Before the thesis is submitted 

• » The thesis must be submitted at the end of the standard period of study and within the maximum period of study for the degree on which you are registered
• » During the final stages of your PhD (e.g. during the final year) you should attend any relevant workshops
• » You should also consult the University’s Regulations for the Format and Presentation of Theses for Research Degrees
• » Well in advance of the date you intend to submit the thesis (at least 4 months): you should begin thinking about the process for examination entry and discussing appropriate examiners with your supervisor.

Entering for Examination

• » At least 3 months before you wish to submit – you must fill out the Examination Entry Form and pass it to your Supervisor for completion
• » The Supervisor will then approach potential Examiners, complete the form and send it to the PGR Tutor and RSA for checking the eligibility of the proposed Examiners.
• » There are always at least 2 examiners, one of whom is not a member of staff at the University and is appointed as External Examiner.
• » The Examinations Group will review and approve recommendations for the appointment of Examiners.

Submitting the thesis

• » Candidates deposit the correct number of copies of thesis in the correct format and appropriate binding (soft binding recommended at this stage) at the Student Services Centre Counter where they must sign a Statement of Academic Integrity Form
• » RSA checks the format of the thesis and dispatches the thesis to Examiners (normally within 2 working days). If your examination entry form was not received in RSA at least 3 months before thesis submission there could be a delay with your thesis being sent out to the examiners.

The Oral Examination

• » The Internal Examiner makes arrangements for the oral examination. The examiners are asked to accept a timescale of 3 months in which to complete the oral examination (6 months for MD).
• » The candidate attends for oral examination
• » The Examiners informally notify candidate of the result (usually within 24 hours). One of the following results will be given: Pass* (or Pass subject to the correction of minor editorial corrections or stated minor deficiencies**); Referral or Fail***

After the oral examination

• » The Examiners prepare an Examiners’ Report on the examination which is passed to the Postgraduate Research Tutor in the School for review before forwarding to RSA.
• » The report of the Examiners is considered at the next Examinations Group meeting. In all cases the Examiners’ recommendation is subject to final approval by the Examinations Group at its meeting.
• » Candidates recommended for the award of the degree with no corrections can arrange for their thesis to be hard bound in accordance with the format and presentation regulations and complete their Thesis Deposit Form
• » Candidates that have passed subject to minor errors or stated minor deficiencies should begin their corrections immediately after the oral examination and return them to the Internal Examiner by the 4 or 12 week deadline for checking and approval, along with their completed Thesis Deposit Form
• » Once the Internal Examiner has approved the corrections the candidate can arrange for their thesis to be hard bound.
• » Referred candidates will receive Notes for Guidance to aid them in preparing for resubmission. These must be submitted with the Examiners’ Report for approval by the Graduate Board’s Examinations Group at one of its meetings. The Notes will be issued to the candidate by RSA after approval by the Examinations Group.

Deposit of final thesis

• » All candidates should complete the Thesis Deposit Form which specifies for the library whether your thesis can be made immediately available or whether a restriction on access might be necessary. This must be checked and countersigned by your Supervisor and Postgraduate Research Tutor. If you were awarded the degree with minor errors or minor deficiencies you should also pass the form to your Internal Examiner along with the corrections to your thesis
• » The final hard bound version of the thesis (including any approved required corrections) should deposited at the Student Services Centre with a completed Thesis Deposit Form and, for e-thesis submission, a CD Form and CD.

Publication of Pass List

A candidates name will be published on a pass list after:

• » the examiners’ report has been approved by the Graduate Board’s Examinations Group at one if it’s meetings;
• » RSA has received confirmation that the internal examiner is satisfied that any corrections required to the thesis have been completed (normally by his/her signature on the Thesis Deposit Form);
• » RSA has received the final, hard bound version of the thesis along with the fully completed and signed Thesis Deposit Form;
• » For candidates commencing study from September 2009 onwards, RSA has also received the final version of the thesis in pdf eThesis format
• » all debts to the University have been paid - this includes payments of all fees and fines, and returning all library books

Graduation

• » Candidates are eligible to graduate in absentia or at a degree ceremony.  Candidates must register their preference online.

• * The possibility of an award with distinction is also available to those being examined for MPhil or Mastership by Research
• ** 4 weeks from the date of the oral examination for minor editorial corrections, 12 weeks from the date of the oral examination for stated minor deficiencies
• ***Candidates submitting for a PhD may be recommended for the award of MPhil if they fail to achieve the standard for the award of a PhD but satisfy the criteria for the award of the degree of MPhil. They may also be referred for resubmission for MPhil or may fail with no possibility of resubmission.