Fees and expenses for External Examiners of taught programmes

You may claim for expenses you incur during the year and prior to submission of your on-line report. Fees for examining duties will only be paid once we receive your completed External Examiner's on-line report submission.

How we pay you

Fees and expenses are normally paid directly into personal bank accounts. 

Fees

Your annual fee for the service you provide is conditional upon receipt of the report(s) for the programme(s) examined. Upon submission of your annual report(s), your School Administrative Contact will liaise with you to arrange payment for your services. If you don't know the name of your School Administrative Contact you can find out by emailing externalexaminers@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

Fee and expense claims

The appropriate claim form for fees and expenses and relevant guidance are downloadable from the Transactions Services web page.

If your annual report(s) have been submitted, your fees may be included on the same claim form as your expenses. 

The claim form should be typed and sent by email to your School Administrative Contact, along with scans of any relevant receipts .  

Payment not received

If you have not received payment within 4-6 weeks of submitting your report or making a claim, please contact your School Administrative Contact in the first instance. If the problem is still unresolved, you can contact the Registry (Policy and Quality) at externalexaminers@contacts.bham.ac.uk who will liaise with the School.


Additional expense guidance specific to external examiners

Travel expenses

Travel expenses may be claimed against receipted expenditure as follows:

  • Examiners may claim actual expenditure on standard rail fares or other public transport, from their home to the University. There is a frequent, direct, train service from Birmingham New Street Railway Station to the University.
  • Examiners travelling from outside the United Kingdom to undertake external examining at the University may claim the cost of economy air travel. Any Examiner wishing to travel by air within the UK is asked first to contact the Head of School for the School/ Department to which they have been appointed as External Examiner to agree this expense in advance of any visit.
  • Claims for car usage will be met at the discretion of the School concerned and will normally only be permitted where public transport is unavailable or impractical, or where the mileage claim is cheaper than the cost of making the journey by public transport. Check mileage rates.

Overnight stays

Wherever possible, visits will be arranged at a time to enable examiners travelling within the UK to make the return journey in one day. In most instances where an overnight stay is required, hotel accommodation will be arranged by the School, and the costs will be paid directly by the School. External Examiners are advised to contact the School if they wish to arrange their own accommodation.

Other expenses

The procedures outlined here are intended as a guide only, External Examiners are asked to negotiate expenditure levels beyond those indicated with the School concerned.