Second Chances
I have heard stories of candidates that are asked to correct and resubmit their thesis after their viva. Resubmission is a formal process; it can mean that the candidate has to have a second viva. It could be that the...
viva outcomes
The Last Correction
Most PhD candidates are given corrections to complete after the viva. Typically examiners give a list of typos, clear instruction on sections that need to be revised and so on. While they’re often not too numerous or too onerous, corrections...
Unreasonable Corrections
After the viva most candidates will be told to complete corrections. For most, corrections will be simple things: amending spelling mistakes, making ambiguous sentences clearer, breaking up long and clunky paragraphs, and so on. While no candidate wants to get...
Corrections & Confidence
Consider making two lists as you read your thesis in preparation for the viva. On one list, make a note of any typos that you find or any sentences that you think need revising. On the other, make a note...
Do Your Corrections
If your examiners ask you to complete corrections for your thesis after the viva there’s a reason. Corrections don’t mean you did anything wrong. Most candidates are asked to complete them because it’s hard to get everything right. Just get...
Winning The Viva
When your viva is all done there’s no gold medal for no corrections. You don’t get a little asterisk on your certificate for minor corrections. No corrections, minor corrections, major corrections. Different outcomes that mean the same thing: you’ve passed....
Heads or Tails
You can’t flip a coin to determine viva success. The stories we tell about vivas pivot on knowing if someone passed or failed – but these things are not equally likely. Around one in one thousand PhD candidates don’t pass. There...
Avoiding Corrections
If you go for a walk on a rainy day you can step around as puddles as much as you like, but your shoes are probably going to get pretty wet. That’s just what happens. You can’t avoid it. If...
Clearing Up The Vague
You have to read your thesis to get ready for your viva, even if you don’t want to. You thought about it, you wrote it, you rewrote it and now you’re done- -except you read it and you think you...
After The Viva
Thank your examiners. Take some deep breaths. Make a few notes about what just happened. Make sure your supervisors know what just happened. Call whoever you need to and let them know. Take some more deep breaths. Go find a...