11. Disputes

In the event of a dispute between the Examiners as to the result of the examination, the Examiners' Formal Recommendation on the Outcome of the Examination should not be signed, but instead the Chair should notify the Academic Quality and Records Office. The Academic Quality and Records Office will issue guidance and report forms for use by arbitrating external examiners.

The following section from Standing Order 20 is applicable in all such cases:

45. When a dispute arises between the External Examiner and Internal Examiner(s) the usual Report and Result Form should be marked by the Examiners and Chair so as to indicate that the Board has been unable to agree upon a recommendation.

In such a case it is within the power of the Vice-Chancellor to resort to another external examiner who shall be asked to arbitrate.

When selecting an Arbitrating External Examiner the Vice-Chancellor may take into account any written reports submitted by the members of the Examining Board and may also take into account – but need not be bound by – any nomination made by the original Board.

Upon appointment by the Vice-Chancellor, an Arbitrating External Examiner shall be given by the Registry a copy of the candidate's work together with the reports of the original examiners and the Report and Result Form and 'Notes for Arbitrating External Examiners'.

When considering the candidate's work an Arbitrating External Examiner may choose whether or not to refer to the reports of the original examiners (and if so, when he/she might do so). He/she may also choose to conduct a further oral examination and, if so, whether or not the original examiners may be invited to attend.

When the Arbitrating External Examiner has concluded the consideration of the work, the outcome should be communicated to the Chair of Examining Board, in the first instance. The Chair shall arrange for the Report and Result Form to be completed, signed and returned to the Registry.