Examination outcome recommendations

Examination outcomes

Both examiners MUST complete the appropriate sections of the Joint Report (RD4) form. Examiners may recommend one of the following examination outcomes on academic grounds.

1. Pass subject to no corrections
2. Pass subject to typographical/presentational corrections. The candidate makes any corrections prior to submission of the final version of the thesis, usually within four weeks of being notified of the outcome.
3. Pass subject to minor corrections to be made within three months. The examiners must provide a separated typed list of corrections that they wish to see made. Minor corrections should not require the candidate to conduct further research or undertake substantial further work. These include typographical errors, clarifying points, rephrasing, editing/adding paragraphs, correcting references, etc. The internal examiner must confirm in writing that these have been made satisfactorily. Corrections must be made and the thesis submitted within three months.
4. Pass subject to major corrections to be made within six months. The examiners must provide a separate typed list of corrections that they wish to see made. Major corrections require the candidate to undertake substantial further work but the corrected thesis should not require re-examination. Such major corrections include more extensive editorial revisions, the addition of substantial new material, re-writing of substantial parts of the thesis, re-analysis of existing data, etc. The internal examiner must confirm in writing that these have been made satisfactorily. Corrections must be made and the thesis submitted within six months.
5. Referral for re-examination in up to 12 months. The candidate has not met the requirements for the degree examined but may resubmit, on one occasion only, a revised thesis for re-examination within 12 months. The examiners must provide a separate statement describing the shortcomings of the thesis and the changes required. These may include, amongst other things, editorial corrections and revisions, rewriting a part, parts or the whole of the thesis, the carrying out of further research and/or experimental work. They must also specify the referral period, which should not normally be less than six months or exceed 12 months.
   
   For viva outcomes (f) to (j) (below) the candidate is awarded a degree at a lower level from the qualification for which they were initially assessed (for example awarding an MPhil to a PhD candidate). In such cases, the examiners must clearly provide in their statement how the candidate has met the criteria for the lower award in addition to the reasons for not meeting the criteria for the higher award.
6. Award of a (lower award) subject to no corrections.
7. Award of a (lower award) subject to minor typographical/presentational corrections. The candidate makes any corrections prior to submission of the final version of the thesis, usually within four weeks of being notified of the outcome.
8. Award of a (lower award) subject to minor corrections to be made within three months. The candidate has not met the requirements for the degree examined but has met the requirements for the (lower award) subject to the approval of minor corrections. The examiners must provide a list of the corrections that they wish to see made. Minor corrections should not require the candidate to conduct further research or undertake substantial further work. These include typographical errors, clarifying points, rephrasing, editing/adding paragraphs, correcting references, etc. The internal examiner must confirm in writing these have been made satisfactorily. Corrections must be made and the thesis submitted within three months.
9. Award of a (lower award) subject to major corrections to be made within six months. The candidate has not met the requirements for the degree examined but has met the requirements for the (lower award) subject to the approval of major corrections. The examiners must provide a list of the corrections that they wish to see made. Major corrections require the candidate to undertake substantial further work but the corrected thesis should not require re-examination. Such major corrections include more extensive editorial revisions, the addition of substantial new material, re-writing of substantial parts of the thesis, re-analysis of existing data, etc. and the internal examiner must confirm in writing that these have been made satisfactorily. Revisions must be made and thesis submitted within six months.
10. Referral for a (lower award). The candidate has not met the requirements for the degree examined but may resubmit a revised thesis for re-examination for a (lower award). The examiners must provide a statement describing the shortcomings of the thesis and the changes required. These may include, amongst other things, editorial corrections and revisions, rewriting a part, parts or the whole of the thesis, the carrying out of further research and/or experimental work. They must also specify the referral period, which should not normally be less than six months or exceed 12 months.
11. Fail. The examiners must provide a clear statement describing the shortcomings of the thesis.

Thesis by published works

The examiners for a submission by published work shall declare the result of an examination for:

1. the degree of Doctor of Philosophy as 'pass', ‘minor corrections to the summary’ ‘resubmission of published work on one further occasion only’, ‘award of Master of Philosophy’ or 'fail'
2. the degree of Master of Philosophy as 'pass', ‘minor corrections to the summary’ ‘resubmission of published work on one further occasion only’, ‘award of Masters by Dissertation’ or 'fail'
3. the degree of Masters by Dissertation as 'pass', ‘minor corrections to the summary’ ‘resubmission of published work on one further occasion only’ or ‘fail’.

The examiners for a submission by publication may recommend any result that is available for the degree examined (see Regulations 4.55, 4.60 or 4.71).