Nomination of Examiners

Examiners are nominated at least three months prior to a student handing in his/her Thesis/ Dissertation/Research Report for examination. 

One internal and one external examiner or two external examiners required for Master of Science (MSc). 

One internal and two external examiners or three external examiners required for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD),of whom one should be a foreign expert.

Things to consider when nominating examiners:

• The supervisor may not be an examiner. 
• Examiners should not been nominated if they have been supervised, worked with or published with the supervisor within the last 5 years.  
• When an internal examiner is not nominated a very short motivation should be given and an additional external examiner nominated.
• The internal examiner should be a Wits staff member who has not been appointed as a principal or co-supervisor. It is preferable that the examiner has not been involved in the research project and has not published with the student.  

Process:

• The supervisor completes the Nomination of Examiners Form, which is signed off by the GSC representative or Head of School.
• Examiners' CVs must contain details of their qualification/s, evidence of disciplinary knowledge, experience of postgraduate supervision and a list of publications. 
• The typed completed Nomination of Examiners form in hard copy and electronically, together with all the examiners’ CVs must be sent to the faculty office.  
• The supervisor will receive correspondance from the faculty office regarding the approval of examiners nominated.

Confidentiality during the examination process:

• The examination process commences once an examiner accepts his/her nomination to examine.  
• The names of the examiners should be confidential during the examination process and may only be revealed to the candidate with the acquiescence of the examiner once the final version of the thesis has been submitted to the Faculty and   the process has been completed.  
• An examiner shall not consult another examiner, the supervisor or student except by permission of the Dean, usually in response to a request for further information, until the examination process is completed.