Out Of Ideas!
I’m so sorry, but I sat down to write and I have nothing left to say. Almost six years. That’s how long it took me to write everything that I could say about the viva. It was a good run,...
Daily viva help for PhDs
I’m so sorry, but I sat down to write and I have nothing left to say. Almost six years. That’s how long it took me to write everything that I could say about the viva. It was a good run,...
A famous saying, or an approximation of it: if you think you can or think you can’t, you’re probably right. Our mindset shapes how we view things and how we do things. If you don’t think something will work, you might not...
I once took survey responses from over 300 PhD graduates about their viva experiences. There was a lot of data and a lot of clusters within the data. Without being careful it would have been easy to share wrong ideas...
I can’t believe I’ve never shared this before! It’s this one weird trick that helps with the viva!! One thing that universities, examiners and PhD graduates don’t want you to know!!! Whatever discipline you are in, however long you have...
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....
To build confidence for your viva, write down three successes from your PhD journey. Think back over the years of work and find three things that have been good: maybe things you did well, results that didn’t exist before or...
Plan your prep. Do the work. Focus on the goal. But play. Use fun stationery to mark up your thesis. Find music that helps you feel happy while you do the work – or helps you to feel better generally....
Remember that as you finish your PhD journey and have your viva that you are part of something. Several somethings! You are part of a community: there are many people around you who can offer support. You are part of...
What could you do to boost or maintain your confidence for your viva? Think about your research and focus on the good stuff? Read about your examiners and get a sense of who they are? Select an outfit that helps...
You are the only person in your viva who can speak for you and your work. The questions and comments from your examiners, the discussion that follows, all of it is is centred on getting you to engage and talk....