Research Degree Theses and Oral Examinations

John Kirby

Graduate School

Faculty of Medical Sciences

University of Newcastle

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!

British Standard

BSI 4821:1990

Now withdrawn! But can still provide useful information

Library: Quick reference section.

Make life easy!

• Produce final quality images as you go along – don’t wait until the end to put these together.

• Maintain a bibliography as you go – write your own comments! Don’t simply download abstracts into Endnote.

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

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

Typical thesis layout

• Title page (what is your title!)

• Abstract (one page; 300 words)

• Table of contents

• List of Figures and Tables

• Abbreviations

• Acknowledgements

• 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

Table of contents1 Introduction Page

1.1 History of problem 11.2 First issue1

1.2.1 sub issue 1 21.2.2 sub issue 2 4

1.3 Second issue1.3.1 sub issue 1 51.3.2 sub issue 2 71.3.3 sub issue 3 81.3.4 sub issue 4 12

1.4 Third issue1.4.1 sub issue 1 14

1.4.1.a sub sub issue 1 151.4.1.b sub sub issue 2 16

1.4.2 sub issue 2 181.5 Fourth issue 201.6 Fifth issue

1.6.1 28

etc, etc…

Backup, Backup, Backup!

• 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

Tips

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

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)

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!

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

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

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!

Criteria – all theses

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

MPhil candidates

• Should– Demonstrate advanced knowledge– Have good knowledge of literature

• Theses need not be– As original as a PhD– Worthy of publication

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

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

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 don’t anticipate the result!)– Remember to arrange refreshment breaks– Consider the candidate’s bladder

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

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

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