Role and responsibilities of external examiners (taught degrees) and MSc(Res)/MSt(Res)
External examiners must become familiar with the structure, learning and teaching methods, and assessment techniques for their assigned modules and programmes. They must provide advice to the module and programme coordinators and recommend change where appropriate.
Registry provides all new external examiners with sufficient information and support to enable them to carry out their duties effectively.
External examiners should become familiar with the information provided in the following links. Registry can provide printed copies if requested.
- External examining policy (undergraduate and postgraduate taught) - outlines the processes and procedures relating to the role of external examiners for taught programmes.
- External Examiner guidance: Sharing undergraduate and postgraduate external examiner reports
- Assessment of postgraduate research students policy – guidance on external examining for postgraduate research students
- Undergraduate Senate regulations
- Postgraduate Senate regulations
For further policies and forms, see all academic policies and regulations.
Annual reports
All external examiners are required to complete an annual report commenting on the appropriateness of the standards of the assessments that they have examined. External examiners must submit the annual report by:
- 30 July for undergraduate programmes
- 4 November for taught postgraduate programmes.
In the final year of appointment, external examiners must provide additional information in their report, including:
- an overview of the provision throughout the appointment
- the standards of awards
- any wider issues to which the University should give consideration.
This final-year report will be provided to the outgoing external examiner's successor.
MSc (Res) and MSt (Res) theses
Schools are expected to use any of their current undergraduate or taught postgraduate external examiners for MSc (Res) and MSt (Res) theses.
Schools should send all submitted theses to the external examiner for moderation. Normally, this should happen before the student has been notified of the outcome.
For MSc (Res) and MSt (Res), the role of the external examiner is to:
- monitor assessment standards and the quality of the internal examiners' reports
- submit a short report commenting on the above (a single report for all theses and reports moderated by each examiner is fine)
- provide advice on problematic cases that cannot be resolved within the School (i.e. the internal examiners do not agree on their recommendations). The final decision will be with the School.