Difficult Circumstances
“Viva Survivor” is catchy, but it can also sound a little negative to some ears. I checked the definition of survive a while back and was heartened to see a definition that matched my intent on using the phrase so...
Daily viva help for PhDs
“Viva Survivor” is catchy, but it can also sound a little negative to some ears. I checked the definition of survive a while back and was heartened to see a definition that matched my intent on using the phrase so...
Your thesis is a great help to begin with in the viva. Adding notes helps you reflect on what’s there and can make it better for the viva. Here are seven kinds of annotations that can really help. Add a...
It’s natural to be a little nervous at the start of the viva. You and your examiners want it to go well, and everyone probably has a sense that as long as it starts well things will be fine. Examiners...
Most candidates pass with minor corrections as a result of their thesis submission and viva examination. I’ve often been asked about whether or not there is anything specific that a candidate could do to “aim” at getting only minor corrections....
Asking why your research is valuable starts the work of exploring what your significant original contribution is. Asking why you wanted to explore this area gets at a different but equally fascinating discussion: what’s your interest? Everyone has their reasons...
I love the provocation of five.sentenc.es: a call for shorter email and replies. It’s sometimes tricky to explain ourselves clearly in a short space, but often rewarding when we do. Think about what you could do in five sentences for...
You don’t get to formally pick your examiners, but you can usually steer the selection in conversation with your supervisors. They’re the ones who have to sign off on the choice. As you’ll likely be consulted, it’s a good idea...
Quite simply, the answer is you, the candidate. You, your thesis, your preparation, your journey, your talent, your knowledge, your goals, your choices… You’re the difference.
Your colleagues and peers are a great source of help for your viva. They can listen to you talk about your research, ask useful questions and even help you to take your mind off things! The PhD graduates among them...
Some vivas are less than an hour in length. The shortest I’ve ever heard of was 42 minutes. This lead one participant at a Viva Survivor session to ask, “What can we do to make our vivas under an hour?”...