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Below you will find all the information you require as an examiner or a chair of a postgraduate research (PGR) degree student at the University of Plymouth.
The PGR staff manual pages (log in required) gives you information about all the processes and procedures regarding research degrees at the University of Plymouth, as well as information on viva voce examinations and the roles of examiners. Our regulations are available on the University's Student regulations, policies and procedures page.
We have provided guidance notes for examiners in the document section below. Also available in the PGR staff manual pages (log in required).
A link to the Office for Students sector-recognised standards in England, for masters and doctoral level, which must be complied with by examiners when examining a research degree, can be found in the document section below. Please see sections A.3.4. and A.3.5.
You'll find the relevant forms to be completed before and after the viva voce examination below. External examiners – if you want to claim for expenses or give feedback, you can find the relevant documents on this page. If you have not yet returned your signed contract of appointment you can download a copy below, which you'll need to sign and return to the Doctoral College at doctoral.college@plymouth.ac.uk.

Examiner training

The University, through its Doctoral College Board, approved a mandatory training programme for all internal examiners and chairs. This includes regular updates for the purposes of quality assurance.
Please read our mandatory training for PGR internal examiners and chairs (log in required) for information on training available and how to book.

Postgraduate research external examiners’ honorarium rates

2023/24 2024/25
PhD, MD and Professional Doctorates (Exc. DClinPsy) £215 £222
MPhil, ResM £180 £185
Resubmitted PGR theses that do not require a viva voce examination £180 £185
Additional visit required to examine practice elements of the thesis £55 £55