Daily viva help for PhDs
There’s lots about life that is difficult at the moment. Some aspects might even be practically impossible, compared to life in 2019, or even a few months ago. Thankfully, the viva isn’t one of those impossible things. There are difficult...
Do have a mock viva because they’re generally seen as a useful part of viva preparations, but… …don’t have a mock viva if you want to go through a script. …don’t have a mock viva if you’re not prepared. …don’t...
Your viva, in a nutshell. A unique exam, arising in response to a unique thesis, written by a unique candidate. There has never been a viva the same as yours before; there will never be another the same again. But...
Every candidate needs to survive their viva, and given what is needed at the viva, every candidate can survive their viva. You can want and have more though. You can survive and enjoy your viva. It could even be fun!...
Nathan Was ‘Ere! That’s what I thought it might mean, doing a PhD. I did this! I made something, and the whole world will know! …well. My thesis has helped others explore problems, but it didn’t make a huge impact....
Some parts of the viva’s expectations and experience are subjective. Is two hours a long viva or a short one? Is it better for an examiner to be an expert or not? Should you have a mock viva, yes or...
Hopefully, as it’s a public holiday in the UK, you can have some downtime today. I hope you can rest. If your viva is coming soon and you want to think a little about it, here are nine little posts...
I’ve told this story before, but not, I think, on this blog. I share it to offer a short piece of a life, and to maybe spark reflection for you. I hope it entertains 🙂 I did an easy undergraduate...
Examiners aren’t all equivalent. Some choices will be better than others – which means, naturally, that some are less desirable. For example: The Egotist. Someone who just wants to talk about their work, how important they are, and make connections...
Three ways I think about the same point of viva preparation. Instead of pushing yourself to get better in advance of your viva, decide on what you can do to get ready. Better is a never-ending chase for perfection. Ready...