16.3.1 A candidate shall be examined orally on the programme of work and on the field of study in which the programme lies. Where for reasons of sickness, disability or comparable valid cause the Research Degree Committee is satisfied that a candidate would be under serious disadvantage if required to undergo an oral viva examination, an alternative form of examination may be approved.
Such approval shall not be given on the grounds that the candidate’s knowledge of the language in which the thesis is presented is inadequate. Where reasonable adjustments to an examination and viva are required, examiners will be notified and a report from Wellbeing Services will be sent to them containing all the approved recommendations for the conducting the examination and viva.
16.3.2 It is the responsibility of the internal examiner to make all the necessary arrangements for the oral viva examination. This will include agreeing the date of the oral viva examination and notifying the candidate, external examiner(s) and supervisors in writing by email, of the date and the arrangements for the oral examination. Where the internal examiner is external to the University, the Faculty or Departmental Postgraduate Research Tutor shall take responsibility for organising the oral examination.
16.3.3 The candidate shall take no part in the arrangement of the examination and shall have no formal contact whatsoever with the external and internal examiner(s) from the time they are appointed and throughout the whole of the examination process, including the period leading up to the formal notification by the Research Degree Committee that the degree may be conferred.
16.3.4 The oral examination shall normally be conducted within 3 months from the date of receipt of the thesis by the examiners. The oral examination shall not be arranged less than 1 month from the date of receipt of the thesis by the examiners in order to give the examiners a reasonable period to assess the work.
Where circumstances arise which prevent the oral examination being conducted within the maximum period, the Research Degree Team shall be notified of the reasons for the delay. Following consultation with the Chair of the Research Degree Committee, a decision will be taken as to whether an extension to the period for examination shall be approved or if a new examining team should be appointed.
16.3.5 All face to face viva examinations should be held at this University, however in special circumstances it may be held elsewhere, for example at a Collaborating Establishment.
Where the viva examination is being held online, the Internal Examiner must liaise with the candidate to ensure that they are able to take part with the viva if it is conducted by e.g. Skype, Zoom, Video Conferencing etc; whether they have adequate IT and Wi-Fi connections; and where the candidate will be based and what sort of facilities will be available in terms of the room that will be used. This will be considered by the Chair of the Research Degrees Subject Sub-Committee, and if appropriate, the arrangements will be approved.
To note - no online, or face to face viva, must ever be recorded. Therefore, if the viva is to be conducted by the use Zoom, the Internal Examiner must ensure that the record function is turned off before the viva begins.
16.3.6 Supervisors, advisers and the Chair of the Research Degree Committee may, with the consent of the candidate, attend the oral examination, but shall not contribute in any way during the course of the viva and must withdraw prior to the deliberations of the examiners on the outcome of the examination.