University regulations for the viva are similar around the UK, but not identical. They differ on things like the submission process, the number and type of examiners, how long is given for minor corrections, and other points. Candidates often ask me, “Well, what about my university? What do they do?”
So here’s a page with links to (nearly) every university in the UK’s thesis examination regulations. Find your university in the list, click and know exactly what your institution expects for your viva. If an institution doesn’t have a link that’s because I’ve not found the regulations yet, but I’m working on it!
September 2025 Update: This resource is in development to provide help for PGRs at UK universities. Since first developing this in 2018 I’ve tried to update as and when I’ve had the opportunity or been informed that links were broken or out of date, but between now and December 2025 I’m overhauling and rechecking links for every university.
Apologies if there isn’t a link for your university here at this time! As you can imagine it will take time to repopulate this list. And if there is a link to a regulations document or page do still check that these are accurate. Regulations change over time and newer versions of pages and pdfs might exist. If you can share the regulations for your institution then please let me know by sending a link.
- University of Aberdeen
- Abertay University
- Aberystwyth University
- Anglia Ruskin University
- Aston University
- Bangor University
- University of Bath
- Bath Spa University
- University of Bedfordshire
- University of Birmingham
- Birmingham City University
- Bishop Grosseteste University
- University of Bolton
- The Arts University Bournemouth
- Bournemouth University
- University of Bradford
- University of Brighton
- University of Bristol
- Brunel University
- University of Buckingham
- Buckinghamshire New University
- University of Cambridge
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- Cardiff Metropolitan University
- Cardiff University
- University of Chester
- University of Chichester
- Coventry University
- Cranfield University
- University for the Creative Arts
- University of Cumbria
- De Montfort University
- University of Derby
- University of Dundee
- Durham University
- University of East Anglia
- University of East London
- Edge Hill University
- University of Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Napier University
- University of Essex
- University of Exeter
- Falmouth University
- University of Glasgow
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- University of Gloucestershire
- University of Greenwich
- Harper Adams University
- Heriot-Watt University
- University of Hertfordshire
- University of the Highlands & Islands
- University of Huddersfield
- University of Hull
- Imperial College London
- Keele University
- University of Kent
- Kingston University
- University of Central Lancashire
- Lancaster University
- University of Leeds
- Leeds Arts University
- Leeds Beckett University
- Leeds Trinity University
- University of Leicester
- University of Lincoln
- University of Liverpool
- Liverpool Hope University
- Liverpool John Moores University
- University of London
- Birkbeck, University of London
- City, University of London
- Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
- Courtauld Institute of Art
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- Heythrop College
- Institute of Cancer Research
- King’s College London
- London Business School
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Queen Mary, University of London
- Royal Academy of Music
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- Royal Veterinary College
- St George’s, University of London
- School of Oriental and African Studies
- University College London
- London Metropolitan University
- London South Bank University
- Loughborough University
- University of Manchester
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Middlesex University
- Newcastle University
- Newman University
- University of Northampton
- Northumbria University
- Norwich University of the Arts
- University of Nottingham
- Nottingham Trent University
- The Open University
- University of Oxford
- Oxford Brookes University
- Plymouth Marjon University
- University of Plymouth
- University of Portsmouth
- Queen Margaret University
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Reading
- Regent’s University London
- The Robert Gordon University
- Roehampton University
- Royal Agricultural University
- University of Salford
- University of Sheffield
- Sheffield Hallam University
- University of South Wales
- University of Southampton
- Solent University
- University of St Andrews
- St Mary’s University
- Staffordshire University
- University of Stirling
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Suffolk
- University of Sunderland
- University of Surrey
- University of Sussex
- Swansea University
- Teesside University
- Ulster University
- University of Wales
- University of Wales, Trinity Saint David
- University of Warwick
- University of the West of England
- University of the West of Scotland
- University of West London
- University of Westminster
- University of Winchester
- University of Wolverhampton
- University of Worcester
- Wrexham Glyndŵr University
- University of York
- York St John University
…you made it all the way down here to the end of the list? Are you at one of these universities at the end of the alphabet, or do you just like scrolling? 😉
Remember: regulations change from time to time, so check that whatever you find for your institution is the most up to date. Also, regulations are broad, they have to cover every kind of researcher in every discipline at your institution. Talk with people from your school or department about their experiences to see how examiners interpret the regulations and deliver vivas they think are appropriate. After your viva, tell your colleagues who are finishing their thesis what it was like. Help set their expectations with your experience.