It Depends
There are many questions asked about the viva to which a response has to begin with, “It depends…” Is it best to have an expert in my research area for an examiner? – It depends on what you think about the...
Daily viva help for PhDs
There are many questions asked about the viva to which a response has to begin with, “It depends…” Is it best to have an expert in my research area for an examiner? – It depends on what you think about the...
Do you want a simple task to help how you feel about your viva? Every day after submission, take five minutes to write down three things about your research: things that you know are good, that you’re proud of, that you...
What would you do if you went blank or froze or could only think “I don’t know”? It’s a situation you wouldn’t want; it could even be stressful. It’s reasonable to think about it before the viva but unhelpful to...
At the end of December I shared five days of posts recapping my favourite writing from 2022. In case you missed that or you’re looking for some helpful highlights, here’s the best of those five days, with links to each...
Two words to prompt reflection on nearly every aspect of the viva and viva prep. What’s important… …about your thesis? Explore it chapter by chapter with a notebook in hand. Make notes about anything that stands out to you. …about...
Plan your viva prep. Take a sheet of paper when you submit and spend ten minutes thinking about how you would space out the work that you need to do. When will you start? Will a month investing an hour most...
As you prepare for your viva, take an hour to think about how you have changed during your PhD journey. What can you do better now than when you started? What have you learned how to do? What methods, processes...
“How long is the viva?” It’s the number one question I have been asked in over twelve years of doing work related to the viva. The most appropriate response I feel that I can give is to say that two...
There’s a lot of help available for your viva. The secret is to ask for help before all you can think is “Help!” Your supervisor can answer questions, offer opinions and put your mind at ease. Friends can listen, share...
The viva is a single day when you have to rise to the occasion – but not the first day of the journey that you’re on. Your viva could be difficult. You can expect to be challenged, but that challenge...