16.4 Independent Chair

16.4.1 An Independent Chair may be appointed in the following situations and should be proposed when the application for approval of examination arrangements is submitted to the Research Degree Committee for approval:

• the internal examiner has not previously examined a higher degree and an Independent Chair may be necessary to ensure consistency;
• where the external examiner is not fully acquainted with UK procedures for Doctorate examinations;
• at the discretion of the Research Degree Committee when the application for approval of examination arrangements is considered;
• where a student has taken longer than the normal period of time to complete, i.e. 4 years for full-time students and 5 years for part-time students;
• an Independent Chair must be present at all second vivas;
• at the discretion of the Research Degrees Sub-Committee if there is reason to feel the viva will benefit from the presence of an external party;
• a student may request that an Independent Chair is present, however the Research Degrees Sub-Committee may decline approval if a Chair is deemed unnecessary.

16.4.2 The role of an Independent Chair:

• the primary role of the Independent Chair is to ensure that the University’s policies and procedures are carried out as stated in the Research Degree Policy and Procedures Handbook, and the Guidance notes for internal and external examiners.
• the Independent Chair does not attend the pre-viva meeting with the examiners. However, if they have any regulatory questions as a result of their discussions, they may consult the Independent Chair before the viva begins.
• at the beginning of the viva the Independent Chair should introduce the candidate to the examiners and then hand over all matters related to the viva to the examiners and remain in the room as an observer;
• the independent Chair should not:
  1. read the thesis;
  2. make any contributions to the academic examination of the thesis;
  3. make any contributions to the academic evaluation of the thesis by the Examiners;
  4. attend the pre-viva meeting.
• in difficult situations the independent Chair may advise the examiners of the particular regulations and procedures that may be applied;
• an Independent Chair is not expected to have any academic expertise in the area being examined, nor to bring to the examining process any such expertise she/he may coincidentally possess;
• at the end of the viva the Independent Chair will complete the relevant section of the final report form confirming the examiners’ recommendations and detailing any issues that may have arisen;
• in the event of a review or appeal against an examination decision, the Independent Chair of the examination may be approached by the Chair of the University’s Research Degree Committee or the review panel for further information.