4. Duties of the Members of the Examining Board

The Board is required to examine the thesis as well as conduct an oral examination of the candidate. Where an examination of a re-submitted thesis is being conducted, the oral examination may be waived in exceptional cases only, at the discretion of the examining board.

The Convener and Secretary of the Examining Board is responsible for ensuring that the correct administrative procedures for the submission and examination of the thesis are carried out, that all documentation is complete and that all members of the Examining Board are aware of their separate responsibilities.

The Chair of the Examining Board is responsible for ensuring that the examination, including the written report and the oral examination, is carried out in line with the University's policies and procedures. The Chair will, as far as possible, ensure the examination is fair and unbiased and will notify the University of any suspected issues in this regard.

The Examiners, in examining the thesis, will:

• consider the thesis and abstract(s), or, in the case of PhD by Published Works, the works and critical analysis submitted by the candidate,
• report on the scope, character and quality of the work submitted
• satisfy themselves by examination, oral and/or written, that the candidate possesses a good general knowledge of the particular field of learning within which the thesis falls.
• bear in mind the University's criteria for the award of the degree. (See Section H 'Criteria for the Awarding of Research Degrees'.)

Examiners are requested to notify the Academic Office immediately if they receive draft theses for comment and return prior to commencement of the formal examining process and must decline firmly any suggestion that a thesis should be returned to a candidate for improvement and re-consideration prior to completion of the Examining Board's formal deliberations.
External Examiners are also requested to inform the Academic Office if they receive the thesis direct from the candidate or direct from the Department. The thesis may only be sent to the External Examiner by the Academic Office.

Examining Boards, in recommending a candidate for a degree, shall certify that the thesis submitted by the candidate substantially covers the scheme of research approved by the University.
Any part of the thesis which has already been accepted or is being concurrently submitted for any other degree or qualification in the University or elsewhere must be excluded from the examination.