Ask Your Examiners

Consider your examiners. Two people sat across the table from you and they’re interested. They’ve read your thesis, thought about it and now have questions for you. You’ve got to answer their questions to pass, but maybe you can get some answers to questions of your own. You might ask:

• What did you think of this?
• I haven’t published a paper about Chapter 3; what journals might be good for that?
• I was thinking of extending my work in this way – what do you think?
• What next steps might I take?

You don’t have to ask them questions, but there’s an opportunity in the viva to get ideas and insights from two experienced researchers who’ve read your thesis.

What do you most want to know?