Research Degree Theses and Oral Examinations

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Research Degree Theses and Oral Examinations

• John Kirby
• Graduate School
• Faculty of Medical Sciences
• University of Newcastle

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What is the word limit

• Newcastle does not currently have a formally
  stated word limit.
• This is NOT a licence to go on and on and on.
• Look at plenty of examples
• Not just from your own group!

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British Standard

• BSI 48211990
• Now withdrawn! But can still provide useful
  information
• Library Quick reference section.

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Make life easy!

• Produce final quality images as you go along
  dont wait until the end to put these together.
• Maintain a bibliography as you go write your
  own comments! Dont simply download abstracts
  into Endnote.

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Types of thesis

• Standard
• Divided into chapters with results and
  interpretations
• By publication
• A review and a series of 5 related papers
• Can be difficult to examine as papers have
  already satisfied external referees!
• Only for staff candidates

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How do I write a book?

• Agree a preliminary table of contents with your
  supervisor (assessment 3).
• Bite sized pieces
• Materials and methodology are easy (descriptive)
  and get you started.
• Results is also descriptive and is crucial to the
  structure of your thesis.
• Introduction and discussion are hard

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Typical thesis layout

• Title page (what is your title!)
• Abstract (one page 300 words)
• Table of contents
• List of Figures and Tables
• Abbreviations
• Acknowledgements

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• Introduction
• End with a clear statement of aims
• Materials Methodology
• Results chapter(s)
• Typically have one per aim
• Often have separate mini introductions and
  specific discussions
• Concluding discussion
• Context with literature
• Strengths, weaknesses, future work
• Bibliography

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Table of contents
1 Introduction Page 1.1 History of
problem 1 1.2 First issue1 1.2.1 sub
issue 1 2 1.2.2 sub issue
2 4 1.3 Second issue 1.3.1 sub issue
1 5 1.3.2 sub issue 2 7 1.3.3 sub
issue 3 8 1.3.4 sub issue 4
12 1.4 Third issue 1.4.1 sub issue
1 14 1.4.1.a sub sub issue
1 15 1.4.1.b sub sub issue 2 16 1.4.2 sub
issue 2 18 1.5 Fourth issue 20 1.6 Fifth
issue 1.6.1 28 etc, etc
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Backup, Backup, Backup!
Tips

• Write what you know/think and then reference a
  block of text
• Try not to insert graphics within the text
• Use separate pages
• MUCH easier to format the final document
• Minimise unnecessary use of colour
• Cheaper and quicker to print

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Finished

• Get fiends and family to prrofread
• Final printing takes much longer than you think!
• Liaise with your supervisors
• They must nominate examiners well in advance of
  submission!
• Binding
• Soft at first

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Purpose of an examination

• For the University
• To assess and maintain quality
• To mark completion of the degree programme
• For the Student
• Potentially leads to award of a degree
• Is an important and memorable life event
• can be a real emotional roller coaster (for
  everyone involved)

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Who needs an oral examination?

• All PhD and MD candidates
• Students and full-time JRAs need one internal and
  one external examiner
• Staff candidates require two external examiners
• Not all MPhil candidates
• Same criteria for examiners as above
• Oral examination held at examiners request
• Not only for weak students
• With a good candidate can be fun for everyone!

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Appointment of examiners

• See nomination forms on Graduate School www-site.
  
• Examiners must
• be cognisant of standards
• have subject knowledge (need CV)
• command authority
• not have played a role in the research
• (if external) not have been a member of Newcastle
  staff for at least 3 years
• be able and willing to examine

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Internal examiners

• Liaise with supervisor, student (and sometimes
  external) to arrange examination
• Ensure the examination complies with Newcastle
  University protocol
• Ensure appropriate report forms are completed and
  submitted in a timely manner
• Provide balance, fairness and ensure good
  examination conduct
• Potentially play a role during any appeals
  process

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External examiners

• Usually is the scientific specialist
• Usually has the casting vote
• Maintains inter-university quality
• Report provides important feedback to Graduate
  School
• May not be completely up to speed with local
  regulations!

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Criteria all theses

• Should be
• Authentic
• Scholarly
• Professional
• Well-structured, written and presented

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MPhil candidates

• Should
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge
• Have good knowledge of literature
• Theses need not be
• As original as a PhD
• Worthy of publication

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PhD/MD candidates

• Should
• provide evidence of adequate industry
• demonstrate ability for originality
• understand relationship with wider field
• thesis should contain material worthy of
  publication

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Preliminary Report

• Regulations vary between institutions -read them!
• Many (but not all) institutions require examiners
  to independently produce reports before the
  examination
• Some need these to be submitted before the
  examination to flag up potential problems

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How to conduct the examination - 1

• Arrange the room
• Often good to have pencils and paper to draw on
• At the start candidates can be very nervous!
• Put them at their ease if possible with a soft
  start (but dont anticipate the result!)
• Remember to arrange refreshment breaks
• Consider the candidates bladder

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How to conduct the examination - 2

• Agree a plan with your co-examiner
• Remember
• Oral examination of a good candidate can/should
  be one of the most pleasurable academic
  experiences for all involved
• Examination of a poor thesis/candidate can be
  truly awful!
• You need to devise different strategies for both
  situations

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Options at Newcastle

• A1 Admit to degree
• A2 Minor correction
• A3 Minor revisions
• B1 Resubmit oral
• B2 Resubmit no oral
• C Thesis OK but 2nd oral

• D1 Award masters
• D2 Minor correction for masters degree
• D3 Minor revision for masters degree
• E Resubmit oral for masters
• F No degree

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At the end (if all has gone well)

• Ask the candidate to withdraw for a few minutes
• REMEMBER you do not award the degree!!
• Work out what you wish to say, then invite the
  candidate back
• Tell the candidate what recommendation you will
  be making to the higher degrees committee (or
  other appropriate authority).
• Smile and shake hands