Wants & Needs For The Viva

Wants and needs are two different things, but they can be easy to confuse.

• You might want to submit a perfect thesis, but that’s impossible. So think, what does your thesis need to have?
• You might want the best possible examiners, but they might be busy. What do you need in a good examiner?
• You might want to be 100% free of nerves for the viva, but how likely is that? What do you need to do to be as ready as you can be?

As your PhD comes to a close, it’s not wrong to think through all the things you want – for your thesis, for your viva prep, for the viva itself – but make sure you ask yourself, “What do I really need to do this?”