Consideration of the Examiners Reports

It is important to remember that the final outcome of your examination will be determined by the Research Education & Development Committee (REDC) and not by the examiners. In making the final determination, REDC will consider all the examiners reports provided, together with the recommendations of your School and the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee, where applicable.

The process for consideration of the examiners reports is detailed below:

1. If both examiners recommend the award of the degree without amendments, REDC will normally accept the recommendations of the examiners and the outcome of the examination will be to award the degree
2. If both examiners recommend the award of the degree subject to amendments, REDC will normally accept the recommendations of the examiners and the outcome of the examination will be to award the degree, subject to the specified amendments being made to the thesis to the satisfaction of University
3. If the examiners present divergent recommendations, or if at least one examiner recommends that the thesis be revised and resubmitted or the degree not be awarded (recommendation categories 3 or 4), the supervisors will be sent copies of the examiners' reports and the principal supervisor will be asked to comment on them and to make a recommendation on behalf of the supervisory panel. The Faculty Higher Degrees Committee will then consider all the documentation presented and recommend an examination outcome or (more typically) recommend that a third examiner be appointed. In cases where a third examiner is appointed, the examiner will independently examine the thesis and recommend an examination outcome. REDC will consider all three examiners' reports, together with the supervisor's report and the Faculty Higher Degree Committee's recommendation before determining the final outcome of the examination;
4. On rare occasions where there is a stalemate in the examination process; for example, the examiners' recommendations are such that it is not possible for a consensus decision to be made, an arbitrator will normally be appointed. The arbitrator will be given copies of the reports from all the previous examiners, together with the supervisor's report and will be asked to adjudicate. The recommendation of the arbitrator is generally accepted and treated as final.

An arbitrator may be appointed instead of a third examiner if REDC considers that it is expedient to do so. This course of action is undertaken very rarely and is determined on a case-by-case basis. REDC may also elect to appoint an entirely new set of examiners. Again, such a course of action is rarely taken and is determined on a case-by-case basis.