External Examiners

The Quality & Standards team manages the processes for external examining, including the nomination, appointment, induction and reporting processes.

External Examiner arrangements are set out in the Quality and Standards Manual Section E. 

The Quality & Standards team maintains a register of all External Examiners, coordinates the annual reports from External Examiners and authorises payment of fees and expenses. 

External Examiners should contact ExternalExamining@uca.ac.uk with any queries. If you are an External Examiner and have moved or taken up a post in a new institution, please help us to keep our records up to date by emailing your new details to ExternalExamining@uca.ac.uk. 

Role of UCA External Examiners 

External Examiners are assurers of standards and auditors of the assessment process. Their role is to assure the academic standards of awards at the University. Specifically, to confirm that: 

  1. The standards for the courses/awards are set and maintained at an appropriate level as described by the Sector Recognised Standards; 
  2. The standards for the courses/awards are comparable with similar courses/awards within the sector; 
  3. The structure and nature of the assessment permits students to demonstrate the standards 
  4. The processes for assessment, examination and the determination of awards are sound and fairly conducted; and 
  5. There is consistency between the University regulations and the Sector Recognised Standards. 

External Examiners are required to submit an annual written report using the University’s report template to inform the University’s monitoring of academic quality and standards.  

New External Examiner Induction 

It is a requirement for all new External Examiners to undertake training in the University’s policies and procedures before undertaking the duties of this role. 

The University provides an induction for all new External Examiners at both University and course/local level. 

  1. University level – this guidance and the information on this page of the University’s website form the University level induction for all new External Examiners.  
    New External Examiners should familiarise themselves with the relevant academic regulations for the course(s) they examine, and relevant policies including the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy (see links below). 
  2. Course/local level – carried out by the Programme Director with the new Examiner and will look at the course structure, assessment format, unit handbooks etc. This should take place before an External Examiner looks at any student work. 

At the start of an External Examiner’s tenure, the Quality and Standards team will provide External Examiners with the previous year’s External Examiner report. (These reports are only available if the course is already running rather than a new one for that academic year.) 

Annually thereafter, External Examiners should expect to receive any updates to the course structure and documents from the relevant Programme Director. 

External Examiner Fees and Expenses 

External Examiners are paid their annual fee following receipt of their written report at the end of the year. Fees and expenses claims must be submitted on the University claim forms. Electronic copies of receipts are required to process any expenses claims. Details of financial arrangements can be found in the External Examiner Fees and Expenses information. 

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