Enjoy, Endure, Engage
I’d like to think that most people could enjoy their viva, but I know that some won’t. I know most candidates won’t feel like they simply have to endure their viva, but sadly, some will. More and more I think...
Daily viva help for PhDs
I’d like to think that most people could enjoy their viva, but I know that some won’t. I know most candidates won’t feel like they simply have to endure their viva, but sadly, some will. More and more I think...
The viva isn’t just a big quiz. Questions could be big. Questions can be about more than what’s in your thesis, but your examiners have more useful things to do than test you on your the general knowledge of your...
There isn’t a standard viva format. There are reasonable expectations, but no guarantees. Probable durations, but very long and very short outliers. A range of possible first questions, but no certainty for the exact start of your viva. There’s no...
Your examiners are an important part of your viva. Spend some of your viva preparation time exploring who they are and what they do. Check their recent publications to get a sense of their research but you don’t need to...
Confidence takes time and experimentation. There isn’t a set process. Rather than press a button to start an engine, we have to think of it as turning dials and pulling levers on a great, glorious machine. Try something, then check...
There are lots of things you could do. Here are seven things I think it’s best to avoid. Don’t look for typos obsessively. Don’t read your thesis passively. Don’t read the entire publication history for your examiners. Don’t treat your...
There’s a lot you can do with only a few resources to prepare for your viva. Pens and pencils can be used to add layers of information to your thesis. Underline typos consistently in one colour to make them easier...
You probably can’t commit your thesis to memory, getting every fine detail stored away somewhere. But you could make lists of key places in your thesis where you can find useful information. You could make a couple of summary card...
I ask people at the start of Viva Survivor sessions what they need to know about the viva. I ask if they have gaps of knowledge, worries about what might happen or vague hypotheticals. I’m happy to answer anything and...
There isn’t a perfect time to start preparing for the viva. You don’t really need to start until after you’ve submitted; apart from that you have to think sensibly about your priorities. How you can add this work to your...