A candidate told me they were afraid because they had nowhere to hide in the viva.
Examiners would have spent lots of time reading their thesis and so the candidate worried they would be unable to evade questions on the day.
Literally in the viva room as well, there is nowhere to hide. On viva day it’s just you and your examiners: talking, discussing, figuring out what the thesis means and what that then means for the end of your PhD.
So yes, nowhere to hide…
…but also no need to hide.
Why hide in the viva? You have your work, your thesis, your ideas, your know-how, your talent. Why would you need to hide?
