External Examiners

***The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) launched the new UK Quality Code for Higher Education on 29 November 2018, including a new chapter on External Expertise which relates to the role of External Examiners. ***

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.

For all Examiners – see the Examiners & Assessment section of the Academic Quality, Regulations and Procedures 

Procedure for External Examiners

The College'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. 

Lists of Examiners

Click below for 2019/20 lists of :

2019/20 Exam Board Memberships for:

External Examiner Reports 2018-19

External Examiner Reports (previous years)

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:

Submitting External Examiner 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.  Whilst at the College we would ask that you use an RVC laptop or PC.  Your Exam Officer will be happy to arrange this for you.

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.  Please note that the College is unable to accept credit card receipts as part of your claim.

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.

If one or more collaborating examiners have not approved the report, the lead examiner will have an opportunity to amend and re-submit the final report for approval by collaborating examiners. The system will allow amending the report once only. Thereafter the collaborating examiners can choose to withdraw from the collaborative report and submit their individual examiner report.

A brief guide for External Examiners to the online system can be found here  . For further information please contact Ana Filipovic afilipovic@rvc.ac.uk 01707 666 938 or your exams officer.

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.

Fees and Expenses

Exam Timetables

Inset Day on Assessment

Please note that the Inset Day on Assessment is now organised by Learning and Wellbeing. For further information, please contact Alison Robinson Canham, Head of Educational Development ( arobinsoncanham@rvc.ac.uk )

Useful links and contacts

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