Your Right to Object to Potential Examiners

Around the time of giving notice of your intention to submit your thesis, your supervisors may discuss the names of potential examiners. Whilst it is acceptable for you to be aware of the names of the pool of examiners under consideration, you will not be advised of the names of those examiners finally recommended by your School or appointed by the University.

Examiners have the right to remain anonymous and if their identity is revealed to you (except following the examination process with their consent) the examination will be invalidated. In such circumstances, new examiners must be appointed and consequently, the examination process will be significantly delayed.

You have the right to identify any person(s) you believe should not be considered to examine your thesis. This does not mean that your supervisor is obliged to present you with an exhaustive list of potential examiners, and the onus is on you to raise any objection. You may exercise this right once only, prior to the commencement of the examination process. You can register your objection on the 'Notification of Intention to Submit' form. It is important to remember that this objection does not serve as a veto. If, on academic grounds, the School wishes to recommend the appointment of a particular examiner to whom you have objected, it can make a case to the Research Education & Development Committee for the appointment to proceed. The final decision to appoint a particular examiner rests with the Committee.