The Good Stuff
I ask people how they feel about the viva at the start of viva prep workshops. It’s rare for candidates to say excited. Sometimes people will frame excitement as “excited that my PhD is almost over” but that’s quite different...
Daily viva help for PhDs
I ask people how they feel about the viva at the start of viva prep workshops. It’s rare for candidates to say excited. Sometimes people will frame excitement as “excited that my PhD is almost over” but that’s quite different...
I’m a big fan of creative thinking tools. The Disney Method is one I like a lot. It forces you to break creative thinking into stages by adopting three personas: Dreamer: think of as many ideas as possible; encourage brainstorming;...
Why questions are the root of reflection. You have to take a step back and ponder. Here are six for viva preparation: Why were you attracted to your field of study? Why was your particular focus worth pursuing? Why were...
It’s the General Election in the UK today. Today is a day for a decision – but then so is every day. Every day is a series of decisions, some big, some small, some that don’t matter and many that...
If something didn’t work, if something went wrong, if you didn’t get the result you were hoping for… Why? In 3+ years of research, not everything can go perfectly. What’s responsible? Who is responsible? At every stage, but particularly at...
Play never stops being important. Want to play let’s pretend? How would you explain your research to: A five year old? Your parents? Your best friend? Someone on the bus? A well-educated person from the nineteenth century? A well-educated person...
Examiners and graduates tell me that the viva typically starts with a question like, “Can you tell us about the most important parts of your research?” or “What is your work all about?” It’s a question worth practicing when the...