The purpose of the viva is to ensure the quality and innovativeness of your research and

your thesis and to check the accuracy of your thesis and knowledge. The job of the
examiners will also be to check that none of your work is plagiarised. Typical viva
questions can be found on the Engineering Faculty portal. You can also look at other
thesis submissions in the George Green Library or on eTheses at
htto://etheses.nottingham.ac.uk
Both examiners will prepare an Independent Report (sent to examiners by the
Academic Services Division). After the viva a Joint Report will be completed with both
examiners' findings. This is sent to the Head of Research Division who will sign the
report in support of their findings and return to the Student Services Centre.
The agreed result will be selected from the following options on the Joint Report form:

1. Award of PhD: - without conditions (ie as the Thesis stands)

- with correction of typographical errors' within 1 month
- with minor amendments2 to be completed within 3 months
2. Referral, with
EITHER
a) resubmission of the thesis within 12 months for PhD:
- viva voce required
- viva voce not required
If re-submission for PhD recommended but the student is unable to re-submit (please
complete this section if a) is selected):
MPhil to be awarded now
MPhil to be awarded now with minor corrections2 to be completed within 3 months
OR
b) another viva voce examination although thesis is accepted
without conditions
with minor corrections2 to be completed within 3 months
3. Failure at PhD standard
No higher degree to be awarded at all.3

In the vast majority of cases, the result will be the award of a PhD with one month for
correction of typographical errors or three months for minor amendments. You then
make the necessary adjustments and show the final version to your internal examiner,
who will confirm to the Student Services Centre (usually by email) that the amendments
are complete and your thesis is ready for PhD award.
Once the amendments have been approved you should discuss with your supervisor
whether a restriction should be placed on your thesis for commercial or industrially
sensitive reasons (eg sponsor confidentiality agreement, patents, IPR etc).
Further information is available in the Quality Manual at:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/academicservices/qualitynnanual/researchdegreeorogrammes/ap
plication-for-a-restriction-to-be-placed-on-a-thesis.aspx where you can also form to be
submitted with your thesis.
You then arrange hard-binding with a reputable binding company and submit to the
Student Services Centre:
2 hard-bound copies of your thesis
2 copies of a short abstract (not more than 300 words)
2 copies of the title page
Deposit and Loan Form
Following this submission you will be put on the list for graduation.
You can also submit a copy of your thesis in electronic format to Nottingham eTheses
Archive (and the UK equivalent EthOS) which provides a significant opportunity for
better dissemination. Log onto http://ethesis.nottingham.ac.uk and upload a PDF copy of
your thesis. You must however discuss this with your supervisor beforehand in case
there are IPR constraints or there is a possibility of an embargo on publication.
There are two graduation proceedings per year, in July and December the Student
Services Centre will send you details. You do not have to be at the ceremony, you can
graduate 'in absentia', but you still need to complete the forms or you will not receive
your certificate. The Faculty hopes that you will, however, attend as we hold an event to
celebrate your success on the day.

' "This option should be selected only in instances where the candidate is required to
make minor amendments to the text, e.g. typographical errors, which are so minor as to
be completed in one month. It is the responsibility of the Internal Examiner to verify
that the corrections have been made to his/her satisfaction."
"Minor amendments are those not requiring external academic re-assessment, eg
extensive typographical errors, minor re-organisation of material, addition of
supplementary material to clarify the content of the thesis, or removal of extraneous
text."

"The University recommends that, other than in exceptional circumstances, Examiners

should not normally choose this option on a student's first examination."

17

Supervision and progression guide 2012-13

18

Supervision and progression guide 2012-13