It’s not uncommon or irrational for a PhD candidate to ask:
- How long will my viva be?
- What do I do if I go blank?
- How do I get out of tricky questions?
- Is it better to have a morning or afternoon viva?
- How much time is given for minor corrections?
These are natural questions to have in mind. A supervisor or a friend might be able to offer advice or even a definitive answer for some of them.
These are natural questions for a candidate to ask of others, but it’s better to reflect on questions like:
- What am I doing to get ready?
- What makes my thesis contribution valuable?
- What do the exam regulations say?
- Who can help me be prepared?
- What makes me a capable researcher?
Worry, concern and not knowing lead to questions about the viva and preparation.
There are often better questions to consider than the ones which first come to mind.
