Make A Good Space
A few weeks ago I shared four pointers that help when preparing for a video viva:
- Read the regulations because then you know what your institution expects.
- Talk to friends so you can find out about their recent experiences.
- Practise! to rehearse for responding to questions.
- Make a good space for yourself and that way you will have a good environment for doing what you need to do.
It struck me today that all of these apply for preparing for in-person vivas as well.
There are differences; the good space you need for an in-person viva is the space you’ll prepare in rather than the space for your viva. Even then you can do things to help yourself. Ahead of an in-person viva you can check the room out, be certain it has what you need and make arrangements for anything else that you require.
In-person or over-video, the viva is still the same event. There are differences because of the format, but they are not that great.
Neither are the differences in preparation.