Close

Supporting students' preparation for final examination

 

 

 

The requirements for entering examination, appointing examiners and award are outlined in the degree regulations and in the guidance notes available from the PhD Academy.  

Key things to note: 

  • Submission must take place before the submission deadline (this date is available on the PhD Journey).
  • Extensions to this should not be sought unless there are exceptional and unforeseen circumstances. Many issues, such as illness, are properly dealt with through interruption of studies at the appropriate time and are not grounds for extension.
  • Eight working weeks before the submission an examination entry form should be submitted to the PhD Academy. 
  • It is supervisors’ and programme directors’ responsibility (not the student’s) to ensure that the form is properly completed and submitted. Supervisors are expected to have discussed appointing examiners with their supervisees in good time before this deadline. 

Examiner appointments require approval from the Research Degrees Sub-Committee. It is important to note that as the School requires examination panels to have relevant expertise, experience of research degree examinations and independence from significant connections to the student or their current and former supervisors, nominations are not guaranteed to be accepted. If you need advice on examiner nominations, please contact the PhD Academy. 

Preparing students for examination

Students will normally take advice from their supervisor regarding the readiness of the thesis for submission. However, the final decision to submit is the candidate’s, provided that they have been progressed to the final stages of the programme (for full-time students this would be following successful progression to the fourth and final year).  

In the run up to submission and in preparation for the viva the role of the supervisor is crucial in making sure that candidates are prepared for success and supported through any issues around referral and/or delays. If you are unfamiliar with the examination process or need clarification on current expectations within LSE and the UK Higher Education sector, guidance is available from your Doctoral Programme Director and the PhD Academy. Most students benefit from ‘mock’ viva opportunities, which can help to prepare for what will likely be their first experience of an oral examination of the sort conducted at the conclusion of a UK research degree.  

The submission of the thesis and formal notification of the results must take place through the PhD Academy. It is important to keep to the regulations and processes around examination to avoid delays and issues around the validity of the examination. 

Candidates must not contact examiners directly except if directed to do so in instructions provided by the PhD Academy. Advice and supervision in support of required revisions should be provided by the supervisors, not the examiners.  

Following the viva, supervisors will continue to support students to make any revisions or corrections to their thesis. This may include working with them to clarify what the examiners require and planning how they will address this, offering feedback on any re-writes or additions, and supporting them to ensure timely re-submission.  

Candidates must not contact examiners directly except if directed to do so in instructions provided by the PhD Academy. Advice and supervision in support of required revisions should be provided by the supervisors, not the examiners. 

 

Beyond the successful award of the PhD, supervisors may continue to support their students in a range of different ways, including guidance on publication and dissemination of their research, ongoing careers mentorship (including providing references) supporting professional networking and fostering future academic collaborations. 

Share

PhD Sup_DSC5617 back button

Back to PhD Supervisor Hub homepage
Event header-Economics_Teaching_0964

LSE Library - Find out how to borrow books