Doing More
At the viva you’re doing more to tell your examiners about what you’ve done, how you did it and who you are. You’ve set that out in your thesis but now they need more from you. They need you to...
Tell Someone
If you need help with some part of your viva prep, tell someone who might be able to assist you. If you feel concerned, tell someone who might have experience or advice for your situation. If you have questions about...
Only You
Remember that your viva comes as a response to the work you’ve done. There may be regulations for thesis examination and ideas for what makes a “good viva” but yours is just for you, based on the thesis you’ve written....
Perspective, Not Perfection
As part of your viva preparations, make sure you have researched your examiners’ most recent publications. For both external and internal, take a look at their last two or three papers. Get a sense of their interests, the methods they...
Before You Forget
There will be congratulations after your viva, from examiners and others, telling you how well you’ve done, how great you are and starting the necessary celebrations for a wonderfully big and amazing thing! And before the celebrations really start to...
Hold On To Confidence
It’s not wrong to feel nervous before your viva. It’s really important! It comes at the end of years of work and you want to succeed. It’s almost certain that anyone would feel a bit nervous, but that doesn’t mean...
Being Lucky
Don’t trust that you’ll be lucky and that somehow things will work out at your viva. Instead, trust in the process. Vivas are governed by regulations, expectations and the culture of your department. Trust in your examiners. They’ll do their...
A Little Update
In two days my teeny-tiny Kickstarter campaign to make a helpful little guide for the viva will finish. The campaign has been a lovely success and I’ll soon be producing a print run for 101 Steps To A Great Viva....
An Opportunity
Problems are only opportunities in work clothes. I first came across this sentiment after my PhD was finished. I wish I’d heard it sooner. Every time I remember it I feel a boost for weeks afterwards as I’m working. If a...
Not One Day
Your PhD success is hundreds of days of work – thousands and thousands of hours of learning, doing, achieving, growing, making, failing(!) and persisting. Your PhD is not defined by a few hours of discussion with two examiners. You need...