Examiner guidance
For guidance on examining Research Degrees at the University of Westminster, please see below:
- Virtual Research Environment (VRE) Examination Process User Guide (PDF)
- Conducting an online viva
The examiner appointments will last for the duration of the examination process, including re-submissions after 12 months where this is the outcome of the first examination, unless exceptional circumstances arise.
Chair of Examiners guidance
Oral Examinations at the University of Westminster are supported by a Chair of Examiners. The Chair of Examiners will normally be the candidate’s School Doctoral Co-ordinator, or a senior member of staff nominated by the Doctoral Co-ordinator.
The Chair of Examiners will be responsible for ensuring and attesting to the proper and fair conduct of the examination and for facilitating any essential communications between the candidate and the examiners that may be necessary after the oral examination, e.g., clarification on a required correction.
For full guidance on the Chair of Examiners and their role, please see below:
Academic regulations
The University of Westminster’s Research Degree Regulations can be found on the Academic programme page under Section B8.
The Graduate School is always happy to support the interpretation of the regulations or if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
Fee payment and expenses
Following the oral examination, examiners will be paid the following:
- £250 for PhDs (including resubmissions after 12 months)
- £200 for MPhils (including resubmissions after 12 months)
The payment of the examination fee will be made gross, and it will be for the examiner to declare the payment with their relevant tax authorities. Overseas based examiners will be required to confirm that they are tax registered in their own country and subject to that country’s tax laws.
Examiners may also claim back expenses incurred for the oral examination. This includes one night accommodation at a standard price hotel, plus up to £300 for travel.
Please note: any expenses incurred that exceed the above would need to be claimed through the candidate’s school. Please check with the candidate’s Director of Studies before making arrangements.
The Graduate School are unable to cover any visa related expenses.
Payment can only be made directly to examiners. We do not pay invoices nor make payment to or via a third party, including an examiner’s home institution.
Forms:
- Expenses Claim Form (coming soon)
Please email all forms and receipts to [email protected] following the viva.
Once the exam reports have been received by Graduate School, your payment paperwork will be processed, and the payment request form prepared. The payment request form is then submitted to finance colleagues on a monthly basis, at the end of the month, featuring all examiners who undertook exams in the preceding month ie, examiners who conduct vivas in July could expect payment in August (provided they submit their paperwork before the date the request is submitted to finance colleagues).
Information for Director of Studies
Approaching examiners
It is the responsibility of the Director of Studies and wider supervisory team to identify appropriate examiners for the examination well in advance of the submission of the thesis. The nomination should then be made by the Director of Studies via the VRE. This should be done at least 3 months prior to the submission of the thesis (see Regulation B2).
Further information on this process can be found in the Examination Process User Guide Section 1.
Verbal or written agreement of the examiners to undertake the examination should be obtained prior to their formal nomination via the VRE (login required).
Once the Director of Studies has secured this agreement, they should request a copy of the examiner’s recent CV and their completion of the External Examiner Form to assist with the VRE nomination. The following document/s can be used to assist with this process: