Guidance for research degree examiners
Thank you for agreeing to examine our research degree candidates.
Below you will find the key documents and forms you require for the role. There is also guidance for independent chairs, information on academic regulations, and resources for examiners' fees and expenses.
Research degree examination information
Key documents
- Guidance Notes Relating to Examination for Research Degrees 2023-24 (PDF)
- Postgraduate Researcher Handbook 2023-24 (PDF)
- Guidance for conducting Online and Hybrid Vivas (PDF)
- Research thesis assessment criteria and award descriptor - Doctoral (PDF)
- Research thesis assessment criteria and award descriptor - MPhil and Masters by Research (PDF)
Forms to be submitted by both Examiners
Preliminary recommendations
- MS Forms version – submitted independently by each examiner prior to the viva
- PDF version of preliminary recommendations to preview questions.
Final recommendations (includes resubmissions) – submitted jointly with the other examiners after the viva:
- For Doctoral Awards (MS Forms). To preview questions, use PDF version: Doctoral Awards
- For Masters by Research Awards (MS Forms). To preview questions, use PDF version: Masters by Research Awards
- For Masters of Philosophy Awards (MS Forms). To preview questions, use PDF version: Masters of Philosophy Awards
- Examiner's Approval of Amendments (MS Forms). To preview questions, use PDF version: Examiners Approval of Amendments.
Please note: internal examiners should also refer to the StaffSpace Research Degrees page.
Additional guidance for Independent Chairs
The Independent Chair for the examination will be responsible for ensuring and attesting to the proper and fair conduct of the examination and for facilitating any essential communications between the candidate and the examiners that may be necessary after the oral examination, e.g. clarification on a required correction.
- Guidance for the Independent Chair of examiners and their role (PDF)
- Independent Chairs report (Form to be completed after the examination)
- Guidance for conducting online and hybrid vivas (PDF)
Academic regulations
The General Regulations for Students (GR1) and other policy documents, including the appeals (AR9) and complaints (GR2) procedures, are available on the University's policies and regulations page, available by clicking the blue button below.
Examiners' fees and expenses
Examiners will be paid a fixed fee for each candidate as follows:
- £200 for Doctoral Research degrees (PhD, Edd, PhD by prior publication, DBA, Prof Doc in Occ & Bus Psyc)
- £150 for Masters by Research Degrees
The payment of the examination fee will be made following the submission of a claim. At this point, Examiners may also claim travel and subsistence expenses incurred providing the corresponding receipts are supplied.
Templates for travel and subsistence claims
- Travel and subsistence Guidelines for External Examiners of Research Degrees (PDF)
- External Examiner Invoice PhD (Word doc – file downloads in browser)
- External Examiner Invoice Masters by Research (Word doc – file downloads in browser)
- External Examiner Invoice PhD by prior publication-portfolio (Word doc – file downloads in browser)
Local privacy notice for External Examiners
Contact us
If you have any feedback or questions about the examination process, email GRS@kingston.ac.uk.
Additional forms
- RD14: Independent Chairs Report on Research Degree Examination
- RD12C: Electronic Publishing Requirements for Final Approved Thesis Dissertation
(These last two forms are not used by examiners, but are completed by independent chair/viva and postgraduate researcher respectively.)
