Selecting Examiners for DPhil or MSc by Research Vivas

A thesis is examined by two examiners, one internal and one external to the University.  Supervisors are asked to suggest the names of two internal and external examiners to the Medical Sciences Board and, as far as possible, to consult with the student to check if he or she has any reasonable objection to any of those proposed.

Examiner suitability

• Examiners should be of high academic standing in the appropriate field and, where possible, should themselves possess a higher degree although the latter would not be an absolute requirement.
• Supervisors are required to check that the nominated examiners do not fall into any of the categories or circumstances that may be deemed as a conflict of interest (see below).
• The nominated external examiners should normally be based within the United Kingdom. Examiners based in other countries can be considered if a good reason is given for their nomination.
• Transfer/confirmation assessors can subsequently be invited as degree examiners for the student provided they have not given further assistance to the student between transfer/confirmation of status and final submission of the thesis.
• The names of reserve internal and external examiners are requested to avoid delays should the first person invited decline. 
• Neither examiner will be any of the candidate’s supervisors nor college advisor(s).

Conflicts of interest

External examiners

No one in the following categories or circumstances should be appointed as an external examiner:

1. a member of a governing body or committee of the University of Oxford or a current employee of the University of Oxford
2. anyone with a contractual or personal relationship with either the student or their supervisor(s) or who has a financial interest in the research of the student.  Personal is taken here to mean a social and/or family connection
3. anyone who is already, or knows they will be, in a position significantly to influence the future of a student: e.g. a person who is on the appointment panel for a post for which the student has applied;
4. anyone significantly involved in recent or current substantive collaborative research activities with the student;
5. former staff or students of the University, unless a period of three years has elapsed.

Departments are required to also carefully consider whether the same external examiner should be appointed for successive students of the same supervisor.

Internal examiners

An internal examiner should be sufficiently distant from the candidate and supervisor(s), both academically and personally, to ensure an impartial and objective opinion of the thesis. The following should be considered:

1. anyone who has had substantial co-authoring or collaborative involvement in the candidate’s thesis should not be appointed as an internal examiner
2. anyone having a close personal relationship with the candidate or supervisor should not be appointed as an internal examiner

Additional information

Information on next steps to apply to appoint examiners.

Guidance for examiners on how to access the thesis, payment etc.: 

Guidance for students on how to prepare for a viva.