All About Me!
It’s my birthday, and it dawned on me that I’ve put a lot of myself into the daily blog since I started it in 2017. I recorded an episode of the Viva Survivors Podcast a long time ago with my...
Daily viva help for PhDs
It’s my birthday, and it dawned on me that I’ve put a lot of myself into the daily blog since I started it in 2017. I recorded an episode of the Viva Survivors Podcast a long time ago with my...
After the viva there’s a few more things to do – corrections, completion, graduation – like an epilogue or a mid-credits scene at the end of a movie. You have more time to show your talent. Your viva is an...
In preparing for the viva you have your thesis, your knowledge, your talent… …and a lot of things potentially in your way, stopping you from getting ready! Busy days, family ties, worry, uncertainty over what to do – there’s lots...
How did you get interested in this area? How would you summarise your research? Could you tell us about your most important contributions? There are other potential opening questions. None are trivial, all rely on a deep knowledge and talent...
No two vivas are completely different either. One friend might have a two hour viva, another’s is three – but both got minor corrections. One friend might have been asked to give an overview of their research to start, while...
There are lots of reasons. Any one of the following might be enough: You did the work. You’re talented. Your examiners are there to examine, not interrogate. Vivas have expectations. Examiners have responsibilities. You can prepare for the viva… …and...
There’s lots of Finally!!! moments at the end of a PhD. Finally!!! My thesis is finished! Finally!!! My viva is almost here! Finally!!! I’ve passed my viva! Finally!!! My corrections are done! Finally!!! I’ve graduated! I’m finally, finally, done! At...
Have you done everything you could for your research and thesis? It’s almost impossible! Have you done enough for your research and thesis? Probably, since most candidates do! It helps to define “enough” before you try to decide if you’ve...
Confidence is essential for the viva, but you can’t just turn it on. You have to nurture it. If you want to grow vegetables, you could throw some seeds in a hole in the ground and wait to see what...
You can hope your examiners don’t spot them. A vague paragraph. An unfortunate typo. An unfinished project. The method you can’t quite remember. The definition that you struggle to place. The ideas you’ve not finished developing. The things you hope...