External Examiners

The main purpose of the external examiner is to assist the University in discharging its responsibility for the quality and standards of the education it provides and the awards it offers by:

• Assisting in the comparison of academic standards across higher education awards and institutions;
• Verifying that standards are appropriate for the particular award for which the external examiner takes responsibility;
• Ensuring that the assessment process is fair and fairly operated in the marking, grading and classification of student performance;
• Providing externality of opinion and objective advice in cases which are difficult to resolve.

External Examiners are appointed by University Learning, Teaching and Assessment Committee (exercising delegated powers) on the nomination of the relevant academic department. University criteria ensure that only appropriately qualified examiners are appointed, free from conflicts of interest. University Quality Office holds a central register of appointments approved and is responsible for ensuring that appropriate central induction information is provided to examiners.

The University's expectations regarding the role of external examiners, and the requirements for nomination, appointment and reporting are set out in a university code of practice on External Examining (D1).