Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures.
The Universities Act confers on universities autonomy with regards to the internal day to day running of the institution, administrative processes, and academic and operational affairs of the institution. As Minister it would not be appropriate for me to try to limit or undermine this autonomy.
The matter concerned in this case is therefore solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.
I would advise the student in question to engage further at their institute to establish if further options or assistance are available.