October 2011

Section 7: External Examining

• At least one external examiner must be appointed to each university award-bearing programme.
• External examiners monitor the programme's assessment and moderation processes.
• External examiners should not be used as markers or arbitrators in marking disputes.
• External examiners attend the main Board of Examiners meeting and should sign the conferment statement.
• Programme teams are responsible for nominating external examiners - at least six months before the commencement of their appointment.
• Nominations must satisfy the criteria for appointment and those for restrictions on appointment.
• Nominations will be approved by the appropriate SASQC (VSSC in respect of Validated Centres) for final approval by the ASQC External Examiner Appointments Panel.
• External examiners must submit  an annual report within four weeks of the main Board of Examiners meeting (via the NTU external examiner online reporting system).
• External examiners are normally appointed for four reporting cycles, although a further one-year extension may be granted for good reason.
• CADQ will send the central literature to newly approved UK external examiners and invite them to the NTU induction event (except in respect of Validated Centres).
• Programme teams are expected to brief and induct external examiners on all relevant aspects of the operation of the programme.
• External examiner fees are paid by the School (or Validated Centre).
• Full details on external examiners are contained in Section 7 of the ASQ Handbook.

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