Corrections and resubmissions

The examiners' role in confirming corrections and in re-examining resubmissions. 

Minor errors

What the student needs to do

If the student has minor errors to correct, they must email their corrected dissertation directly to the internal examiner (or independent chair if there is no internal examiner). They will have 28 days from being notified by RDEB to do this, but they can email their corrected dissertation before the RDEB decision if they wish.

What the examiners need to do

The internal examiner must:

  • check the corrections
  • email the student and the Academic Quality and Policy Office (pgr-exams@bristol.ac.uk) to confirm that the corrections have been satisfactorily completed.

If there is no internal examiner, an external examiner, the independent chair, or another University of Bristol academic must conduct this check.

Errors of substance

What the student needs to do

If the student has errors or omissions of substance to correct, they must email their corrected dissertation directly to the internal examiner (or independent chair if there is no internal examiner). They will normally have six months form being notified by RDEB to do this, but they can email their corrected dissertation before the RDEB decision if they wish.

What the examiners need to do

  • All examiners must check the corrections.
  • The internal examiner (or independent chair if there is no internal examiner) must email the Academic Quality and Policy Office (pgr-exams@bristol.ac.uk) to confirm that the corrections have been completed to the satisfaction of all examiners.
  • The confirmation must clearly state that all examiners have approved the corrected dissertation.

If the examiners are not satisfied with the corrections, they can require the student to do more work, as follows:

  • they can give the student up to four additional weeks  to make further, minor modifications. This additional period starts from when the internal examiner (or independent chair if there is no internal examiner) notifies the student.
  • The internal examiner (or independent chair if there is no internal examiner) must email the student – copying in pgr-exams@bristol.ac.uk – with the examiners’ further comments and the new deadline.
  • The examiners can also meet with the student (and supervisors) if this would be helpful.

The Academic Quality and Policy Office will process confirmations of completed errors of substance for ratification by RDEB at a scheduled meeting. There is a deadline for each of these meetings.

If the student does not submit on time

The Academic Quality and Policy Office monitors students who are required to correct errors or omissions of substance and may ask for updates from the internal examiner (or independent chair).

The student could be deemed to have withdrawn if they do not send in their corrected dissertation by their deadline.

Students can request extensions to their deadline in exceptional circumstances by contacting RDEB (via pgr-exams@bristol.ac.uk). If RDEB approves an extension, the internal examiner (or independent chair if there is no internal examiner) will be copied into the confirmation email to the student.

Resubmission

What the student needs to do

If the student is required to resubmit, they must:

  • email their revised dissertation to the Academic Quality and Policy Office (pgr-exams@bristol.ac.uk)
  • upload a copy to Turnitin for a plagiarism review following the standard submission process.

The student will normally be given 12 months from the formal RDEB notification to resubmit.

What the examiners need to do

As this will be a re-examination, the same examiners will be re-appointed and will receive a link to an electronic copy of the dissertation. They can also request a printed copy. External examiners will be paid a re-examination fee.

The examiners must re-examine the dissertation following the standard PGR examination process. There are two differences for a resubmission:

  • Examiners do not need to hold a second oral exam if they decide that the resubmitted dissertation is worthy of the award (with or without minor errors) and that no purpose would be served by an oral exam. Examiners are still required to complete preliminary and joint final reports. The rationale for not holding an oral exam must be included in the joint final report.
  • Examiners can only recommend a resubmission once and so they cannot recommend a further resubmission (recommendations D and G).   

If the student does not resubmit in time

If the student does not resubmit by their deadline, they may be deemed to have withdrawn.

Students can request extensions to their deadline in exceptional circumstances by contacting RDEB (via pgr-exams@bristol.ac.uk). If RDEB approves an extension, the internal examiner (or independent chair if there is no internal examiner) will be copied into the confirmation email to the student.