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EdD students should refer to Section 8.
MRes students should refer to Section 9.
Candidates for research degrees are examined on the basis of their theses. The examination process is initiated by you giving (at least) three months’ notice in writing to the Research Degrees Office of the intended date for submission of your thesis, together with confirmation of the title. Theses can be submitted at any time during the year, although those submitted during the summer may be subject to some delay if examiners aren’t available for oral examinations.
When your notice is received, arrangements will be made for your head of discipline, in consultation with the internal supervisors, to nominate an examination panel. A minimum of one internal and one external examiner is required. In some circumstances, a second external examiner may be appointed. The examination arrangements will be made by the Independent Chair, who will also be present during the examination to ensure the appropriate procedures are followed. Normally one of your supervisors will be present as an observer at the oral examination.
Guidelines to the examination process are available from our website:
www.open.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/directly-registered-students/examinations.php
Oral examinations should, if possible, be held within six weeks of submission (as long as the correct period of notice has been given), though this can’t be guaranteed since examiners may not be available. It will almost certainly be longer during the summer.
Please ask the Research Degrees Office if you need advice or have any queries about research degree examinations.
