External Examiners, expertise and accreditation

Right to work in England

External nominees are usually appointed as individual employees of the University paid for completed reports. All applicants must be eligible to undertake paid work in England, in line with UK Home Office regulations and guidance. We work with the University HR department to assess this, using digital ID verification and video interviews before your appointment where possible. We will not discriminate based on national origin or settlement status, but regret that the University cannot sponsor a new visa for an External Examiner/Expert role.

Individual Eligibility Requirements

It is required for all applicants to Bradford External roles to:

• Be proficient in academic English (equivalent to IELTS 7.0/CEFR C1 or above).
• Have some understanding of learning, teaching and/or assessment in a defined area of academic study.
• Hold qualifications to at least the level (RQF/FHEQ) of the course being examined, or have extensive experience as a practitioner in a cognate field.
• Have access to a computer device and the Internet.
• Be familiar with the standard to be expected of students/learners achieving the assessed award.
• Where applicable, have proficiency in relevant languages where parts of a programme are delivered and assessed in a language other than English.
• Where applicable, meet criteria set by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies that accredit or support the delivery of the course.

Desirable Applicant Qualities

Bradford External nominees usually meet these additional criteria:

• They have sufficient breadth and depth of experience within fields of study under consideration to be a credible peer reviewer in British higher education.
• They have knowledge and understanding of UK sector agreed reference points for academic standards and quality assurance in England.
• They are competent and experienced relating to designing and/or operating a variety of assessment tasks appropriate to the subject or professional role.
• They are aware of current developments in the design and delivery of a modular curriculum
• They have competence and experience in the enhancement of the student learning experience
• For examiner roles, they have no more than 1 other external examining appointment in the UK or Ireland.

The nominating Faculty may make an exceptional case for a nomination to be approved without one or more of these qualities. Colleagues interested in External Examining should note that these requirements apply to our own staff seeking appointments elsewhere too.

Conflict of Interest Guidance

In order to avoid conflict of interest, the University is unable to accept External Examiner applications if any of the following criteria apply:

• They are a member of a governing body or committee of the University or one of its partners, or a current employee of the University or one of its partners.
• They are working for the University as a current External Expert for the validation and review of the programmes to be examined.
• They have a close professional, contractual or personal relationship with a member of staff or student involved with the programme of study to be examined.
• They are involved in the assessment and/or recruitment of students to the programme of study.
• They are, or know they will be, in a position to influence significantly the future of students on the programme of study.
• They are significantly involved in recent or current substantive collaborative research activities with a member of staff closely involved in the delivery, management or assessment of the programme(s) and/or modules in question.
• They are a former member of staff or student of the University - unless a period of five years has elapsed and, in the case of a former member of staff, all students taught by or with the proposed External Examiner have completed their programme(s).
• They are involved in a reciprocal arrangement involving related programmes at another institution.
• They are taking over the External Examiner role from a colleague in the same department in the same institution.
• There is already one External Examiner from the same department of the same institution examining within the same Department within the University of Bradford.
• They are deemed to have any conflict of interest in relation to commercial sensitivity.

Previously working as an External Examiner or External Expert for another Faculty of the University is generally NOT considered a conflict of interest.

Any potential conflicts of interest must be identified and resolved prior to appointment or, in the case of an existing External Examiner, as soon as they arise. Honesty and integrity are important values for all staff and contractors working with the University of Bradford. Existing External Examiners with potential conflicts of interest arising should contact their Faculty contact or the Learning, Teaching and Quality Enhancement team at [email protected].

Bodies Corporate Eligibility

We can register intermediary companies carrying out academic quality assurance to the role of External Expert. In addition to evidence of meeting the eligibility criteria, corporate nominees should supply: a company invoice, detailing VAT registration and proof of banking; and a University of Bradford new supplier form. The nominee’s representative or contractor should also carry out their own “IR35” assessment to understand how we will determine their status through the same procedure, and generally be aware of current developments in legislation and practice around off-payroll working in the public sector.

In line with HMRC guidance (ESM 4150-4152), the University of Bradford believes External Examiners to be necessary, ancillary members of the Board of Examiners. We will only accept a corporate nomination as External Examiner in exceptional circumstances.