Information​ for Postgraduate Research Examiners​​

PhD/MPhil/EngD Assess​​ment​​​​​

It is the aim of the University to complete the examination of postgraduate theses within three mo​​nths of the start of the examination process.  If you envisage being unlikely to meet this schedule, please get in touch with pgrcse@ed.ac.uk.

External Examiners​​​

For guidance on external examining of research degrees please see the University's handbook:

External Examiner Handbook​​

External Examiner fee payment​​

A payment of £175 will be made upon completion of the assessment process via direct bank transfer.

In order to claim the fee, the following documents must be completed:

• External Examiner Fee Claim form
• All examination paperwork (Part I, Part II and Part III reports)

Expenses

Reasonable expenses incurred in connection with an External Examiner’s duties, including travel, accommodation and/or subsistence costs, should be itemised on an expense claim form.

In order to claim expenses, the an Expenses Claim form will need to be completed and all receipts attached (scanned copies are usually fine, but we ask that examiners retain the originals until payment has been made). 

Internal Examiners

Please note, it is usual for the internal examiner to make arrangements for the oral examination. The Internal Examiner will be required to chair the meeting of the examiners and make sure that all participants are aware of the date, time and venue of the examination.  If it is intended that the supervisor be in attendance, the student's permission should be requested.

The Internal Examiner should photocopy the External Examiner's passport when they visit for the viva. When copying a passport, you should copy the outside front cover of the passport, the inside front cover and any Visas applicable to the United Kingdom, and all pages containing biometric information. Please sign, print name and date both front cover and photo page for verification.

Please return the completed examination forms to pgrcse@ed.ac.uk.

MSc by Research Assessment​​​

It is the aim of the University to complete the examination of postgraduate dissertation within two months of the start of the examination process.  If you envisage being unlikely to meet this schedule, please get in touch with pgrcse@ed.ac.uk. 

The examiners are asked to report independently, and without consultation with each other, on the dissertation. If initial examiner recommendations differ significantly, the Internal Examiner will be asked to contact the External Examiner in attempt to reach a joint recommendation.  Please return the completed examination forms to pgrcse@ed.ac.uk.

External Examiner fee payment 

A payment of £130 will be made upon completion of the assessment process via direct bank transfer.

In order to claim the fee, the following documents must be completed:

• External Examiner Fee Claim form
• Examination report

Forms (all completed forms should be returned to pgrcse@ed.ac.uk)

PhD, EngD and MPhil assessment:

MSc by Research assessment

PhD, EngD and MPhil resubmission

These forms should only be used for students who were recommended to resubmit their thesis for re-examination following their initial viva.

External Examiner Fee and Expenses

Related Links

Postgraduate Assessment Regulations for Research Degrees