Daily viva help for PhDs
That’s one way to think of the viva if you’ve submitted your thesis. It’s just the next challenge.
You’ve faced, figured out and overcome many more on the way to submission. You can rise to this one too.
And then on to the next challenge – because for all of the importance you might give your viva, your thesis and your PhD, there’s another challenge coming along for you.
The viva’s not the first time you’ve responded to questions about your work.
It’s not the first time in your PhD journey you’ve been tested.
You have to have risen to challenges many, many times to get to submission.
And your viva is not the first ever viva! Lots of people around you – and people who you don’t know on the internet – have experiences that can help you unpick what to do and how you could feel about your upcoming viva.
Again and again you’ve worked hard to get to this stage of your PhD. A little more will help you finish.
It’s natural to not want to talk about challenging parts of work or research in your viva. It’s human to focus on the good stuff and hope you won’t need to explain something tricky. It’s not wrong to be worried or have concerns about what might happen.
Rather than simply worry, maybe it’s better to confront the problem and do something – even something small – to improve the situation.
The viva is full of challenges, big and small, simple and complicated. Not all of them can be known in advance, but if you are aware of challenges don’t simply avoid them. Spend a little time exploring why it’s a challenge – then a little more on how you could engage with it.
Do more than worry.
On the one hand, yes, the viva is your one and only opportunity. You have to do it, defend your thesis, engage with your examiners’ questions and discuss your work. You have to do it well enough to pass, and this is your chance to do it.
But on the other hand, it’s the latest opportunity you’ve had to do all these sorts of things. It’s not the first time you’ve talked about your work. It’s not the first time you’ve faced a challenge with your research. It’s not the first time you’ve had to really think about what you’re doing.
The viva is the latest challenge, for someone experienced at rising to meet challenges. It could be tough, it could be tricky, but it won’t be beyond you.
You’re the one and only person who could pass your viva.