Responsibilities and rights of external examiners

Responsibilities

1. The external examiner is expected to attend the NTU induction event for newly appointed external examiners.  This excludes external examiners for Validated Centre Collaborative Provision, where the Validated Centre will conduct an appropriate induction, and non-UK based external examiners where Schools will conduct an appropriate induction.
2. The review of assessment samples undertaken by external examiners should normally take place on site. Exceptional alternative arrangements require notification by the Academic Team Leader to the School Academic Standards and Quality Committee for approval.
   Guidance note
   The circumstances that will justify alternative arrangements being put in place for external examiners to review assessment samples off site will vary case-by-case. Schools may wish to draw a distinction between the unexpected 'one off' event relating to the unforeseen personal circumstances of an external examiner and other situations relating to the particular nature of the provision.
3. An external examiner must normally be present at a Board of Examiners meeting that agrees final awards (an external examiner need not attend progression Boards). If exceptional circumstances result in the external examiner being absent from such a meeting, the external should subsequently indicate by written notification – via the course leader – that he/she has been involved in the assessment process and agrees with the decisions made at the Board. In the case of Referral Boards, at least one external examiner should be involved in the process but not necessarily through attendance
4. The external examiner should always sign the conferments statement to confirm that they have been involved in the assessment of students and agree with the final recommendations reached.
5. The external examiner should also sign a conferment statement for any interim/exit awards that are awarded at progression boards.
6. The external examiner must submit an annual report in the format prescribed by the University on the standards and quality of the course(s) and awards for which they are responsible.  This report is used in the production of the annual Course Standards and Quality Report (CSQR) and for course monitoring and enhancement generally.
7. In order to carry out the preceding responsibilities an external examiner may, by prior arrangement with the appropriate School/Validated Centre, meet students to assist him/her to judge the overall quality and standards of the course(s). This does not give the right to carry out viva voce examination of individual students. 
8. Assessment samples remain the property of the University and if taken off site should be returned in a timely manner.

Rights

1. The external examiner has the right to be informed of major changes to course(s) and may be consulted in advance about proposed changes, particularly where they affect the course award(s), title(s), outcomes or the assessment scheme, major changes to modules or course closure. This will allow the external examiner to comment on the changes from the perspective of his or her responsibilities.
2. The responsibility for moderation and for agreeing marks and awards rests with all the members of the Board of Examiners. As a member of the Board, the external examiner has the right to contribute to discussions on the moderation of marks and on decisions concerning marks and awards to individual students.

For some courses there are subject and award external examiners. Subject examiners exercise the above rights and responsibilities in relation to a number of modules in a subject area, and are expected to attend Subject Boards to consider the results for all students taking the modules for which they have responsibility. Award examiners exercise these responsibilities in relation to a named course or award. They are expected to attend the Award Board.