External examiners
The External Examiner system is an established process used across the UK Higher Education system to ensure that courses across different universities are comparable. Our External Examiners give us an impartial view of our courses and independent advice to ensure that modules and courses at the University meet the academic standards expected across UK higher education. External Examiners are one of many quality assurance mechanisms which ensure the assessment and marking processes across the University of Essex’s provision are fair, rigorous and operate in accordance with institutional policies and regulations. As part of their role, External Examiners also consider proposed curriculum developments and so help to ensure that your course remains up to date.
Every course and module (above level 4) delivered by the University has an assigned External Examiner. The names and home institutions of External Examiners currently working with the University of Essex are published on the Module Directory and within the Programme Specifications. External Examiners are usually experienced academics from other universities, but may also be from industry, business or the relevant profession depending on the requirements of the course.
External Examiners sit on the membership for Board of Examiners meetings where student marks and awards are ratified.
External Examiners only advise on academic matters and cannot influence the circumstances or marks of individual students. Students must not contact External Examiners outside of any structured meetings organised for them. External Examiners will not respond to any students who contact them directly and will refer any instances of unsolicited contact to their department contact.
External Examiners submit a formal report on the provision they oversee each academic year. These reports are read by departmental/school staff, Faculty Deans, and the Quality and Academic Development team. Departments/schools are required to provide each External Examiner with a formal response outlining how their feedback has been considered, and any actions they are taking as a result. Themes across reports are subsequently discussed at formal committees including the Faculty Education Committees, and Academic Quality and Standards Committee.
Students should have access to External Examiner reports via their representatives on Faculty Education Committee and on departmental/school Student Voice Groups, or equivalent.
If students want more information on the role of External Examiners and reports submitted, they can talk to their course representative or Head of Department/School.
Meeting with External Examiners
You may be given the opportunity to meet External Examiners to discuss your experience as a student. These meetings can provide the External Examiners with valuable feedback from across the courses or modules for which they are responsible. The below is guidance provided to our departments and External Examiners regarding these student meetings.
Students play an essential role in our quality assurance and enhancement processes at Essex. The University believes that it can be helpful for External Examiners to meet students as part of their role. The Quality Assurance Agency also encourages these meetings in their External Examining Principles.
These meetings both enhance the student understanding of the role of External Examiners and provides the External Examiners a valuable means of gathering feedback from across the course(s) they are responsible. This could be at either Award or module level.
Meeting with students can be difficult, especially as there is currently no compulsory requirement for External Examiners to attend the University in person. External Examiners are offered the opportunity to visit campus at least once during their appointment term and this visit could encompass meetings with students. However, Zoom or other video link resources can be used as an alternative during term time to facilitate virtual meetings.
