A biased court with no appeal

Article Abstract:

Universities appear determined to retain the tradition of using an oral examination to assess PhD students, despite the various problems associated with the doctoral viva. Universities offer no recourse to appeal on the rare occasions when a PhD student whose work is of doubtful quality is failed after a bad performance in the viva. Furthermore, even good PhD students can be intimidated by the aura of ritual that surrounds the viva. Personal animosities between the PhD student and the examiners or between the examiners themselves can also prove detrimental in an oral examination.

Management, Testing, Examinations, Educational tests, Doctor of philosophy degree

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Just walk this American way

Article Abstract:

The system of financing students which is emerging in the UK, using student loans and earnings rather than grants, is very similar to that which already exists in the US. However, it is not fully appropriate for the different circumstances which exist in the UK. Universities and colleges in the UK would face strong opposition from trade unions to employing students in the same way as their American counterparts, for example. Moving towards student-paid tuition fees would also create extensive administrative difficulties.

Finance, Column, Graduate students

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