What Happens If You Submit Coursework Late?

Everything you need to know about late submissions.

There's nothing worse than working really hard on a piece of coursework and accidentally missing the deadline, especially if you're just a few minutes late. Universities have strict rules around coursework deadlines and turnitin submissions and if you do submit a piece of coursework late, you will have to deal with the penalties, which can be really scary if the coursework makes up a large part of your degree.

Whether you've actually submitted a piece of coursework late, or you just want to know what to expect in case you ever find yourself in that situation, here's what you need to know about late submissions.

What's the reason for the late submission?

Ok, so you've known about this piece of coursework for weeks but when it comes to the deadline, you're late. There could be a few reasons why you're submitting coursework late, and some of them are more acceptable than others.

Universities are pretty strict when it comes to deadlines, but let's say there were genuine factors that prevented you from handing your work in on time. For example, your wifi cut out meaning you missed the deadline by a minute, or there was traffic on the way to hand in your coursework in person, or there's been a genuine emergency involving you or a family member. These reasons are obviously, much more valid than you just simply woke up late, forgot the time, or hadn't finished your coursework in time.

If you do have a genuine reason for late submission, you're going to need some form of evidence to back up your claims and some lecturers may be more forgiving than others. In-person late submissions may be accepted, but turnitin normally shuts off from accepting submissions after the deadline, which could land you in trouble.

Lecturers have probably heard every excuse in the book when it comes to late coursework, but if you do have a genuine and valid reason it's best to talk to them straight away to explain what happened. If you don't have a genuine reason, you can still attempt to hand in your coursework late, but you will have to face the penalties.

In-person vs. online submission rules

The golden rule of coursework, check whether it needs to be submitted in person as well as online.

Unfortunately, if you submit your coursework online but fail to do it in person and visa versa, many universities will still consider this as a late submission and may automatically fail you. Some universities aren't too bothered about in-person submissions anymore and only want you to do it online, whereas others want both a physical and digital copy. This is normally because the digital copy submitted on turnitin is scanned for plagiarism, and the physical copy may be marked and annotated and given back to you afterwards.

Online and in-person submissions may have different rules and be due at different times, so on submission day you're going to want to make sure you're prepared. If you do need to do a in-person submission, it's probably best to print it out the day before (lecturers won't care if you ran out of printing credits or the printers weren't working) on the day, and to get to the submission desk bright and early to avoid oversleeping or traffic.

If you need to submit online, it's best not to leave it until the last minute. You can normally submit coursework as soon as it's done, so as soon as you've completed a piece and you're happy with it, upload it before you forget. Yes, your wifi could genuinely cut out 30 seconds before the deadline, but your lecturers will just ask you why you left it until the last minute or didn't go to the library to use the public and more reliable wifi there.

Triple check deadline dates and times

You might have multiple pieces of coursework due in the same week that all require physical and digital submissions, so the only way to make sure you're sticking to deadlines is to triple check.

Unfortunately, it is easy to accidentally mess up the days or misread the time but as easy as it is, universities probably aren't going to be very lenient if you miss a deadline purely because you thought it was due at 1pm and it was actually 12pm. Being a student is all about being accountable for yourself, and if you do mix up the deadline date it will be your own fault even if it is a super easy mistake. So, we can't stress enough double and triple check your deadlines! Write them on post it notes on your wall, set timers on your phone an hour before, and don't leave it until the last half an hour to try and get everything done.

Speak to your tutors or university

If you do submit a piece of coursework late, the first thing you need to do is email your tutors or go and speak to them in person. If you're too late to submit via turnitin, you need to email them as soon as possible to let them know what's happened and with a copy of your work in case they're willing to accept it late and they will be able to advise on next steps.

Sometimes, genuine emergencies can come up last minute which are definitely more important than a coursework deadline. If on the day before, or the day of your submission something comes up, for example a family member is rushed to hospital, email your tutors as soon as possible before the deadline to let them know what's happening and to ask for an extension. Your tutors are much more likely to be lenient about late submissions if you've already told them in advance that it's going to be late.

If you're feeling overwhelmed with your coursework and don't think you'll make the deadline or are really struggling with your mental health, try and let them know a few days in advance and request a possible deadline. Your tutors want you to do well and if they know there's something going on, they will be much more likely to grant an extension or hold off on penalties for late submission if you've given them a heads up in advance.

What's the penalty for late submission?

Unfortunately, late submissions are treated quite seriously by universities. The penalty will depend on your university, your reason for late submission and by how late you were at submitting, eg. were you one minute late to your in-person hand in or are you 4 hours late? It's best to check on your universities website to find out the exact penalties for late submission, but some universities will deduct marks.

Your work could be reduced by anywhere from 5-10%, or if you're really late capped at the pass mark, so you won't receive a grade higher than 40. You might also fail the whole module. Penalties and mark deductions are normally based on how late you submitted your work, so if you leave it a few days you're much more likely to have your work capped at a pass mark, but if you're only a few minutes behind your mark might just be reduced by 5%. This is why it's best to let your tutors know as soon as possible that you need an extension or that your coursework is going to be late, as the longer you leave it to submit the more severe the penalty will be.

Your tutors and Students' Union should be able to help you out and offer advice on what to do based on your personal circumstances if you do submit a piece of coursework late.

For more uni advice, check out how to avoid plagiarism here.