Daily viva help for PhDs
It’s worth remembering, when you’ve submitted and you’re working towards your viva day, that it might not have gone this way. Despite the associated nerves and negativity that people attach to the viva, having one is not guaranteed. You might...
I have to turn off the captions for myself when I deliver a webinar. It might help some participants to see an AI-generated track of my words, but I can’t see them on my screen. For the most part they’re...
Be early for your viva. Be early so you can take a breath or two and appreciate these last moments on this side of the milestone. In one moment you’re working towards your PhD, getting ready for your viva –...
There are three things your examiners have to do in your viva: Explore your significant original contribution; Unpick the hows and whys of your research; Examine your capability as a researcher. They have to do this. There’s a lot to...
Video game music has come a long way from my childhood in the 1980s. Beeps and boops have been replaced by orchestral compositions that rival classical composers and the biggest movies. The scale, variety and sheer power of some video...
Viva. We can say doctoral defence and thesis examination, but those four letters are enough. Two syllables capture a lot of meaning: it’s the end, an exam, requires prep, carries a lot of emotional significance and a certain degree of...
“No corrections” is a possible outcome for candidates at their viva. Not for many: it seems to be the case for around 10% of UK PhDs. You can hope you get this outcome, but that’s about it. “No corrections” is...
Again and again this year I am reminded of a lesson I’ve heard many times. “Getting started changes everything.” When I was wondering what to do exactly for 101 Steps To A Great Viva or how to run a Kickstarter, getting...
Today marks fifteen years since I submitted my final PhD thesis. I remember that I went with a friend to hand my copies in. I wanted someone to be a witness with me to this great moment. The university admin...
Your thesis isn’t perfect. It’s almost certain you have typos or passages to correct. There are likely other approaches you could take in your methods. Your recollection or knowledge might have gaps. And you can’t have done every possible thing...