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Research

Preparing for your examination

The examination process is based on an oral examination (the viva) of your written-up thesis. You will defend your thesis before a panel of examiners by explaining your work, detailing the choices you made during your research degree, and answering the examiners' questions.

The outcome of your examination will be based on the examiners' assessment of your thesis and how well you handled discussions and questions in the viva.

Your viva may be held in person or online.

Stages of the viva process

1. Preparation and scheduling

  • You must formally declare your intention to submit your thesis for examination at least three months before submission.
  • Your Director of Studies will propose your examination team.
  • The Graduate School team will send your thesis to the examiners and ask each of them to independently complete a preliminary report on your thesis.
  • Arrangements for your examination are typically made within three months of submission.

2. Examiners' preliminary reports

  • Each examiner independently reviews the thesis and submits a confidential report at least three days before the viva.
  • These reports will not be shared with you or your supervisors.

3. The viva

  • The viva examination is normally held online but may be conducted in-person by request.
  • The viva is conducted in English.
  • The attendees are:
    • at least two examiners (at least one examiner must be external to the University)
    • an independent chair, who facilitates the discussion but does not examine your work
    • a supervisor or adviser may attend with your consent, but must leave the room after you have completed your discussions with the examiners and before the examiners begin their deliberations. Your supervisor or adviser is present only as an observer.

The viva is a structured discussion where you will typically answer questions about:

  • the research process
  • the originality and significance of your work
  • your methodology and findings.

Online vivas are conducted via Microsoft Teams. All participants must have suitable devices and internet access.

The viva may be rescheduled if technical or health issues arise.

Roles and responsibilities

Examiners

  • Must ensure a fair and rigorous assessment.
  • May request additional oral or written clarification.
  • Can recommend:
    • award of the degree
    • award subject to amendments being made to the thesis. You will be asked to make amendments to your thesis, and the examiners will review these and decide whether to award your research degree
    • resubmission of the thesis for an additional examination
    • no award.

Independent chair

  • Must ensure that the viva is conducted fairly.
  • Does not assess the candidate.
  • May advise on regulations.

Outcomes

Possible outcomes (first submission):

  • Pass: your research degree will be awarded.
  • Pass with amendments: you may be asked to make amendments to your thesis, which can consist of minor or major changes and corrections. You will be given two to six months to make these amendments.
  • Downgraded pass: if you have been examined for a PhD, the examiners may determine that the work is more suitable for an MPhil qualification. If so, you will typically be asked to make some amendments to your thesis.
  • Resubmission: if substantial revisions to your thesis are needed, you may be asked to revise and resubmit your thesis for an additional, separate examination. Twelve months is typically provided for you to make the required revisions.
  • Fail: in this case, no degree is awarded, and no re-examination is permitted. This would not normally happen at first examination and, typically at second examination stage, the award of an MPhil would be recommended.

Amendments must be submitted within the timeframe specified by the examiners, unless a formal extension of assessment is granted. Final approval of the amendments may be required from one or both examiners.

Temporary absence or disruption

If you cannot return:

  • the viva may be rescheduled
  • the examiners may proceed if enough evidence has been gathered
  • you may be deemed to have failed if you leave your examination without agreement.

Depositing your thesis

After your degree has been awarded, you will be asked to deposit your thesis on the University's research repository, TeesRep. This increases the visibility of your work and provides the opportunity for other researchers to discover and access your research.

If your work contains sensitive data, the library team discuss options for making your work accessible whilst respecting any confidentiality requirements.

You can also use TeesRep to view theses previously completed by students at the University.