list of frequently asked deferred final exam questions.