Format of the Oral Examination 

The oral examination may be held in-person (on campus), fully remote or through a hybrid model where one or more participants attend remotely.  The School Postgraduate Research Committee is responsible for determining the specific viva arrangements for each examination and should formally inform all parties involved once the decision is made.  Factors contributing to this decision may include:

1. Preference of the examiners, the student and the supervisory team.
2. Availability and cost of the examiners and the student to travel to the University.
3. Support available for the student.
4. Technology available to participants to conduct the viva online.

Where a viva is held remotely, or in hybrid, the examination should be conducted in compliance with the Study Regulations for Research Degree Programmes (6. Assessment/Award).

Remote Viva Guidelines are available which provide the panel and the student with additional support and considerations relevant to an online examination environment.  

The Oral Examination Process 

Regulation 6.8 outlines the oral examination process, award decisions, and the procedure to be followed if the examiners cannot reach agreement on a decision.

An oral examination is compulsory for all Research Degree Programmes (including for all resubmissions following an outcome of revise and resubmit).  It may serve a number of different functions, including the following:

1. It provides the student with the opportunity to defend the submission through high-level debate with experts in the subject.
2. It gives the examiners an opportunity to explore any doubts they may have about the material presented in the submission.
3. It can be used to determine that the student is the author of the written materials submitted.
4. It enables the examiners to check that the student has a thorough understanding of the theoretical framework, issues, methods and statistical analysis involved.