Oral / Viva Voce Examinations
The terms viva and oral are often used interchangeably. However, it is suggested that the following terms should be used more consistently throughout the University:
Oral — a spoken examination, often used as a test of competence in speaking and listening to a foreign language, but not exclusively so, as other topics and skills could be subjected to oral questions and answers. A mark is usually awarded for the assessment, and requirements to retake failing assessments etc. apply as in any other University assessment.
Viva voce (viva) - a spoken examination in which the examiners ask questions of the candidate and discuss his/her submitted work with a view to forming an overall assessment of the candidate’s performance, commonly used in research degrees, but also in some taught master’s programmes. Normally, no mark is awarded for the assessment.
Undergraduate Examination Convention D25 applies. It should be noted vivas are no longer to be used, for any purpose, in Undergraduate programmes in the University.
Postgraduate Taught Examination Convention S62 applies. Any postgraduate student may be required to take a viva, at the discretion of the board of examiners, as a means of monitoring standards or for determining whether a higher classification should be recommended.
Guidance for Vivas for Postgraduate Taught programmes
The University only allows viva voce examinations on postgraduate taught and postgraduate research programmes. They are not permitted for undergraduate candidates.
The Postgraduate Taught Examination Conventions define the purpose of the viva as a means of monitoring standards or for determining whether a higher classification should be awarded in borderline cases. The viva is an oral examination in which normally the examiners ask questions for the candidate to answer.
It is important that both candidates and internal and external candidates receive adequate information about vivas, their purpose and how they are carried out. Students should be provided with some basic information in their degree programme handbook to alert them to the fact that vivas may be held and the general purposes for which they are held. It would also be good practice to warn students at the relevant time that candidates may be invited to a viva, indicating when that decision will be made and when vivas will take place.
Any student invited to a viva voce examination should be told:
- Where and when the viva will take place (normally giving at least 48 hours notice), together with some indication of likely or maximum length
- Who will be conducting the viva
- If the viva is focusing on particular modules, candidates should be forewarned of this and reminded that they can bring appropriate documents with them (e.g. copy of dissertation; examination paper). Voluntarily schools may opt to provide more than the minimum information set out here.
- That the viva cannot change their marks or reduce their overall classification; it will either result in the same classification being awarded or in a higher classification being awarded.
- That the examiners carrying out the viva will report to the Board of Examiners in writing and may make a recommendation on the classification to be awarded; however, the final decision is the Board of Examiners’.
NB.
- It is not possible to indicate to a candidate why they have been selected for a viva as that would pre-empt the judgement of the board of examiners.
- If a student fails to attend for a viva that cannot be counted against them, but it might prevent their being put forward for a higher classification.
- At least one internal examiner and one external examiner should attend the viva.
- The written report from the examiners to the Board of Examiners (see e above) will constitute the official record and should be retained. It should be brief whilst containing information about what was covered, the conclusion the examiners came to and the rationale for this.
Schools using vivas should provide briefing and/or guidance to their external examiners on the purpose, format and conduct of vivas, as well as on how candidates are selected for viva.
