Viva expectations invite responsibilities.
- If vivas are generally expected to take hours then you and your examiners have a responsibility to be ready for that situation.
- If vivas typically begin with certain types of starter question then you have a responsibility to prepare for that line of discussion.
- If vivas are discussion-based then you have a responsibility to be ready to respond to questions – and willing to share your research, your thesis and yourself.
- If you’re expected to succeed then you have a responsibility to prepare as well as you can – while examiners work towards making the viva the right environment for that outcome.
And most generally, if vivas have expectations then you have a responsibility first to learn about them. Knowing what to expect, even if that covers a range of possible experiences, gives you an opportunity to be as well-prepared as you can.
