Do a little homework when your examiners are selected. Make notes on each of them and concentrate on the following questions and points:
- Why were they asked to be your examiners? Knowing the relevance of their selection gives you helpful information.
- What do you know about their work? Have you cited their work? Are you familiar with it? Are there recent publications that it might be useful to read?
- What do you expect from them? What do you know about their reputations?
- What questions might you expect from them? What could they want to know?
Gather your thoughts on who your examiners are, what they’ve done and what you can expect from them. Like any viva expectations, there’s no guarantee for what they will ask or think in the viva – but like any viva expectations you can be prepared to meet them and engage, whatever happens.
