Past, Present, Future
As you get ready for your viva: Look back over everything you’ve done that has got you this far. Consider what has helped you to grow and what you’ve achieved. Think about where you are now and what you can...
Daily viva help for PhDs
As you get ready for your viva: Look back over everything you’ve done that has got you this far. Consider what has helped you to grow and what you’ve achieved. Think about where you are now and what you can...
A magician lays their top hat on the table after showing that there’s nothing inside. They cover the hat with a silk handkerchief and wave a wand – and just like that a rabbit appears! It’s magic! We are amazed!...
Today is the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who and as I’m a massive nerd that had to inspire today’s thoughts! As a character, the Doctor is curious, helpful, determined and very, very clever – all things I believe that...
The viva is an ending but also sparks questions about where your research could go next. What could someone do with your work, now that your thesis is finished? What would be the next steps for your research if you...
Traffic intersections use simple colour-coding to indicate what actions should be taken. They’re used to prompt very specific behaviour and action. Perhaps we can borrow the terminology to consider the kinds of questions that might come up at a viva…...
Your viva is a lot of work, both in prep and on the day. Your viva is one day at the end of a thousand or so. Your viva is likely to be a difficult but not insurmountable challenge. Your...
What’s the upper or lower word count for my thesis? This is an interesting question. Sometimes it’s asked in a purely practical way: someone wants to know what the regulations say. The best response I can give is suggest they...
Updates need to be installed. How do you feel when your computer gives you that notification? Updates need to be installed. It’s not a suggestion. It’s not something you can do if it sounds good. It needs to happen. Maybe...
To get ready for your viva you need to focus on the whole of your research, your thesis and your PhD journey. You need to know that your examiners could ask you about everything: why you did the work, how...
The viva isn’t the top of the mountain. It’s not the hardest challenge, the last thing to do or the most difficult conversation. The stakes aren’t raised to such a height that you are risking everything when you talk to...