ABSTRACT
Part of an international comparative study, this chapter describes and analyses a PhD examination in private at Durham University, England. The PhD examination, usually called a ‘viva’, normally takes place in private with the candidate and two examiners, perhaps accompanied by the supervisor as silent observer. In this case, permission was given for the observer to attend the defence and the post-defence discussion of the examiners in which they discussed their assessment and what further work the candidate should be required to complete. The chapter is based on the observation, analysis of the regulatory framework and interviews with candidate, supervisors and examiners before and after the defence itself. All explain how they prepared for the defence and the examiners describe in detail their approach to reading the text, to writing a report and then conferring on their assessments and how they will conduct the defence. In retrospect, all the participants acknowledge the defence was long and also analyse the nature of the questions and the discussion. The final section deals with the next steps in the process when candidate and supervisors will carry out corrections and revisions for one of the examiners to verify later.
