Research degree examinations

Information about assessing Postgraduate Researchers including final thesis submission and examination.

Find out about the examination process, from preparing to submit the thesis to publication of pass lists, including explanations of the roles of the examiners and how to make arrangements for the viva.

Disagreement between research degree examiners

In the exceptional situation when the team examining a research degree cannot reach agreement on the outcome, a procedure has been agreed for resolving the issue.

Examiners and independent chairs - criteria for appointment (research students)

The preferred level of experience for a research degree examiner is either experience of supporting a doctoral candidate through to successful completion or previous examination experience. 

Examiners' joint report forms (postgraduate research)

The appropriate examiners' joint report form should be completed by the examiners at the end of the viva.

External examiner briefings (research students)

This page guides members of staff providing briefings to external examiners who are undertaking their first UK postgraduate research examination

Oral examinations - good practice guidelines

Before the viva the internal examiner should ensure logistic arrangements are in place to make all parties comfortable and to minimise distractions to the examination. Examiners may find the following good-practice guidance helpful in conducting the viva.

Research degree examiners: additional information

Additional, programme-specific information is provided to support research degree examiners.

Thesis in a language other than English

Research degree candidates within the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies may be granted permission to submit theses in a language other than English.

Thesis titles (research students)

The thesis titles document describes considerations when designing a thesis title for different research degrees and the process for getting agreement to a change of thesis title.

Video conferencing or Skype (or equivalent) for a viva (research students)

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, arrangements have been made to allow transfer and final vivas to take place by video streaming. All parties can attend the viva remotely, which can be carried out by video-streaming (normally Teams).