Target Audience: This workshop is for academic staff undertaking or expecting to undertake the role of internal or external examiner of a doctoral thesis for the first time.

The workshop is also suitable for supervisors whose prior experience is of a different doctoral examination model (such as the Australian or European system). It considers the purposes of the viva voce examination used for UK and Nottingham doctorates and will help supervisors identify how they can best prepare their students for this examination.

Description:

During this course you will:

• consider and discuss the requirements of a University of Nottingham/UK doctoral qualification
• explore the thesis examination process and, in particular, clarify:
  • the different purpose(s) of a viva
  • the roles and responsibilities of the internal and external examiners
  • the University of Nottingham doctoral examination process, documentation and regulations
• reflect on how supervisors can support their students during the latter stages of their research and in preparation for the viva

Aims/ Objectives: 

This course will help you to develop your understanding of the process of examination of a doctoral thesis by viva voce.  

By the end of the course you will:

• understand the requirements of a University of Nottingham/UK doctoral qualification
• understand the thesis examination process
• be aware of how to support students through the final stages of the doctoral process

Process: Interactive workshop including presentations, discussions, networking and case studies. 

Related Courses: 

If you are an early career academic gaining experience of PhD supervision and examination you may also find the course Contemporary Issues in Supervising Research Students useful.

Course Accessibility

The following table shows a summary of what is needed to participate in the course. 

If you feel you will experience any difficulties participating, please let us know via the ‘special requirements’ tab, providing as much information as possible. The special requirements tab can be completed when you book your place. Alternatively, you can contact us directly at ra-training@nottingham.ac.uk.

Print off pre-requisite paperwork/ resources and bring them to the course
Bring your own laptop/ PC to the course (optional)
Access seminar room on campus
Attend the course at the specified date and time
Watch and listen to the course tutor(s) and/ or other attendees
Follow presentation slides during the course
Take part in group activities/ discussions

Booking Conditions

Latecomer policy

Researchers should plan to arrive prior to the advertised course start time. Except for exceptional reasons, there will be no admittance to a Researcher Academy or Faculty Training Programme (FTP) course 15 minutes after the advertised course start time.

Importance of booking commitment

When booking on to a Researcher Academy short course you are entering into a commitment to attend. If you find that you are no longer available to attend you MUST cancel your place (on the system if more than three days before the course) or if at short notice by emailing ra-training@nottingham.ac.uk. This will ensure that your place can be offered to another researcher on the waiting list. Failure to cancel a place results in other researchers missing out on places through the waiting list process.

It is unacceptable for researchers to just not attend when booked onto a course. The Researcher Academy maintains records of those who repeatedly do not attend courses they have booked. This may affect future eligibility to book onto further Researcher Academy courses and will affect considerations for Researcher Academy funded opportunities.

Pre-Requisites Should this course run in the afternoon at 13:30 hrs, tea and coffee will be served on arrival, but please bring your own lunch with you and perhaps a bottle of water.