Not The Point
Sir Ken Robinson’s work on education and creativity has changed the world. His TED talks have been seen by hundreds of millions of people, and his words, ideas and humour have impacted so many more. His first TED Talk, “Do...
Daily viva help for PhDs
Sir Ken Robinson’s work on education and creativity has changed the world. His TED talks have been seen by hundreds of millions of people, and his words, ideas and humour have impacted so many more. His first TED Talk, “Do...
If you only have a few minutes spare, but want to do something to help your viva prep, you could start a list. I’ve shared a few ideas on this topic before. Here are ten more: Top Five Fascinating Things...
I like thinking about and developing ideas to get people creating summaries of their thesis. An essential part of the viva prep process is to think about your research, and it’s useful to take a step back and try to...
Or MEVPS, for short. There isn’t one, not one that works for everyone. Everyone is different, every candidate has a unique thesis, every candidate has a unique set of circumstances and a unique situation when they get to preparation time...
Something different for a Bank Holiday Monday! I’ve made a YouTube playlist, six songs that make me think about the viva, about getting ready, the end of the PhD and all of the feelings that swirl around. My reasons for...
Not bad, good or strange… P-h-Done! Or bittersweet? How will you feel? The viva and the end of the PhD can stir up a lot of emotions. You don’t have to feel one thing or another, there’s no right...
An incomplete list of what matters about you, your PhD, your thesis and your viva: That you did the work; That you put the time and effort in; That you feel reasonably confident for the viva; That you prepare for...
A little structure is a great way to start reflection, and Three Whats is a really neat little structure. It’s really flexible and can be applied to a lot of the areas that are worth thinking about towards the end...
There are plenty of interesting reasons why Dr X or Professor Y might be good examiners: They’re experts in your general area; You’ve cited them a lot; You’re hoping to build your network a little. You don’t get to choose...
It might be a surprise to know exactly what your examiners think of your work, but it doesn’t have to be a surprise to know what other people more generally think of it. Share your work, get feedback and keep...