Say More
Two words to keep in mind for your viva. If your examiners want more from you in response to one of their questions then they will ask for it. If you want to say more about a topic because it’s...
Daily viva help for PhDs
Two words to keep in mind for your viva. If your examiners want more from you in response to one of their questions then they will ask for it. If you want to say more about a topic because it’s...
If everything is in your thesis then what are your examiners asking about? Questions in the viva are asked for a range of reasons. Sometimes it’s to dig deeper into a topic. Sometimes examiners need to understand something that isn’t...
Lots of people say lots of things about the viva. It depends who you ask. It depends on their experience. If you ask your supervisor about your upcoming viva they might tell you not to worry. They could offer a...
What’s the worst thing that could really happen at your viva? Failure is a very, very remote possibility. If you have real concern you should talk to your supervisors and friends – and unpick whether failure is more than a...
What if it gets silent in my viva? A small question I’m asked from time to time. A candidate hears that the viva is a discussion; discussions involve talking and so if the talking stops then it’s not going well,...
The viva is no more than a discussion about your research and thesis. The viva is no less than a final, great challenge at the end of your PhD. Your examiners want no more than to have a conversation with...
The viva is not the only time in your life when you will have a big, important conversation about your PhD. It might be the final time though and it will be your only viva. As you prepare, take some...
Pause, think, respond. That’s how you engage with a question or comment in the viva. You pause in order to think and you think in order to respond well. Pause and Think: Are your examiners clear with their question? Do...
There are two steps to removing fear or worry about unknown aspects of the viva. The first step is to try to accept that your viva will be an unknown in some ways until you experience it. You won’t know...
At your viva you’re expected to explore your significant original contribution with your examiners, tell them about your PhD journey and demonstrate for them that you are a capable researcher. Which is simple to understand but sometimes difficult to do!...