Deferred final exams
Students who must miss a Registrar-scheduled final exam due to extenuating circumstances may apply for a deferred final exam.
Applying for a deferred final exam
If you’re unable to write your final exam on the scheduled date due to unforeseen circumstances outside of your control, you can apply for a deferred final exam. Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide. It explains the application process, eligibility requirements, and important deadlines.
Step 1. Check if you’re eligible for a deferred exam
See eligibility criteria descriptions outlined below to make sure your reason is in one of the five accepted categories:
Students who have three final exams scheduled to start and finish within a 24-hour period can 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 doesn't meet the criteria, you won't be able to select this reason on your online application.
For example, if you have exams at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on one day, and an exam on the next day at 9 a.m., you're eligible to apply under this criterion.
An exam schedule with the first exam at 8 a.m. and the second exam at 5 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 a religious or spiritual observance causes a direct conflict with a final exam that prevents you from attending a final exam, you can apply to write a deferred final exam.
If you experience a debilitating illness or medical emergency that physically prevents you from attending a final exam, you can apply to write a deferred final exam.
If an unforeseen crisis or serious personal hardship (e.g. death or illness of a family member) prevents you from attending a final exam, you can apply to write a deferred final exam.
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.
Unacceptable reasons for exam deferral
- Enrolment and attendance in other courses, including group study courses.
- Misreading the exam schedule.
- Travel plans.
- If you've completed less than half of the assigned work in a course.
- If you've submitted a final exam for marking.
- To compensate for lost study time due to unforeseen extenuating circumstances.
If you're approved to defer an exam but you decide to write the exam at the original time, please email dfedocs@ucalgary.ca to withdraw your deferred final exam application.
Step 2. Understand the implications of deferral
Due to the scheduling of deferred final exams, taking a deferred final exam may delay your final course grade. This can affect:
- Your ability to meet prerequisites for future courses
- Your eligibility to graduate on time
Before you apply for a deferral, talk to your faculty advising office. They'll help you understand how a deferral could impact your academic progress or graduation timeline.
Step 3. Review the deferred final exam schedule
Deferred final exams are scheduled by the Office of the Registrar during the official deferred final exam period.
- Exams can be scheduled anytime Monday to Saturday
- You must be available at the assigned exam time
- You can't reschedule your deferred exam
- Further deferrals won't be provided
Be sure to review the deferred exam schedule carefully and plan accordingly.
| Term | Final exam dates | Deferred final exam period |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | June 17–20, 2026 | July 15–18, 2026 |
| Summer 2026 | Aug. 14–18, 2026 | Sept. 3–5, 2026 |
Step 4. Apply and submit supporting documentation by the deadline
The application deadline is two business days following the scheduled final exam.
Students are limited to apply for one exam deferral per application. Students seeking deferrals of multiple examinations will be required to enter an application for each exam.
Note that deferral requests due to debilitating illness open on the day of the exam. Other deferral requests may be submitted earlier in the application period.
- Log in to your Student Centre.
- Go to Exams and Grades.
- Below the final exam schedule, click Deferred Examination Request.
- Submit your supporting documentation.
Documentation can be submitted to support all deferral requests, but are required for requests due to debilitating illness, unforeseen crisis/serious personal hardship, and absences due to university representation or a faculty approved activity.
You can upload supporting documents when you submit your deferred final exam application. Do one of the following:
- Fill out the Student Declaration of Absence electronic form available in the application portal.
- Attach documents that show a serious illness or extraordinary circumstances beyond your control.
Note: Submitting documentation doesn't guarantee approval of your deferral. The documentation must clearly support your request.
Students are limited to apply for one exam deferral per application. Students seeking deferrals of multiple examinations will be required to enter an application for each exam.
After submitting your deferral application, additional documents can be provided. If your application status shows "submitted or under review" you can attach additional documentation directly to your application in your Student Centre. If you run into issues attaching a specific document to your application, you can email additional documentation to the appropriate address listed below:
For reasons of debilitating illness (any faculty): dfedocs@ucalgary.ca
For reasons other than debilitating illness:
Arts: artsdocs@ucalgary.ca
Cumming School of Medicine (Bachelor of Health Science): bhsc@ucalgary.ca
Haskayne School of Business: hsbdfedocs@ucalgary.ca
Kinesiology: knesinfo@ucalgary.ca
Nursing: nursing@ucalgary.ca
Open Studies: dfedocs@ucalgary.ca
Schulich School of Engineering: engg.exams@ucalgary.ca
Science: science@ucalgary.ca
Social Work: socialwk@ucalgary.ca
Werklund School of Education: upe@ucalgary.ca
Graduate Studies: dfedocs@ucalgary.ca
Supporting documentation must provide evaluators a valid rationale, a clear description and timeline of events that prevented you from attending the final examination on the scheduled date and time. Personal written statements won't be accepted if they aren't an attestation statement (student declaration of absence, or a signed statutory declaration).
What to expect after applying
How to check your deferred exam application details or status
After you submit your application, you can review your application details and check your application status in the Deferred Final Exam section of your Student Centre.
If you need to correct any information:
- Contact your faculty advising office
- If your request is due to serious illness, contact Enrolment Services
Applications are reviewed in the order they're submitted:
- Reviews usually take 3–5 business days following the date of submission
- Your application will not be reviewed before your original exam date
Understanding your application decision
You’ll see your application status change to Approved or Denied. If comments are provided, you’ll see them in your Student Centre.
An automated email will be provided to your UCalgary email address when the status of your application has been updated. This email will include any relevant comments left by evaluators.
If your application is denied, contact your advising office to discuss the impact of missing the final exam and degree progression.
What “tentatively approved” means
If your application is approved, you’ll receive an email saying it’s been tentatively approved. Tentative approval can be re-evaluated at any time before your deferred exam date. Once your deferred final examination schedule is posted in your Student Centre, your approval is confirmed.
Keep checking your status
Check your Student Centre regularly for updates. Be sure to respond promptly to any email requests for more information. Missed deadlines may affect your approval.
We are no longer emailing our DFE schedules. The DFE schedule is only posted in the Student Centre approximately one week before the start of the DFE period.
You're fully responsible for identifying the exact date, time and location of the deferred final exam when it's made available. Further deferral of your final exam due to a misreading of the schedule won't be provided.
Preparing for your deferred final exams
Regulations for deferred final exams are very similar to final exams.
FAQs
Application
What is the application deadline?
The deadline to apply for a deferred final examination is two business days after your scheduled exam.
For deferral requests due to debilitating illness, you can't submit your application before your scheduled exam.
Note: Supporting documents don't guarantee approval. Your request must meet deferral criteria.
You may not see your course or deferral reason because:
- The course doesn't have a registrar-scheduled final exam
- You already submitted a request for that course
- If you're unable to select “three exams in 24 hours” for the reason of deferral, it's because your schedule doesn't qualify
If you're requesting changes to something like a final essay or take-home exam, contact your instructor directly.
To update an existing application, contact your faculty advisor.
- Log in to your Student Centre.
- Go to Exams and Grades.
- Below the Final Exam Schedule, click Deferred Examination Request.
- Submit supporting documentation.
View the step-by-step guide on deferred final exam application (PDF)
It's important to submit your application within the deadline of two business days after the scheduled final exam. The deferred final exam application contains a Student Declaration of Absence that can be submitted as valid supporting documentation.
Deferral applications due to debilitating illness, unforeseen crisis/personal hardship, and university representation or a faculty-approved activity may be denied if valid supporting documentation isn't included in the initial application.
- Submit your application with the Student Declaration of Absence.
- Email extra documents to dfedocs@ucalgary.ca.
- If you're experiencing technical issues, email a screenshot of the error and a short explanation to dfedocs@ucalgary.ca.
- Include your first name and last name and UCID in the email.
Approval
Applications are reviewed within five business days. Watch your UCalgary email for questions or requests for more information. Ensure you're replying to these requests by the deadline provided in the email.
An automated email will be sent to your UCalgary email address once your application has been approved.
You can check your application status in the Deferred Final Exam section of your Student Centre. Click “View Request” to review details and comments from the approver (if any) on your application.
If your application is approved, you’ll receive an email saying it’s been tentatively approved. Tentative approval can be re-evaluated at any time before your deferred exam date. Once your deferred final examination schedule is posted in your Student Centre, your approval is confirmed.
- Look for the reason in the approver comments under View Request.
- If you have questions, contact your faculty advising office.
You may be asked to meet with an associate dean or advisor. Your faculty will contact you if this applies.
Check your UCalgary email for details. You can also view your application in your student centre and review any staff comments attached to your application.
This status means:
- Your documentation may be missing or insufficient.
- You may need to submit additional documents by the stated deadline (check your email).
Schedule and location
The deferred final exam schedule is posted under the Exams and Grades section of your Student Centre about one week before the start of the deferred final exam period.
The deferred final examination schedule is no longer provided via email.
The deferred final exam schedule is posted under the Exams and Grades section of your Student Centre about one week before the start of the deferred final exam period.
You must be available as scheduled. Deferred exams are the final opportunity to write your exam. A rescheduling of your deferred final exam will not be provided.
The location of your deferred final exam will be indicated in the Exams and Grades section of your Student Centre.
Yes. If you're registered with Student Accessibility Services for final exams, they'll also handle your deferred exam.
Contact Student Accessibility Services to discuss your eligibility.
Other
View your application history in the Exams and Grades section of your Student Centre.
Application information from before 2018 isn’t available.
A “DFE” notation will appear on your unofficial transcript (not on official transcripts).
Email dfedocs@ucalgary.ca with:
- Your full name,
- UCID,
- DFE request number, and
- Course name and number.
Email dfedocs@ucalgary.ca with:
- Your full name,
- UCID,
- DFE request number, and
- Course name and number.
It might. Contact your faculty advising office to review your options.
It could. Speak with your faculty advising office to confirm.
Contact your instructor for updates about your grade.