Daily viva help for PhDs
The viva isn’t hard to understand. You do the research over years, write your thesis probably over months and then talk with your examiners for a few hours. In the viva itself you’re discussing what you’ve done, what it means,...
Since 2020 video vivas have become much more common, first as a necessity and then later as an accepted part of practice. If you have one soon or are wondering whether it might be a good option for you, consider...
That’s how a viva happens: you need to have your examiners there. You can’t do it alone. Before your viva: Be sure you know who your examiners are and what they have done. Checking their recent papers will be enough....
The viva is a discussion but as your work and capability is being assessed most of the questions will flow from your examiners. Their questions will prompt response and the discussion that follows. You have the opportunity to ask questions...
At your viva will you face your examiners? Will they confront you with questions? And will you challenge their comments or criticisms? In that small group will you talk or debate or discuss? Do you have to answer every question? Or will you feel more comfortable as...
Be careful when you come to generalise your probable viva experience. Regulations, viva stories and hearing about vivas from your department all have a role to play in building up your personal expectations. Be sure you have enough suitable information...
It’s reasonable to expect that examiners might object to something in a thesis. In all the many words you’ve written – the ideas, results and conclusions, and the chapters, methods and formatting – in all of this there’s a chance...
Information about the viva sometimes seems hidden but that doesn’t mean you can’t figure out what it all means. Read the regulations for how vivas are conducted. What do you need to do? Look for stories of viva success to...
As you prepare for your viva you might come across a problem in your thesis. I don’t mean a typo or a simple bit of editing that you’ve missed: typos and clunky sentences can still be understood, even if they’re...
How many scary movies have come to cinemas in the last few weeks? How many horror shows have just been released on various streaming services? Around viva time you’ll notice something about the stories people tell too. They remember a...