Viva voce examination and award
The final examination for doctoral degrees is known as the viva. This is an oral examination in which you will be required to defend your thesis in the presence of at least two examiners who are experts in your discipline.
Prepare for your viva
Prepare for your viva examination by completing a compulsory workshop and reading our virtual viva guidance (PDF) and guidelines for conducting research degree viva voce examinations (PDF).
Results of your viva
Depending on the outcome of your viva, there are certain procedures you will need to follow:
Award
You will need to submit your electronic thesis within one month of the date of the viva.
Minor corrections
Your internal examiner will provide you with a list of corrections and amendments. Within one month of receipt of the corrections, you will need to complete these corrections to the satisfaction of your internal examiner and submit your electronic thesis.
Minor revisions
Your internal examiner will provide you with a list of corrections and amendments. Within six months of the viva, you will need to complete these corrections to the satisfaction of your internal examiner and submit your electronic thesis.
Resubmission
Within 10 working days of the viva you will be provided with a 'Statement of Requirements' detailing the changes you need to make to your thesis. You will have 12 months from the date of the viva to resubmit your thesis. You will also be required to pay a resubmission fee and return a revised entrance form for examination. Sometimes, students are required to undertake further research during the 12-month resubmission period. If this is the case, you would need to re-register and pay fees.
Submit for MPhil
If the MPhil is to be awarded subject to minor corrections or minor revisions then the same process for minor corrections and minor revisions above is followed. If you are asked to resubmit for an MPhil then the same process for a resubmission above is to be followed. This is not applicable to Practitioner Doctorates.
No award
The University would write to you in this situation.
Deposit of your final thesis
Following recommendation by the examiners that an award be made, you are required to provide a copy of the version of record of your thesis to the University. (The version of record is the thesis as approved by the examiners following the viva and final corrections.)
The thesis will be made open access unless you have requested a restriction.
Find out how to deposit your thesis.
Useful documents
Useful forms for the various stages of the viva.