Viva outcome and Joint report form

When the examiners have made their decision, the doctoral researcher – along with any observer – should be invited back into the room in order to receive the outcome. A single outcome must be made based on the assessment of the thesis combined with the doctoral researcher’s performance at the viva.

If the doctoral researcher becomes distressed on receiving an adverse outcome, the examiners are advised to contact the doctoral researcher’s supervisor(s) to provide support. If they are unavailable, the doctoral researcher’s Director of Doctoral Programmes should be contacted.

Only the appointed examiners may take part in the examination. There should not be any discussion about potential examination outcomes with any party outside the examination team, except where advice is sought from the Doctoral College Office.

If the examiners are unable to reach a joint decision, the Doctoral College Office must be notified immediately. Examiners will be required to submit separate reports, after which a third examiner shall be appointed, whose decision is final. 
Depending on the outcome, the examiners must clearly outline to the Doctoral Researcher the next stages in the process, including:

• the communication of any amendments or revision to the thesis;
• the process for reviewing the amendments or revisions (including who is responsible for reviewing and approving the amendments or revisions); and
• the timescale within which these must be completed.

The outcomes and assessment criteria available to Examiners are included on the report forms, in the Code of Practice (section 7) and published in Regulation 26, see sections 10 to 12.  

Possible outcomes available to examiners

• Pass: no amendments
• Pass: minor amendments
• Pass: modest amendments
• Refer: with or without a second oral examination
• Recommend award of MPhil with no amendments
• Recommend award of MPhil with minor amendments
• Recommend award of MPhil with modest amendments
• Fail: no award made and no re-submission permitted

An examiners’ joint report form should be completed after the examination, together with a list of any corrections. The Internal Examiner is responsible to send all reports by email to the Doctoral College Office following completion of the oral examination as soon as possible, and no later than 5 working days after the oral examination.