Understand viva outcomes
Find out the possible recommendations examiners can make on your thesis and what to do in each case.
The outcome of the viva is normally given informally to you immediately and by no later than 24 hours after the viva has taken place. Please see the Guide to the thesis submission process on the postgraduate research policies and procedures page.
Possible recommendations
After the viva, your examiners produce a joint report which outlines their recommendation. The recommendation of the examiners is subject to final approval by the Graduate Board's Progress and Examinations Group, which must consider the examiners’ report at its next meeting. The examiners will inform you of the recommendation they are sending forward on your thesis.
The possible recommendations are:
Pass
Where your thesis satisfies the requirements for the award and no further corrections are required. You will need to submit your final eThesis to the University within one month of the viva date.
Pass (subject to the correction of ‘editorial and presentational corrections’)
Where your thesis satisfies the requirements for the award of the degree but is found to contain minor editorial and presentational errors (trivial errors, typographical errors, simple mistakes of fact or the insertion of headings or other ‘signpost’ material for the sake of clarity). Your corrections must be completed and returned to your internal examiner for approval within four weeks from the viva.
From September 2026, the deadline for editorial and presentational errors will be extended to six weeks from the viva.
Pass (subject to the correction of minor deficiencies)
Where your thesis satisfies the requirements for the award of the degree but is found to contain minor deficiencies (rewriting of sections, correcting calculations or clarifying arguments and the correction of minor typographical errors). Your corrections must be completed and returned to your internal examiner for approval within 12 weeks from the viva.
From September 2026, this category will be renamed “Pass subject to the correction of minor amendments”, and the deadline for corrections will be extended to up to six months from the viva. The academic threshold remains the same.
Referral
If your thesis is considered to be close to the required standard for the award, but does not yet fully meet the criteria, the examiners may decide to refer it for resubmission. A referral may also be made if, during your viva (or any additional tests the examiners request), you are not able to fully demonstrate that the degree should be awarded at this stage.
If you are referred, you will be asked to revise your thesis and complete any further work the examiners specify. This may include additional research or other activities. You will then resubmit your thesis for re-examination.
PGRs are normally referred for resubmission for the same degree they originally submitted for (for example, a Doctor of Medicine resubmitted for the Doctor of Medicine). However, candidates who submitted for a PhD may instead be referred for resubmission for the degree of MPhil.
After you resubmit your thesis for re-examination, the examiners will determine whether a second viva is needed. Examiners cannot recommend a lower award or a fail without holding a second viva.
Following re-examination, the examiners may recommend one of the following outcomes:
- pass
- pass with editorial and presentational corrections
- pass with minor deficiencies
- fail.
For PhD candidates, the examiners may also recommend the award of an MPhil, with or without corrections. A second referral is not permitted.
Fail
If the examiners recommend that your thesis be failed there is no further opportunity to revise and resubmit the work.
MPhil award on PhD submission
For candidates submitting for PhD only, the examiners may recommend the award of MPhil (with or without minor corrections) in cases where the thesis fails to achieve the standard for the award of a PhD but does satisfy the criteria for the award of the degree of MPhil.
Appealing
In some circumstances, you may wish to appeal against an adverse academic decision. You will receive details of the appeals process in an email sent to you notifying you of the outcome of your viva, so please read it carefully. You can also read further details of the procedure governing the consideration of postgraduate researcher appeals on the Academic appeals page of the University of Leeds Governance and Compliance website.
If you are considering an appeal against the outcome of the examination, you are strongly encouraged to seek independent advice and support from Leeds University Union. You should also speak to your supervisory team and your Graduate School.
If you need support after your viva
You can talk to your supervisors, Director of PGR Studies or Graduate School who will be happy to meet with you to discuss the next steps in the process and can signpost you to sources of support and information.
If you are unhappy with the viva or the outcome, you should discuss this with your Director of PGR Studies or Graduate School. It is not appropriate to contact the examiners.
Read information about student support and wellbeing services. This includes support from Disability Support Services, and the University Student Counselling and Wellbeing Service. You also have access to online wellbeing resources and self-help.