Administrative Checks for Examiners of Vivas

  • Past Events

We recently held an online event which sought to compare experiences across the sector on right-to-work (RTW) checks and other administrative challenges related to the employment of external examiners to conduct PhD vivas.

We polled an audience of roughly 60 people to get a sense of administrative practices. The results and the discussion that followed revealed that UK universities are taking diverse approaches to the employment of external examiners — a situation that has partly arisen from changes made during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Q1: What RTW checks take place at your institution for PGR External Examiners?

  • No RTW checks undertaken (21.8%).
  • RTW checks undertaken but flexible as to when and flexible as to online or in-person (20.0%).
  • RTW checks undertaken at/​before appointment but flexible as to online or in-person (43.6%).
  • RTW checks always undertaken at/​before appointment and always in-person (9.1%).
  • Other (5.5%).

Q2: Does your institution allow overseas PGR External Examiners to undertake the work/​viva from outside of the UK?

  • Yes – RTW checks required (20.0%).
  • Yes – RTW checks are not required (70.9%).
  • No (9.1%).

Do you have an idea for an event you would like to run in partnership with UKCGE? 

We’re keen to hear your ideas for topics and we can also help you to run an event. 
Get in touch

Related news