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I?am surprised to hear the view that examiners do not read all of a PhD (¡°Last era¡¯s model¡±, Features, 21 May). In my experience of about 35 PhD examinations, I?have read the whole thesis and marked it with notes for the viva.

I?also take issue with the time ¡°waiting to be examined¡±. Unless I?am missing some funding source, I?would assume that today¡¯s candidates need to do what I?did and start work while they wait for the viva. This is therefore not wasted time as viva preparation takes place in parallel with whatever post follows.

I?would not say that the PhDs I?have supervised, nor those that I?have examined, were part of a ¡°conveyor belt¡±. They have all been different and the students all progressed as researchers and people during their completion.

Mark Leeson
Via timeshighereducation.co.uk