What Did You Learn?
If that question seems too vague, consider: What did you not know at the start of your PhD but know now? What can you do now that you couldn’t at the start? What were the false starts and dead ends...
Daily viva help for PhDs
If that question seems too vague, consider: What did you not know at the start of your PhD but know now? What can you do now that you couldn’t at the start? What were the false starts and dead ends...
Last weekend the news promised Snowmageddon in the UK. 30cm of snow! Freezing temperatures! And as the cold weather arrived there were lots of shots of drifts, stuck cars, cancelled trains and more. Meanwhile where we live, near the mouth...
I’ve noted before that I wore a pair of my “good day socks” to the viva. There’s no magic involved, just a little boost. An association I’d built up in my mind with particular socks and the state of “having...
A piece of expensive-looking paper with fancy words. A fraction of the size of your thesis, which is itself a fraction of the time, energy, focus and care you put into your research. The certificate is a piece of paper....
If you want to get opinions on taking your research further… finding homes for publications… anything connected with your future academic career… …there aren’t many people you could ask, who could base it on your work and not just offer...
The viva begins… Quick! Ten words or less, what’s the main contribution in your thesis? DING! Why did you follow the methodology that you did? Hurry! DING! Rush, rush! What would you do differently if you started again? DING! …and...
There’s a few key things it would be good to know around submission time. Questions which occur to candidates all of the time, but which I very rarely have answers for because they’re particular to their institution. If you’re submitting...
I love walking along the promenade near where I live. Every day looks different depending on the weather, the light and the tide. Sometimes you can’t see the shore. Some days waves crash over the railings, threatening to soak you...
The talking part of the viva regularly ends with the candidate being asked to wait while the examiners have a discussion. I remember sitting slightly dazed and confused in my office, staring at my computer, clicking through webpages and wondering...
A pat on the back. A thumbs up. “Good luck.” Motivation, encouragement and reinforcement come in many forms. Sometimes you have to look to your memory and your experience. The words you choose to use can help prime you for...