External Examiner – Faculty of Arts and Sciences (EE-FAS)

Unlock Your Expertise: A Comprehensive Review of the External Examiner Opportunity

The role of an External Examiner is fundamental to maintaining academic standards and ensuring the integrity of qualifications within UK Higher Education. This professional opportunity invites experienced academics and subject matter experts to contribute their invaluable insights across a diverse range of programmes, directly influencing the quality of student learning and assessment. If you are an established academic seeking to broaden your professional impact and contribute to the wider academic community, this role presents a significant and rewarding engagement.

Advantages for Your Career Path: Elevate Your Professional Standing

• Significant Influence on Academic Standards: As an External Examiner, you will play a crucial role in confirming that academic standards are appropriately set and rigorously maintained. Your critical evaluation helps ensure that programmes meet national threshold standards and that students achieve their intended learning outcomes, directly reinforcing the credibility and quality of higher education awards.
• Enhanced Professional Development and Sector Insight: This role offers a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth perspective on the practices of another UK Higher Education Institution. You will engage with different programme designs, assessment strategies, and quality assurance processes, which can profoundly enrich your own teaching, research, and curriculum development. It's an excellent pathway to stay abreast of current developments in your specific subject area and the broader HE landscape, including key reference points like FHEQ and Subject Benchmark Statements.
• Broaden Your Expertise Across Diverse Disciplines: The Faculty is actively seeking examiners for a wide array of programmes, demonstrating a commitment to fostering expertise across numerous fields. This includes areas such as Physical Literacy, Computer Engineering, Biochemistry, various Engineering disciplines (Computer Science, Electrical & Electronic), Media, Film & Television, Chemistry, Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Sports Therapy, and Graphic Design. This diversity ensures that individuals with a broad spectrum of subject specialisms can find a meaningful opportunity to apply their knowledge.
• Valuable Mentorship for Aspiring Examiners: For those new to external examining, this opportunity provides a supportive entry point. The institution explicitly offers mentorship, stating that individuals without previous experience will normally join an experienced team of examiners and receive guidance. This structured support is a considerable advantage for developing expertise in this critical quality assurance function.
• Flexible, Predominantly Remote Engagement: The majority of the work associated with this role can be undertaken remotely. This offers considerable flexibility, allowing you to manage these responsibilities effectively alongside your existing professional and personal commitments, making it accessible to qualified academics across the UK.

Key Considerations for Potential Candidates: Aligning with the Role's Demands

• Rigorous Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must meet stringent requirements, typically being academic staff from other UK HEIs, qualified to at least the level of the qualification they will examine. Essential criteria include demonstrating strong evidence of competence and experience in relevant fields, sufficient standing and credibility within your discipline, and comprehensive knowledge of UK sector reference points (FHEQ, Degree Characteristics Statements, Subject Benchmark Statements). Familiarity with Professional and Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) standards, where applicable, is also mandatory.
• Commitment to Timeliness and Meticulous Detail: The role demands a commitment to reviewing and approving examination papers, other assessment materials, and samples of student work in a timely and thorough manner. A core responsibility is the production of a comprehensive Annual Report, which requires analytical skill and meticulous attention to detail to confirm standards and learning outcomes.
• Potential for On-Campus Attendance: While the role is largely remote, there is an expectation for External Examiners to potentially attend assessment boards or live moderation sessions on the Ormskirk Campus on an annual basis. Candidates should factor in the possibility of travel and associated time commitments for these in-person engagements.
• Supplementary Role with Defined Remuneration: This is a part-time, supplementary role designed to complement primary academic or professional responsibilities, rather than serving as a main employment opportunity. The annual fee, approximately £620.31 (inclusive of holiday pay), reflects a limited time allocation (approximately 37.5 hours per year). Expenses incurred in the role are reimbursed. Potential candidates should consider this compensation in the context of the time commitment and the significant professional contributions expected.
• Long-Term Engagement Perspective: The vacancies span programmes commencing in October 2025 and October 2026, indicating an expectation for a sustained, long-term engagement for successful candidates, offering continuity in your external examining portfolio.

Is This Opportunity Right for You?

This External Examiner role is an excellent fit for established academics and subject matter experts who are deeply committed to upholding academic excellence and contributing to the integrity of higher education. If you possess the required academic standing, a profound understanding of your discipline, and a dedication to quality assurance, this opportunity offers a rewarding avenue for professional engagement, influence, and growth. It's a valuable way to give back to the academic community, broaden your institutional perspective, and further enhance your professional profile.

Ensure your application clearly articulates your alignment with the specified eligibility criteria and your enthusiastic commitment to maintaining the highest academic standards.