Missed course work & exams – Faculty of Engineering

Missed course work & exams

Are you searching for information on the following forms?

McMaster Student Absence Form
RISO – missed course work
Request for deferred exam privileges
RISO – exam request

Keep scrolling for what you need to know.

McMaster Student Absence Form (MSAF) 

McMaster recognizes that students may periodically require relief from academic work for medical or other personal circumstances.  

Students have one self-report MSAF and two administrative MSAFs available to them per term.  

  • Students cannot exceed 35% missed work per course in a term; once the missed work submitted reaches 35% (prior to the exam period) for a course, MSAF requests will be denied.
  • The MSAF cannot be used for academic work that has already been completed or attempted. 
  • Attempting online work includes opening a test/quiz on Avenue to Learn or other platform. 
  • The MSAF cannot be used for academic work for which relief has already been requested 
  • The MSAF should not be used for absences as a result of religious obligation or to celebrate an important religious holiday. Please see the RISO Accommodation information. 
  • The MSAF cannot be used to apply for relief for any final examination or its equivalent. 

MSAF options

Please refer to the following sections for more information about each kind of MSAF submission.

For the full McMaster Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines on Requests for Relief for Missed Academic Term Work, please refer to the University Secretariate.

Full McMaster Student Absence Policy (Opens in new window)

Self Reports are submitted by the student online through Mosaic: Student Centre>Academics>MSAF 

This is available to students once per term: 

  • For missed academic work worth 24% or less of their final grade, lasting up to three calendar days.  
  • A Self Report applies only to work that is due within the consecutive three-day period for which relief is requested; however, all work due in that period can be covered by one MSAF. 
  • Students are encouraged to submit their MSAF at the end of the third calendar day of their original missed course work, in case they need to add additional missed works in that timeframe. All course work missed within that three-day period must be submitted at the same time, it cannot be submitted as multiple separate submissions. 
  • Example – first missed course work due on a Thursday. They can submit missed course work for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (inclusive) up to the Saturday before midnight.  
  • Supporting documentation is not required for a self-report. 

An automated email will be sent to course instructor(s) who will determine the appropriate relief. Students must immediately follow up with their instructor(s). Failure to do so may negate the opportunity for relief. 

NOTE: The Self-Report feature closes on the last day of classes for the term; the three calendar day window as mentioned above will not apply.

Administrative MSAFs are required when a student: 

  • Has medical or personal situations lasting more than three calendar days, and/or 
  • Has missed academic work is worth 25% or more of the final grade, and/or
  • has used the self-report previously in that term. 

Students are provided with two Administrative MSAFs per term. Additional MSAF requests will be denied.  

  • These MSAFs do not typically require supporting documentation; however, it may be requested should the Faculty Office deem it necessary to support the request. 
  • In instances supporting documentation is required, an MSAF applies only to work that is covered by the supporting documentation provided, however, all work due in that period can be covered by one MSAF. 

The Faculty Office will let the student know if the MSAF was processed, if it was denied, or if it requires supporting documentation to be considered. 

If processed, an automated email will be sent from Mosaic to course instructor(s), who will determine the appropriate relief. Students must immediately follow up with their instructor(s). Failure to do so may negate the opportunity for relief. 

Student Submission Process

  • Please fill out the form.
  • List each missed work as a separate item and provide all details requested. You can include as many pages as necessary.
  • Email required documents all in one message to engadmin@mcmaster.ca 
  • All Administrative MSAF forms must be submitted as early as possible, ideally within five calendar days of the missed academic work 

Please note: Even if the Faculty Office processes the MSAF, it is ultimately up to the professor if they choose to accept it.

There may be instances where formal course assessments (e.g. midterms and tests) may take place outside of regularly scheduled class time, resulting in a conflict with other formal assessments or mandatory, scheduled course components.  

Students are required to connect with their professors and/or the Faculty Office offering the course to determine if an alternate write time is an option. 

When this circumstance arises: 

  • Follow the process for submitting an Administrative MSAF (please refer to the previous section). 
  • On the MSAF form, please indicate only the course work you plan not to attend/submit on the original date. 
  • Academic Conflicts require supporting documentation – please provide the office with supporting documentation that confirms the conflict between the two academic requirements. It must show the full course code(s) and dates and times of the assessments. 

Note: Should an alternate write time be offered and the assessment completed by the student, this will not count towards the 35% missed course work or the number of Administrative MSAFs per term. 

Students that are part of McMaster Varsity Athletics Teams may need to MSAF course work impacted by their team games. 

Student submission process

  • Complete the Athlete Academic Conflict form. Athletics processes and verifies the conflicting dates/times, and provides the Faculty Office with confirmation and approval as supporting documentation. 
  • Complete and submit an Administrative MSAF to engadmin@mcmaster.ca. Please follow the process outlined in the Administrative MSAF section.

RISO (Academic Accommodation for Religious, Indigenous and Spiritual Observances)

McMaster University strives to be welcoming and inclusive of all its members and respectful of their differences. Students, staff, and instructors come from a range of backgrounds, traditions and beliefs. 

The University recognizes that, on occasion, the timing of a student’s religious, Indigenous, or spiritual observances and that of their academic obligations may conflict. In such cases, the University will provide reasonable academic accommodation that is consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code, through respectful, accessible and fair processes.

This Policy does not apply to the following: general course or program requirements; co-op, clinical and other experiential placements; residence; athletics; dietary restrictions; access to space; use of space; ablution; and employment matters, including teaching assistantships. 

Review the Policy on Academic Accommodation for Religious, Indigenous and Spiritual Observances

Complete the RISO Student Request form. This must include:

  • The reason for the request 
  • Full course code and details 
  • The specific course work in conflict 
  • The date of the work 
  • The percentage it is worth 

These can be added in the details section if there is no other space for it.

Please list each missed work as a separate item and provide all details requested. You can include as many pages as necessary.

Final exams

Request for deferred exam privileges  

The Request for Deferred Examination (Form B) is used when a student misses an examination because of compelling medical or personal reasons. Please review the information provided in the General Academic Regulations section of the Undergraduate Calendar. 

Important notes

1. Deferred examination must be written as follows:

  • December exams will be written during Winter Mid-Term Recess (February) 
  • April exams will be written in late June 
  • Spring/Summer exams will be written during the Fall Mid-Term Recess (October) 

2. Students cannot defer an exam a second time.  

3. Students who defer of more than one examination may be required to reduce their course load during the term in which the

RISO exam requests

McMaster University strives to be welcoming and inclusive of all its members and respectful of their differences. Students, staff and instructors come from a range of backgrounds, traditions and beliefs.

The University recognizes that, on occasion, the timing of a student’s religious, Indigenous, or spiritual observances and that of their academic obligations may conflict. In such cases, the University will provide reasonable academic accommodation that is consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code, through respectful, accessible and fair processes. 

This Policy does not apply to the following: general course or program requirements; co-op, clinical and other experiential placements; residence; athletics; dietary restrictions; access to space; use of space; ablution; and employment matters, including teaching assistantships. 

Review the Policy on Academic Accommodation for religious, Indigenous and Spiritual Observances

Submission of a Final Exam RISO

Note: you must submit the form a minimum of 10 business days before the start of the exam period.

Complete the RISO Final Exam Request form and submit it online as a service request in Mosaic.This must include: 

  • The reason for the request 
  • Full course code and details 
  • The specific exam in conflict 
  • The date of the exam 
  • The percentage it is worth 

These can be added in the details section if there is no other space for it.