Start With Three Things

There’s a lot you can do to prepare for the viva – so much that at times it could feel overwhelming. Whatever you’re going to do, start with a limit of just three things to help you focus.

• Ask your supervisor three questions to help you prepare – what would they be?
• Put three bookmarks into your thesis – where would they go?
• Check three papers you’ve referenced – which ones would they be?
• Take three minutes to summarise your work – what would you say?
• Think of three questions you would like to ask your examiners – what are they?

Three is just to start. You can invest more time, more questions, more effort after the first three, the most important three are done.