A public discussion and examination is part of the assessment of an independent degree project and can be part of the assessment in other courses too. During a public discussion and examination, the written paper and sometimes the oral presentation is reviewed. The student reviewer is not the examiner. The session should be considered a conversation and not a hearing. How it is structured can differ between disciplines and programs. Here we give general tips that can be useful in the role of both a student reviewer and the author of the paper.

The role of the student reviewer

The student reviewer's task is to review the thesis and highlight strengths and ambiguities. Therefore, the reviewer needs to familiarise themselves with the paper and be well prepared to be able to ask questions and justify their views. Sometimes the teacher gives instructions on what should be included in the review during the public discussion and examination.

The role of the author of the paper

The author of the paper also needs to be prepared and ready to receive feedback. For many students, the public discussion and examination is useful but can be challenging. Listen, ask curious questions and discuss. Meet the reviewer with an open mind and answer the questions you are asked, as honestly as possible.