Keeping Focus In The Viva
“How do I stay focussed in the viva?” has the same response as “How do I engage well in the viva?” You listen. You pause. You think. You check details in your thesis. You ask questions. You make notes. You...
Daily viva help for PhDs
“How do I stay focussed in the viva?” has the same response as “How do I engage well in the viva?” You listen. You pause. You think. You check details in your thesis. You ask questions. You make notes. You...
Problems are only opportunities in work clothes. I first came across this sentiment after my PhD was finished. I wish I’d heard it sooner. Every time I remember it I feel a boost for weeks afterwards as I’m working. If a...
I’m a big fan of the Comfort, Stretch, Panic way of framing challenges. If something is well within your capabilities, it belongs to the first category; if it requires more effort but you can approach it with some confidence then...
I have complicated feelings about my viva. It was fine, it went well, but it wasn’t totally enjoyable for me; that has nothing to do with my examiners. It was “bad” that I didn’t sleep well the night before. I...
I don’t know that I’ll ever get to fly first class, but I’ve been fortunate to travel first class by train a few times in the last year. I’m a fan of first class. The seats are a little comfier,...
How long will the viva be? How long should it be? If it’s long – or short – is that bad? There are norms – two to three hours is quite common – but you can’t know in advance. It...
I passed my viva ten years ago today. It sparked an interest for me that I didn’t know would become a passion and a vocation… …but a lot of my viva is gone from my memory now. I remember bits and...
A recent workshop question about viva questions stood out to me: “What if my examiners ask me something I can’t answer?” This is distinct from thinking I don’t know or going blank. If you can’t answer then there is an...
You’re not getting the context. You’ve not considered the question before. You mis-heard the examiner. You don’t know a key piece of information. You’ve gone blank. You got distracted by a sudden thought or idea. You’re just not making a...
After the dust of my examiners’ questions had settled and all the corrections were done I got to make some pretty nice hardbacks. My name and the title of my thesis was in gold on the cover! I was done!...