Breaks
A very practical post today that springs from a frequent question at workshops: “Can I take a break in the viva?” Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Bathroom break, leg stretch, medical need – you can ask for a...
Daily viva help for PhDs
A very practical post today that springs from a frequent question at workshops: “Can I take a break in the viva?” Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Bathroom break, leg stretch, medical need – you can ask for a...
The last time I was terrified was watching Get Out. I’m not going to spoil it, and if you intend to see the movie I suggest you stay spoiler-free. I saw it at a lunchtime screening. Afterwards I walked out...
It’s the General Election in the UK today. Today is a day for a decision – but then so is every day. Every day is a series of decisions, some big, some small, some that don’t matter and many that...
The greatest training montage ever captured on film is the 3-odd minute training scene in Rocky III. You can check it out here if you’ve never seen it. It’s awesome. If nothing else, add the music to your inspirational playlist....
Viva Survivors started as a podcast five years ago today. A lot has happened. That’s an understatement, but a good starting point. In five years I’ve produced over sixty episodes of the podcast, written three books, delivered hundreds of workshops...
“Hello Mr Magpie, how’s your wife?” If you see a lonely magpie then you’re supposed to ask where his wife is, supposedly to ward away sorrow or bad things. I don’t know where the superstition comes from, I heard it...
Here’s a quick reflective exercise for the end of the PhD. Take a sheet of paper, divide it into three: In the top write WHY: why did you do a PhD? Answer the question. In the middle write HOW: how...
The viva is questions: your examiners want to talk to you about your research and there’s 101 things they could want to know. The viva is answers: if you don’t talk about your research you’re not going to get very...
For years I’ve avoided spoilers. I remember racing home with the final three Harry Potter books on the days they were released, turning my phone off and reading until they were done – partly because I was desperate to know...
My friend Shaine kept his viva secret. In his final year he got married, wrote up his thesis, applied for and got a place on a teaching course, prepared for it, submitted his thesis and then prepared for the viva....