Knowing Your Stuff
At the viva you’re expected to know your stuff, whatever that might mean for someone in your field or discipline. Broadly speaking: you’re clever, you’ve done the work and you’re assumed to be capable.
It’s not hard to worry that you might be missing something, but keep in mind, to set the right perspective:
- Knowing your stuff doesn’t mean you need to know everything.
- Knowing your stuff doesn’t mean you are expected to have a fast recall of every detail.
- Knowing your stuff doesn’t mean having read every paper.
- Knowing your stuff doesn’t mean guessing every question your examiners might have.
- Knowing your stuff doesn’t mean knowing all of your examiners’ stuff too.
- Knowing your stuff doesn’t mean figuring things out quickly.
At the viva, knowing your stuff means being knowledgeable, capable and being willing to engage with your examiners’ questions and the discussion that follows from them.
To get as far as you have you must know your stuff: it’s the only way anyone could get to submission.
PS: want to know more about the viva process and expectations? Take a look at my Viva Survivor session. Registration is live for my March 27th 2025 webinar and includes follow-up resources and a catch-up recording if you can’t attend on the day.