Supervisors, Examiners and Chairs

Regulations and Code of Practice for Supervisors

The University's Research Degree Regulations and Code of Practice for Supervisors can be accessed here.

Supervisor development

Supervisors of postgraduate research degree students not only need to be research active and publishing in their field, they must attend a supervisor skills development workshop and keep up to date with training and development at least every three years.

The Graduate School offers several training and development opportunities as part of its Calendar of Events. You could also update your skills in this area by booking onto an external event such as a conference or webinar organised by Vitae and / or the UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE).

UKCGE Research Supervisor Recognition Programme

UKCGE has developed a Research Supervisor Recognition Programme and Good Supervisory Practice Framework. Details can be found here.

Advertise a studentship?

If you have obtained funding for a PhD studentship and you would like to advertise this on the Graduate School website or externally please contact the Graduate School.

You will need to obtain authorisation from your Dean of Faculty using the Authorisation to Advertise a Studentship form which you should return to the Graduate School with details including an overview of the project, project start date and closing date for applications. When choosing a closing date for applications you need to factor in a sensible time frame for review and interview and our cohort entry dates for research degrees which are October, January and April.

Useful links

- PhD Manager

- Vitae

- UKCGE

Regulations and Code if Practice for Examiners

You can find the University's Postgraduate Research Degree Regulations and Code of Practice for Examiners here. Please read them carefully for information about the University's award criteria, submission requirements and potential examination outcomes.

Assessing the thesis

You can access the candidate's work by logging into PhD Manager. You will usually be asked at the time of appointment whether you require a printed copy of the submission; if you request this it will be sent to shortly after submission.

Examining the thesis

You will read and examine the thesis and submit an independent preliminary report 10 days prior to the viva. This should be submitted via PhD Manager.

When each examiner has submitted their independent preliminary report, you will be able to view each report in PhD Manager. You may use these as a basis for discussion at the pre-viva meeting.

The viva

Arrangements

The candidate's supervisor will get in touch with you to arrange a date for the viva. You will receive a notification through PhD Manager confirming the details including the time and location. Should you have any queries ahead of the viva, please contact the Graduate School Team.

On the day

An Independent Chair will be appointed for the viva who will have a good working knowledge of the Research Degree Regulations and can provide advice and guidance to examiners in terms of regulations and procedures. They will not be involved in assessing the work. The candidate's supervisor may also be present at the viva as an observer. 

There will usually be two examiners (sometimes three); and at least one external examiner. You will have chance to discuss the work with the other examiner(s) ahead of the viva during the pre-viva meeting of examiners and chair. 

After the viva, examiners will discuss the candidate's performance and will usually agree a joint outcome. For details of examination outcomes and options available to examiners please refer to the Research Degree Regulations.

Examiner expenses

External examiners receive a fee for examining doctoral and masters theses.

Examining fee (Doctoral level): £175
Examining fee (Masters level): £125

You will receive your fee on completion of a non-staff expenses form after submitting all the required examination paperwork post-viva. You can use this form to claim back any travel / subsistence expenses you have incurred.

Useful links and documents

• PhD Manager
• Academic Misconduct Regulations
• External examiner feedback form
• External examiner expenses form

Research Degree Regulations
Regulations for Research Degree Programmes can be found here.

Your role as chair
You have been appointed as an independent person to chair the viva voce examination and pre-meeting of the examiners.
You will ensure the conduct of the examination is fair and in line with the University’s regulations.

You will normally:

1. have a clear understanding of, and be fully compliant with, the University's regulations and procedures
2. have experience of supervising and examining research degrees; and
3. have undertaken appropriate training within the last five years.

Guidance for Chairs can be found here.

You will complete your Chair's checklist and ensure the examiners complete a joint post-viva report (or separate reports where required) and you must ensure these are submitted to the Graduate School post-viva.

Should you require any advice on the day please contact the Graduate School Manager.