External Examiner

EXTERNAL EXAMINER

Hope Mill Theatre Arts (HMTA) (validated by Northern School of Contemporary Dance
(NSCD)) is looking for a suitably qualified and experienced practitioner as External Examiner
for:

•  a) our BA (Hons) Musical Theatre Performance Programme (for 2026 entry)

The External Examiner would be expected to attend programmed live assessments in either
class, site or in other venues across Manchester, attend and give a verbal report to the
board of examiners (at NSCD in Leeds), use remote access to view assessment work and
documentation and submit an annual report to NSCD’s quality
office. External examiner appointments are usually for a 4-year period (2026-2030). NSCD
will offer specific External Examiner training before commencement of the role.

Please note that in your tenure, you will be expected to have seen all modules at least
once and see modules again which have had major revisions. HMTA will carefully
map this with you.

All External examiners for partnership programmes are appointed by Northern School of
Contemporary Dance as part of our Quality Assurance team.

Application deadline (by email) 14th February 2026 Naomi Albans Head of Programme
enquiries@hopemilltheatrearts.co.uk

The appointment will be made through NSCD in May 2026. We are looking for an
individual who has knowledge and experience of HE standards applicable to undergraduate
provision and quality assurance mechanisms.  NSCD would expect applicants to have a
subject relevant specialism, and knowledge of the Musical Theatre performance, creative
practice or production within this genre and have ideally some recent knowledge of working
in the higher education sector.

HMTA will use some or all the following selection criteria as consideration for a suitable
candidate for nomination:

•  External Examiners should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of
the relevant sector reference points (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications,
Subject Benchmark Statements, Characteristics Statements) for the maintenance of
academic standards and assurance and enhancement of quality.

•  Only persons suitably qualified and experienced in the subject or specialism within

the subject, to which the appointment relates can be appointed

•  Persons who have recently retired or have left such posts may be considered for
appointment provided that there is evidence that they are familiar with current
expectations in UK Higher Education.

•  External Examiners may be appointed from outside the higher education system on
the basis of demonstrable professional qualifications and experience particularly in
the case of vocational awards.

•  We can only appoint UK-based External Examiners.
•  External Examiners should be able to demonstrate experience relating to course

design and student assessment relevant to the level of the award.

•  External Examiners should be able to demonstrate awareness of current
developments in the design and delivery of the relevant curriculum.

•  The nominee must be able to demonstrate familiarity with the standard to be

expected of students in order to achieve the award to be assessed.

•  External Examiners should be able to demonstrate competence and experience

relating to the enhancement of the student learning experience.

Conflicts of interest
HMTA can only recommend applicants who can display there are no conflicts of interests:

Items that constitute a conflict of interest: Where there is one or more of the following
conflicts of interest, a person may not be appointed as an External Examiner:

i. They are a member of a governing body or governing committee of HMTA or
NSCD or one of its collaborative partners, or is a current employee of HMTA or
NSCD

ii. has a close professional, contractual or personal relationship with a member of
staff or student involved with the course of study in question;

iii. is required to assess colleagues who are also students on the course of study;

iv. is, or will be, in a position to influence significantly the future of students on the
course of study;

vi. is a former HMTA or NSCD staff member or student unless a period of five years
has elapsed and all students taught by or with the nominee have completed their
course(s);

vii. there is a reciprocal arrangement involving cognate courses at another institution.

viii. the nominated External Examiner is from the same department in the same
institution as the preceding External Examiner;

ix. the appointment of more than one External Examiner from the same department
of the same institution.

Contact Naomi Albans for more information and to apply please send a current CV with
concise covering letter/email to: Naomi Albans enquiries@hopemilltheatrearts.co.uk by 14th
February 2026.
Shortlisting and recommendation to Senate will take place 31st March 2026.