External examining is an integral part of the College's quality assurance and enhancement processes. It ensures effective and appropriate assessment and assures the standard of the RVC's degrees and our processes and procedures are closely aligned with the precepts of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education.

The RVC's  Procedure for External Examiners sets out information on nomination, appointment, training and support, reporting processes, duties of External Examiners. It is consistent with the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) current guidelines and is managed by the Academic Quality Office. The team also maintains a register of all External Examiners, coordinates the annual reports from External Examiners and pays their fees and expenses upon the fulfillment of their contract.

ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

External Examiners Nomination Form  

External Examiners Fee Claim Form

External Examiners Expense Claim Form

External Examiners Fee Claim Form (Overseas)

External Examiner Online Report (sample, not to be used for submission; reports are submitted via External Examiner Online Report System)

ASSOCIATED SITES

External Examiner Online Induction (requires RVC Learn Log-in)

External Examiner Online Report System (requires RVC Account Log-in)

RVC VLE LEARN (requires RVC Learn Log-in)

If an External Examiner has a serious concern relating to systemic failings with the academic standards of a programme(s) and has exhausted all published applicable internal procedures, including the submission of a confidential report to the head of the institution, the Principal (principal@rvc.ac.uk), they may invoke the processes of Notifications and Complaints which allow students, staff or others with a direct interest in the College, to raise issues with the Office for Students. It will investigate serious or systemic issues about academic standards or the student academic experience.   

External Examiners Annual Reports

External Examiner Reports with the College Responses for 2021-22:

As approved by the Teaching Quality Committee & subject to approval by the Academic Board

External Examiner Reports with the College Responses for 2020-21:

As approved by the Teaching Quality Committee & subject to approval by the Academic Board

External Examiner Reports with the College Responses for 2019-20:

As approved by the Teaching Quality Committee & subject to approval by the Academic Board

External Examiner Reports with the College Responses for 2018-19:  

As approved by the Teaching Quality Committee & subject to approval by the Academic Board

External Examiner reports with College responses for 2017-18:

External Examiner reports with College responses for 2016-17:

External Examiner reports with College responses for 2015-16:

External Examiner reports with College responses for 2014-15:

External Examiner reports with College responses for 2013-14:

The College responses to External Examiner reports for 2012-13:

Instructions for submission of External Examiner Annual Reports

External Examiners are asked to submit their annual reports to the Royal Veterinary College via the College’s online system.

Instructions for External Examiners:

During your exam board meeting, please confirm with your exams officer:

  • whether you will submit a collaborative or individual report? 
  • for collaborative reports, who will act as ‘lead examiner’ to submit the final report and ‘collaborating examiner(s)’ to approve the final report?
  • if you already know who will be the lead and collaborating examiners, please let your Exam Officer know so if you wish to begin to write the report during your meeting you will be able to do so.  

After your exam board meeting, emails will give you access to the online system and guide you through the process.  Once you have submitted your final report you will receive an email with the fees and expenses claim forms attached.  

A final report must be submitted:

  • as an online document ·        
  • Individual report must be submitted within 2 weeks from exam board meeting ·
  • Collaborating report must be submitted within 1 week by lead examiner, and approved within 1 week by collaborating examiner.

A brief guide for External Examiners to the online system can be found here 

For further information please contact externalexamining@rvc.ac.uk or Ana Filipovic, Senior Academic Quality Officer 'Standards' afilipovic@rvc.ac.uk 01707 666 938.

External Examiner reports are responded to via the following process .

Responding to External Examiner Reports

Here is a  guide for Course Directors and Year Leaders to respond to External Examiners.

Exam Timetables

Printable Examination Timetables for 2023/24

FdSc & BSc Veterinary Nursing Year 1

FdSc & BSc Veterinary Nursing Year 2

FdSc & BSc Veterinary Nursing Year 3  

BSc Veterinary Nursing Year 4

BSc & Gateway Year 1

BSc Biosciences Year 2

BSc/MSci Biosciences Year 3

Graduate Accelerated BVetMed

BVetMed Year 1

BVetMed Year 2

BVetMed Year 3

BVetMed Year 4

BVetMed Final Year

Graduate & Postgraduate Certificate AVN

MVetMed

MSc Wild Animal Biology and MSc Wild Animal Health

PgDip Veterinary Clinical Practice

MSc One Health

MSc Veterinary Epidemiology

MSc Veterinary Education

Printable Examination Timetables for 2022/23

FdSc & BSc Veterinary Nursing Year 1

FdSc & BSc Veterinary Nursing Year 2

FdSc & BSc Veterinary Nursing Year 3  

BSc Veterinary Nursing Year 4

BSc & Gateway Year 1

BSc & Gateway Year 1 - Summer 2023

BSc Biosciences Year 2

BSc/MSci Biosciences Year 3

Graduate Accelerated BVetMed

BVetMed Year 1

BVetMed Year 2

BVetMed Year 3

BVetMed Year 4

BVetMed Final Year

Graduate & Postgraduate Certificate AVN

MVetMed

MSc Wild Animal Biology and MSc Wild Animal Health

PgDip Veterinary Clinical Practice

MSc One Health

MSc Veterinary Epidemiology

MSc Veterinary Education

RVC Examiners Forum

The last RVC Examiners Forum took place on 9th February 2023. Please see the programme and the slides used below.

Induction for the new External Examiners

For further info please contact ExternalExamining@rvc.ac.uk  or Ana Filipovic, Senior Academic Quality Officer 'Standards' afilipovic@rvc.ac.uk 

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