Not A Sprint
I got that advice a lot during my PhD. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” I had to pace myself for the long journey to success. The viva’s not a sprint but it’s also not a marathon either. It’s not...
Daily viva help for PhDs
I got that advice a lot during my PhD. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” I had to pace myself for the long journey to success. The viva’s not a sprint but it’s also not a marathon either. It’s not...
Good answers don’t just appear on the day. Good answers to your examiners’ questions happen because you’ve done the work. Good answers happen because you know things. Good answers happen because you’re talented. I think great answers in the viva...
…but it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you or wrong with the viva. You go blank and it’s uncomfortable: doubt, anxiety or fear. It’s not that common an occurrence though. In the unlikely event it happens, breathe. Pause. Take...
The viva is questions: your examiners want to talk to you about your research and there’s 101 things they could want to know. The viva is answers: if you don’t talk about your research you’re not going to get very...
A common fear: what if your mind goes blank in the viva? You could erm your way through a response: “Erm, well, I think, erm, hmm, that’s… Hmm, erm, if…” You could waffle your way to freedom: “…in conclusion, as...