The Final Doctoral Exam at UBC is comprised of two parts: the external examination and the final oral defence.  Both parts must be passed in order for the student to earn a doctoral degree.

The figure below shows the possible paths for an exam.  Note that the external exam must be passed before the final oral defence can take place.

In the event that a student does not pass the external exam, s/he would normally be granted one opportunity for major revision and re-examination.  In such a case, the second external exam would normally involve the original external examiner and a new additional external examiner (who would not be informed of the previous external exam).  If at least one of these two external examiners recommends that the student "pass", then the final oral defence will take place.