A lot of viva worries come from not knowing what to expect – so find out more.
Read the regulations. Ask your supervisors. Talk to friends, talk to post-docs, talk to people who have been down the path to the viva before and succeeded.
Check online. Read a blog or two. Listen to a couple of podcasts. Explore the many resources produced by your institution and others.
It’s not wrong to be worried about the viva. There’s work to do and academic culture makes the viva seem a bit daunting.
There’s a little mystery in the process and what to expect, but a wealth of information in so many places that can help take away any worries you have – or at the very least help you to figure out what you can do to beat those worries back.
If you feel worried about the viva, go find out more.
