Examinations and Examiners

1. University Examinations

1.1 University Examinations comprise the complete set of assessments which determine eligibility for award on each taught programme of study or research degree including formal written examination, oral examination, the submission of written assignments and dissertations, practical examination and any other appropriate form of assessment. 

1.2 Research degrees are all awards made at Level 8 or higher in The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies plus the degree of Master of Philosophy.

1.3 A complete list of University awards is recorded in the Awards and Programme Structure Regulations (incorporating the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme).

2. Board of Examiners

2.1 University Examinations are the general responsibility of Boards of Examiners.

2.2 Subject to the authority of the Faculty concerned (or other authorised body) and of the Senate, each Board of Examiners will be jointly responsible for 

2.3 The Boards of Examiners will consist of at least the following members and such other members as may be required by Regulations:

a) Higher Doctorates: For each student three examiners, of whom two will be external examiners.

b) Doctor of Philosophy, all Professional doctorates and Master of Philosophy: For each student two examiners, of whom one will be an external examiner.

c) Other Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates:
For each programme of study two examiners in every subject or group of subjects, of whom one will be an external examiner.

2.4 The external examiners appointed under paragraph 2.3c. above will satisfy themselves as to the standard of the examinations and of the marking and assessment in each subject or group of subjects for which they are appointed. They will not be required to mark individual scripts, but they may if they wish have access to all such scripts and to all essays, laboratory books or other written work contributing to the result of the examination for the purpose of moderation to verify that marking standards are appropriate. They will satisfy themselves about the general arrangements for the assessment of oral and practical work contributing to the result of the examination, but they will not participate personally in the assessment of such work.

2.5 External examiners will be appointed by the Senate on the recommendation of the School concerned. No external examiner appointed under paragraph 2.3c. will hold office for more than four years consecutively, except that in exceptional circumstances, such as to ensure continuity of external examiner cover for a programme of study which is closing, an extension of one further year may be approved.

2.6 Professors, Associate Professors,  Senior Lecturers, Lecturers and all roles of equivalent level and status on the Education, Research and Enterprise pathway of the University, or of any affiliated institution, who have contributed to taught programmes of study will be deemed internal examiners for that taught programme and will normally be expected to attend the relevant Board of Examiners.

2.7 The Board of Examiners will make recommendations for the award of degrees, diplomas and certificates and where appropriate recommendations for the re-examination of students who do not meet the requirements for award. 

2.8 The recommendations of the Board of Examiners will be communicated to the Faculty. 

2.9 For award by taught programme, the Faculty will produce a Recommendation for Awards list endorsed by the Chair of the relevant Faculty Education and Student Experience Committee and forwarded for approval by the Senate. 

2.10 For the award of research degrees the Faculty (or other authorised body) will prepare a Recommendations for Awards list endorsed by the Faculty Director of the Graduate School and the Chair of the Faculty Education and Student Experience Committee and forwarded for approval by the Senate.

3. Academic Standing

3.1 The Board of Examiners is not required to accept the examination scripts or other work of any student who has not:

a) satisfied the requirements laid down in the Ordinances or the Regulations and has not been exempted from any such requirements by the Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty concerned (or other authorised body); or

b) paid the academic fees prescribed; or 

c) satisfied any programme requirements laid down in the programme specification or doctoral programme descriptor

4. Location of Referral and Repeat Formal Written or Practical Examinations

4.1 Students in normal attendance at the University will not usually be allowed to take Semester 1 or Semester 2 formal written or practical examinations anywhere other than at the University of Southampton campuses.

4.2 A student required to take referrals or to repeat as an external student, either during the supplementary examination period (August-September) or as an external student in the Semester 1 and Semester 2 examination period, may, subject to the approval of the Associate Dean (Education) or their nominee, choose to sit formal written examinations at any of the University’s campuses (UK, UoSM or UoSD). Formal written examinations taken at campuses outside the UK may attract an additional re-examination fee as specified in section 10 of the Fees, charges, and expenses regulations.

4.3  Exceptionally, a student required to take referrals or to repeat as an external student, either during the supplementary examination period (August-September) or as an external student in the Semester 1 and Semester 2 examination period, may, subject to the approval of the Associate Dean (Education) or their nominee, be permitted to sit formal written examinations at an approved British Council venue or, where another university agrees to provide invigilation and administration, at an approved campus. The student will be required to sign a University confidentiality agreement and will be required to pay an additional re-examination fee to cover the cost of administration as well as any fee payable to the local organising body as specified in section 10 of the Fees, charges, and expenses regulations.

5. Use of Dictionaries in Formal Written Examinations

5.1 Dictionaries may be used in formal written examinations only if the rubric allows or where permitted as an Additional Exam Recommendation (AER). Dictionaries must be Word to Word translation dictionaries only and contain no written or pictorial definitions. 

6. Use of calculators in examinations

6.1 Calculators may be used in formal written examinations only if the rubric allows. Calculators must be approved models as specified in the Assessment information on the Student Administration and Academic Affairs website.