The Essex website uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are consenting to their use. Please visit our cookie policy to find out which cookies we use and why.
View cookie policy.
Appointment criteria for research degree examiners
Eligibility to be an external examiner
The external examiner for a research degree should be:
research active with appropriate expertise
normally employed in an HE institution (if not, including Emeritus Professors, a case as to their suitability needs to be made)
a senior member of staff and/or an experienced examiner (if not, a senior and experienced internal examiner must be appointed)
qualified to the level at which they are being appointed to examine (if not, a case as to their suitability needs to be made).
The external examiner should not:
have been the student’s supervisor (main, joint or secondary) other than acting as a temporary supervisor for a period of up to a year but not in the final 12 months before submission of the thesis
have been a member of the Supervisory Panel during the final six months before submission of the thesis
have a professional or personal relationship with the student, supervisor or the external examiner that might give rise to a conflict of interest
be the partner or a close relative of the supervisor (main, joint or secondary).
Eligibility to be an internal examiner
The internal examiner for a research degree should be:
a member of the academic or research staff of the University or Partner Institution
research active with appropriate expertise
normally have a degree, or equivalent, at the level at which they are being appointed to examine (if not a case as to their suitability needs to be made). A Professor with appropriate publications would be considered to be ‘equivalent’ and a case would not need to be made.
The internal examiner should not:
have been the student’s supervisor (main, joint or secondary) other than acting as a temporary supervisor for a period of up to a year but not in the final 12 months before submission of the thesis
have been a member of the Supervisory Panel during the final six months before submission of the thesis
have a professional or personal relationship with the student or the external examiner that might give rise to a conflict of interest
be the partner or a close relative of the supervisor (main, joint or secondary).