Text only

A-Z Index · About the Registry · Contact Details · Downloadable Forms Timetables (Teaching and Examination) · University Calendar (Degree Regulations) Undergraduate Catalogue of Courses · Postgraduate Catalogue of Courses · Academic Quality Handbook

External examiners

External examiners are appointed to ensure that standards are maintained on a comparable level with universities throughout the United Kingdom and that the system of assessment is seen to be fair to all students.  The University greatly values the contribution made by external examiners to its quality assurance procedures.  The University Senate has approved guidance published in the Academic Quality Handbook to assist both external examiners and the University’s academic schools and colleges.  The Handbook is informed by the QAA’s Code of Practice for the Assurance of Academic Quality and Standards in Higher Education and can be accessed at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality.

Taught programmes

External examiners

Guidance  Guidance for external examiners for taught programmes is published in the following sections of the Academic Quality Handbook:

• Section 7: Assessment and Examination Policies and Practice: Taught Programmes and Courses.
• Section 9: External Examining: Taught Courses and Programmes.

Annual reports  With effect from June 2008, external examiners for taught programmes are invited to submit their annual reports via a secure, dedicated portal on the University’s website.  It can be accessed at http://abdn.ac.uk/extexam.  Any external examiner who prefers to use a paper annual report form should request one from Academic Services (extexam@abdn.ac.uk).

Expenses forms  The expenses form can be downloaded from:

Academic schools

Nominating external examiners for taught programmes  Academic schools can download the nomination form for prospective external examiners for taught programmes from here.  A brief CV (2-3 pages) should be attached to each nomination form before it is sent to the University Registry.

Research programmes

External examiners

Guidance  Guidance for external examiners for research programmes is published in the following section of the Academic Quality Handbook:

• Section 8: Research Students (http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/section8.shtml)

Report forms  External examiners for research degrees can download report forms as follows:

Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

• Independent Report Form
• Joint Report Form
• Resubmission Joint Report Form

Degree of Master of Philosophy

• Independent Report Form
• Joint Report Form
• Resubmission Joint Report Form

Degree of One Year Research Masters

• Independent Report Form
• Joint Report Form
• Resubmission Joint Report

Degree of Doctor of Medicine

• Independent Report Form
• Joint Report Form

Expenses forms  Expenses forms are sent to external examiners for research programmes by the University Registry.  If extra copies are required, they can be downloaded from Downloadable Forms

Academic schools

Nomination form for external examiners for research programmes  When a research student submits the ‘intention to submit a thesis form’, the Registry sends a copy of the nomination form for external examiners for research degrees to the relevant academic school.  Schools can also be accessed at Downloadable Forms.