• About us
  • Contact us
  • Search

You are not logged in:

Supervisors & managers

Scenario

Jiro has multiple disabilities and is a wheelchair user. He experiences high levels of pain and fatigue.

Suggested adjustments

The viva can last several hours. The length of the examination could have a negative effect on Jiro's pain level and consequently on his concentration. 

The supervisor and disability adviser discuss the issues with Jiro. He is looking forward to the viva, but is concerned that he will not be able to sustain concentration over 2 to 3 hours. His pain levels are greatest in the afternoon so his viva is arranged for a morning in an accessible venue (on the ground floor in a building near reserved parking spaces and with an accessible toilet on the same floor). Clear instructions on the venue are sent out to Jiro two weeks before the viva. Breaks of 15 minutes each hour are organised so that Jiro can rest and he is given permission by the chair to request additional breaks if they are necessary. 

The examiners and the chair of the panel agree to these adjustments and feel able to be rigorous in their questioning.

Premia logo

Premia - making research education accessible grew from a HEFCE-funded project based at Newcastle University from 2003 to 2005, with the aim to improve provision for disabled postgraduate researchers, increase the number of disabled researchers at UK institutions and improve the quality of their experience. Vitae now manages the Premia resources.  About Premia.  Premia conditions of use.

This page originated as part of the Premia Project.