Packing Up
A few months after my viva, when my corrections were all completed, it was time to pack up the desk in my shared office. I wish I had considered it properly at the time. Instead, I just packed everything into...
Daily viva help for PhDs
A few months after my viva, when my corrections were all completed, it was time to pack up the desk in my shared office. I wish I had considered it properly at the time. Instead, I just packed everything into...
Annotation helps you to prepare in two ways. First, you have to think carefully about your thesis while you add the notes or emphasis you need. Second, you have a more helpful resource for your viva. Annotation is effective...
Four words to remember. They don’t mean that you’re ready. They don’t mean you’re perfect. They don’t mean that your viva will be easy. They simply mean that you have got to this point in your PhD journey because of...
Your examiners will have a plan for what they want to talk about at your viva. This isn’t a script. They’re not asking a set list of questions like a questionnaire. They’re using pre-prepared questions and points to prompt the...
What do you need to take to your viva? Your thesis. Annotated in advance, carefully read and available as a resource to help the discussion. Pen and paper. Something to write on and something to write with, according to your...
Ask for help when you’re getting ready for your viva. Talk to your friends and colleagues in your department. Get them to listen to you talk about your work or ask about their experiences. Get the benefit of their help!...
I don’t advise every PhD candidate take a month to get ready for their viva but a month is a good place to start from when considering your plans. Viva prep – the deliberate tasks someone does to get ready...
Don’t rush into viva prep. Make sure you have everything you need and a plan to help you get through the work you need. Do small tasks first. Check the regulations. Ask for help. Place bookmarks at the start of...
There are lots of statistics about the general experience of the PhD viva – but we can’t combine them to find out the probability of a particular outcome. Want to know how likely it is you’ll have a four-hour viva...
Hope is what we have when we have little leverage on the outcome. I encourage PhD candidates to prepare for their viva rather than hope it will just all go well, because preparation leads to a better experience and a...