External examiners' reports

Reporting process

The University values and takes seriously the reports submitted by its external examiners. The reporting process is fully described in the code of practice for external examining: taught programmes.

In accordance with QAA guidance, students have access to external examiners' reports. This occurs via student representation on Boards of Studies where the reports are considered and via SurreyLearn, where students can view the reports and response for their particular programme of study.

Staff can access external examiners' reports via the SharePoint website. University username and password are required to view this information.

A personalised report template will sent to all individual external examiners by email before the final boards of examiners' meetings. These report templates will be sent in June (UG) and August (PGT). If you do not receive this template please contact externalexaminers@surrey.ac.uk.

View reporting process flowchart (PDF)

Submitting the annual external examiner’s report (after the awarding Board of Examiners meeting)

1. The personalised report template will be sent to all individual external examiners by email in June (for UG programmes) and in August (for PGT programmes). If you do not receive this template please contact externalexaminers@surrey.ac.uk.
2. When you have completed the report, please email it to externalexaminers@surrey.ac.uk, together with the fees/expenses claim form (xlsx). Information regarding expenses is available in the notes of guidance (PDF).

Deadlines

Deadlines for submission of the annual reports:

• Undergraduate programmes: within three weeks after the final (ie end of the academic year) Board of Examiners meeting, normally held at the end of June/beginning of July; or after the late summer Board of Examiners (held at the start of September)
• Postgraduate taught programmes: within three weeks after the final (ie end of the academic year) Board of Examiners meeting, normally held in October/November
• Practitioner Doctorate programmes (taught element only)*: within three weeks after the Board of Examiners meeting, normally held in September - November.

There is no need to submit a report following the August reassessment Boards of Examiners unless there are significant issues that have arisen since your previous report.

The code of practice for external examining: taught programmes also describes the responsibilities for dealing with external examiners' reports within the University, summarised in a flowchart (PDF). The University requires that the reports are considered by the Board of Studies (and reported in the Annual Programme Review and at Periodic Reviews). External examiners are advised of the outcome of the consideration of their reports and of specific actions that the first Board of Studies has taken place for undergraduate programmes by the end of November and for taught postgraduate programmes by the end of January.

*For all doctoral-level viva voce examinations, including those for Practitioner Doctorate programmes, please use the relevant examination Entry Form. For these forms, please consult the research page.

Submitting individual module comments (prior to Board of Examiners meetings)

External examiners are full members of the Board of Examiners and, therefore, they are expected to attend and contribute to all Board meetings. External examiners should access samples of marked student work either via SurreyLearn or via alternative arrangements, as appropriate, and provide comments on individual modules prior to the Board of Examiners meetings.

Please note that the Module comments form (doc), once completed, should be submitted before the Board of Examiners meeting to the relevant faculty Assessments and Awards team:

• FASS modules: fass-assessments@surrey.ac.uk
• FEPS modules: feps-assessments@surrey.ac.uk
• FHMS modules: fhms-assessments@surrey.ac.uk.