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Nathan

The Viva Roles

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Examiners: two academics who accept the opportunity to examine your thesis and you. They have training, they prepare, they plan and they’re ready to do what’s required. They want to do the job well. They only take the role on if it seems interesting and right for them. They’re at your viva for a good reason, even if some of their questions might seem difficult.

 

Observers: a category that covers two particular sub-classes, the Independent Chairperson and your Supervisor.

  • The Independent Chair’s specific role is to make sure that the viva goes well. They might seem like a passive role – if they’re present at all, as not all vivas have Independent Chairs. They’ll steer the discussion if they think they need to. They’ll support newer academics taking on an Examiner role if that’s necessary.
  • If your Supervisor is observing then they are only observing; like the Chair they can’t ask or respond to questions. They sit back and watch. You get to decide if they’re present or not.

 

The Candidate: that’s you! How would you describe what you can do and what you’re there to do?

Nathan

Some Examiners

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Some examiners say harsh things…

Some examiners don’t prepare well…

Some examiners treat the viva as box-ticking…

Some examiners use the viva as an opportunity to be cruel…

I can’t dispute the possibility of these kinds of statements. I’ve heard them before and I’ve heard fragments of enough stories to know that these statements are true.

…for some examiners.

Not all. Not most. In fact, only for a tiny percentage.

The vast majority of academics who take on an examiner responsibility try to do it well. The vast majority prepare and plan and get ready. They’re careful and thorough. Being asked questions might not always be comfortable – but the atmosphere in the viva is not totally dictated by examiners.

Some examiners could be described as not doing the job well.

Most examiners will do what’s appropriate.

Don’t let the rare exception skew your expectations.

Nathan

Learn About Examiners

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An effective strategy for feeling better about the viva is to take steps to know more about the academics examining you.

  • Ask your supervisor about them. Find out why they are good choices for your viva.
  • Research their recent publications. Find out more about their specific research interests.
  • Search on YouTube to see if there are recordings of their conference talks. This can help remind you that they are real people!

It will also help to read the regulations and remind yourself what your examiners are there to do. They have training to be examiners and they want to do the job well. They’re there to examine, not tear your work apart or break you down. They’re focussed on finding the good, not amplifying the bad.

Find out a little more about them and you can encourage yourself towards a good viva.

 

Many thanks to Sarah F from Bristol who shared the idea of searching YouTube for conference videos at a recent webinar!

Nathan

Common Ground

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A small part of viva prep is making sure that you know who your examiners are and what they do.

This does not mean that you need to become an expert in everything they do. As part of viva prep, unless you really know a lot about their work already, take time to read their most recent papers. Look for recurring ideas, themes, questions and methods. Look at their staff pages for their research interests.

Try to explore the common ground that your research shares. Look for the connections between what you do and how you do what you do. If you need to, take a little time to understand any differences between your research.

Again: a small part of viva prep is knowing who your examiners are and what they do. It helps, but make sure you spend your time well.

Nathan

Overconfident For Your Viva?

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It’s unlikely!

Even the most self-assured individual will probably feel some nerves and disquiet on their viva day. It’s unlikely that anything will go seriously wrong, but fairly probable that you might be asked a question you’ve never considered, face a criticism you don’t like or simply feel awkward at being in there.

So I don’t think you’ll be overconfident for your viva.

 

The one dangerous area that a PhD candidate can stray into is feeling that they need to have the last word. That they’re the only one who can be right. That they’ve considered everything.

Your viva is a discussion. Your examiners are exploring your thesis, your research and your capability. You might be the best-placed person to respond to their questions but you are not the only smart person in the room.

Listen carefully, take your time in responding and don’t forget to pause and think!

Nathan

Substance, Not Surface

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At the viva you are invited into a discussion.

Of course you’ll respond to little questions for clarification and confirmation, but the overall drive of the viva is towards conversation.

It’s not a quiz or game show where the fastest answer wins. Your examiners want your considered thoughts and ideas. They want substance, not surface.

Do the work. Prepare well. Listen to the question. Take your time and think. Be as clear as you can be.

Which is all to say: do your best. That’s all your examiners are looking for and all anyone could expect.

Deep questions require more than surface-level responses.

Nathan

The Unknown External

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If your external isn’t known to you – and there are lots of reasons why might this be the case, as well as lots of degrees to which this might feel true – then the best thing you can do is find out more.

  • Ask your supervisor about them.
  • Ask anyone in your network about them.
  • Check your memory to see if you’ve met or seen them at a conference and you’ve just forgotten.

And of course, more than anything, read their most recent work.

 

It helps to know your external a little but it’s much more helpful to know about what they do: their knowledge, biases and research will bring perspective to how they read your work, ask questions and consider what you’re saying.

Read their last two or three most recent papers. Look for themes, ideas, questions, methods and anything else that might be relevant. You’re not trying to become an expert in them. You’re looking for points of connection – or the lack thereof!

The more you know, the better you’ll feel – and thankfully it won’t take much to feel good about your external, even if they’re a stranger to you at the time of selection.

 

(and of course, if you’re not that familiar with your internal, find out more about them too!)

Nathan

Examiner Maybes

Daily Post, Sabbatical

Maybe they’re nice. Maybe they’re a bit unknown to you. Maybe they have a special interest in your research area.

Your examiners might be experts. They could be among the many people you’ve cited in your thesis. Maybe they know your supervisors; they’re friends, more than professional colleagues.

There are lots of possibilities for examiners – and lots of certainties too.

They will have prepared. They will be ready. They will have questions. They will have expectations for you, the viva and themselves.

They will not have been randomly selected – supervisor friends or not, experts or otherwise – they will have been asked for a reason. They will have been selected as a good choice.

Best choice? Perhaps. Capable? Certainly.

Find out who they are and you can help yourself as you prepare for your viva.

 

Viva Survivors Summer Sabbatical: I’m taking July, August and September off from new writing to concentrate on other creative projects, so will be sharing a post from the archives every day throughout those months. Today’s post was originally published on November 26th 2021.

Nathan

Internal & External

Daily Post, Sabbatical

There are differences between your examiners, but it might be more useful to focus on what they have in common than what separates them. They’re both academics, both experienced, both prepared.

They’ve both read your thesis, both thought about your viva in advance. Now they’re ready to ask questions, steer discussions and listen to what you have to say.

You can’t know everything they will ask, say or do in advance. Instead, use a little time to look at who they are and what they’ve done. Get a sense of what might motivate their questions and their approach to your viva.

 

Viva Survivors Summer Sabbatical: I’m taking July, August and September off from new writing to concentrate on other creative projects, so will be sharing a post from the archives every day throughout those months. Today’s post was originally published on January 14th 2021.

Nathan

3 Questions To Ask Your Supervisors Before Submission

Daily Post, Sabbatical

Viva preparation starts after submission, but the right questions – asked in advance – can help you submit well and set up your success in your preparation and viva. Before submission, ask your supervisors the following and build on these in discussion:

  1. Who do they think would be good examiners and why? Many supervisors invite opinions from students; final decisions rest with supervisors. You could offer ideas, but understanding the criteria they are using (or the names they are choosing) can give you confidence for the process and useful information.
  2. In advance of submission, what constructive feedback can they offer of your thesis? Make the most of this. Use their thoughts to help how you communicate your research.
  3. What are some of the trickiest areas they see candidates struggling with in the viva? Generally, what questions or topics do they see problems with? Or what are topics that they see as perfectly natural to talk about, but which candidates might not prepare for?

These questions will not paint the whole picture for your thesis, your preparation or the viva. They will be a good start. You can trust that your supervisors want you to pass, and want to give you appropriate assistance.

Use these discussions to help your submission and state of mind as you head towards the viva.

 

Viva Survivors Summer Sabbatical: I’m taking July, August and September off from new writing to concentrate on other creative projects, so will be sharing a post from the archives every day throughout those months. Today’s post was originally published on February 19th 2020.

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