16.1.1 The examination for the MPhil and PhD shall have 2 stages (with the exception of practiced based work):
- the submission and preliminary assessment of the thesis,
- its defence by oral viva or approved alternative examination.
16.1.2 The candidate shall satisfy any conditions of eligibility for examination required by the Research Degree Committee.
16.1.3 A candidate who has been required to undertake a programme of formally assessed shall not be permitted to proceed to research degree examination until the course work examiners are satisfied with the candidate’s performance. The result of the assessment shall be communicated to the examiners of the thesis.
16.1.4 The Research Degree Committee shall ensure that all examinations are conducted and the recommendations of the examiners are presented wholly in accordance with the University’s policy. In any instance where the Research Degree Committee is made aware of a failure to comply with all the procedures of the examination process, it may declare the examination null and void and appoint new examiners.
16.1.5 All viva examinations will be agreed between the students, in conjunction with their supervisory team, and they can choose from 1 of 3 options:
- an all in-person viva;
- a hybrid viva, where the external participates remotely but the internal and candidate are physically present (note that it is the responsibility of the internal examiner to ensure the facilities are in place are in place for this;
- an all-online viva, which must be cleared in advance using the procedure established during Covid.
16.1.6 Where evidence of plagiarism in the preparation of the thesis or other irregularities in the conduct of the examination come to light subsequent to the recommendation of the examiners, the Academic Conduct Officer must be informed immediately, who will deal with the matter in line with the University’s Student Complaints and Disciplinary Procedures.
16.1.7 The degree of MPhil or PhD may be awarded posthumously on the basis of a thesis completed by a candidate, which is ready for submission for examination. In such cases the Research Degree Committee shall seek evidence that the candidate would have been likely to have been successful had the oral examination taken place.