Some overseas universities simply examine the document without a viva. But as the viva is just a discussion between the student and the examiners, can it not be managed in a fashion that allows the student to defend their work, ie slowly, or with breaks, or presenting the main questions in advance (after all they have been presented in writing by each examiner to the university in advance).
We often tell the student the expected outcome at the very start which mightily relieves stress.
With regards,
John
Dr John Conway
Disability Officer
Director of Research
Principal lecturer in soil science
Royal Agricultural University
Cirencester, Glos GL7 6JS
On 14 Sep 2016, at 17:03, Perrett C.J. <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
Hello,
We’ve been approached by one of our academic members of staff about a student who is undertaking a PhD. The lecturer in question feels that the student’s disabilities are so severe that they would be unable to successfully complete the viva and were wondering about alternatives. We are struggling a little with this as whilst we have made adjustments for vivas before (e.g. extra time, prompt cards etc), we have never been in a position where someone has asked about alternatives as we believed that defending the thesis at the viva was an integral part of a PhD. Has anyone else been in a situation where they have been asked about providing alternative assessment in place of a viva and if so, what were you able to put in place?
Many thanks,
Catherine
Catherine Perrett
Disability Caseworker/Gweithiwr Achos Anabledd
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