Not A PhD
For over a decade Viva Survivors has been geared towards the PhD viva and helping people get ready, but PhD candidates aren’t the only postgraduate researchers who have a viva. What if you’re doing an EngD or an EdD? Or...
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Ask Your Peers
Where peers are your friends, colleagues, acquaintances and whatever other titles you can think of! Ask about their vivas. Ask about their experiences. Ask what they know about the viva. Ask them what they did to get ready and if...
Your Preferences & Needs
Preferences are the things that we’d like, but which we could work around if needed. Preferences for your viva and viva prep might include: Starting in a morning; Reading your thesis with a fresh pot of coffee; Knowing your external...
Find A Guide
Imagine a service on the internet or app on your phone: at the press of a button and by answering a few questions you could be connected to a PhD graduate who could tell you all about their viva. They...
Surprising Questions From Candidates
I’m enjoying a nice summer break, but while I do I am missing sharing viva help in webinars. Before 2020 I’d already delivered viva sessions and workshops for a decade. With all of that combined experience – as you might...
Under It
Viva prep doesn’t take much, space it out, don’t overstress yourself by trying to do too much in too short a time- Good advice but if you are really under time pressure, if you just feel stress because of your...
Expectations Matter
Every viva is unique, but expectations show that yours will not be a total unknown. Expectations provide an outline. “Vivas are generally like this and not like that.” Viva expectations shape preparation and build confidence. The set of expectations you...
Predicting Failure
It’s clear that most PhD vivas results in success. Ask your graduate school. Look online. Talk to people who have been through the process. The vast majority succeed. Corrections are part of the process and not a failure or setback....
Prep Club
I often describe the work of viva prep as being similar to the work of a PhD. The work has a different focus but it exercises the same knowledge and abilities. For the most part it continues to be something...
Tell Someone
If you need help with some part of your viva prep, tell someone who might be able to assist you. If you feel concerned, tell someone who might have experience or advice for your situation. If you have questions about...