Quality Assurance Regulations: Section O

Section O: Criteria for the selection and appointment of research degree external examiners

 

O1. Standing, expertise and experience

All external examiners must:

• Possess appropriate subject expertise relevant to the research being examined.
• Have substantial research experience and a record of publication in the field.
• Normally demonstrate prior experience of research degree examination at a level equivalent to, or higher than, the award under examination.
• Be familiar with the University of Huddersfield’s regulations, procedures, and expectations for research degree awards.
• Where an examiner is new to research degree examination, the remaining examiner(s) must have sufficient experience to ensure academic rigour. Collectively, the examining team must have examined at least three research degrees at an equivalent level.
• Hold a research degree equivalent to the level being examined, or demonstrate national standing in the relevant subject area.

 

O2. Conflicts of interest and close involvement

The following individuals must not be appointed as examiners:

• Members of the candidate’s supervisory team or anyone directly involved in the candidate’s research.
• Former supervisees of the supervisor who graduated within the last five years.
• Individuals who have provided doctoral supervision to the candidate’s supervisor within the past five years.
• Anyone with a personal, contractual, or financial relationship with the candidate or supervisor(s) that may give rise to actual or perceived bias. Such relationships should be assessed carefully, particularly in the context of research contracts. “Personal” includes social and/or family connections.

 

In addition, the following must not be appointed as external examiners:

• Individuals with significant recent (normally within the last five years) or current involvement in substantive research activities with the candidate, supervisors, or other examiners, including co-authorship, co-investigation on funded projects, or co-supervision of research candidates. Co-authorship does not include cases where there has been no direct collaboration.
• Members of the University’s governing bodies or committees, or current University employees.
• Former staff or students of the University, unless at least two years have elapsed since their departure.

 

O3.   External examiner – term of office

Careful consideration should be given before appointing the same external examiner for successive candidates supervised by the same individual.

An external examiner for a doctoral thesis should not normally be appointed more than three times within a two-year period for new candidates. Eligibility to examine doctoral and master’s awards is assessed independently, and examiners may examine master’s theses within the same period.

For Master’s by Research examinations only, an examiner may be appointed for a two-year term and may examine an unlimited number of theses during that period, provided the criteria for expertise and experience are met. Following such a term, the examiner will be ineligible to act as a research degree examiner for three years. Individuals currently acting, or who have previously acted, as an external examiner for a University of Huddersfield taught course may also be appointed as external examiners for research degrees.

 

O4.   Exceptions

Where an appointment represents an exception to these criteria, the Director of Graduate Education may appoint an independent chair or ensure that the composition of the examining team provides appropriate balance in standing, expertise, and experience.

All exceptions must be approved by the Head of Quality Assurance.

 

O5.   Termination of an examiner’s appointment

An examiner’s appointment may be terminated prematurely only in exceptional circumstances. Any such request must be submitted in writing by the School’s Director of Graduate Education to the PVC (Research and Enterprise), with clear justification.

Grounds for premature termination may include:

• Failure to participate in the examination without reasonable cause.
• Failure to submit required reports without reasonable cause.
• Failure to comply with examination regulations or University policies.

Following approval to terminate an appointment, the School must follow the University’s guidance on the appointment of a replacement examiner.