Daily viva help for PhDs
What does PhD success mean? I’ve heard lots of possible ideas over the years: No corrections? Is that the goal? Two or more publications? Is that what you want? Or need? Just getting through?! Is that enough? Feeling proud at...
The viva is a discussion. Questions are asked to prompt and probe; responses are given to move the conversation along. Your examiners ask questions and make comments to explore your research and your capability. If your examiners disagree with you...
You’re not Doctor Somebody until graduation. On the day of the viva you’ll pass, you’ll shake hands perhaps, and after that you’ll smile whenever someone uses the title. It’s not official until the corrections are done, checked, passed and after that until the...
You have to define what it means for you. Having a good conversation? Passing? Passing with a certain outcome? Feeling happy on the day? Not feeling nervous? Remember that your definition of viva success can be a motivation to you,...
The simplest definition of what you need to pass the viva: enough stuff. Enough of a thesis. Enough results or findings to write up. Enough data. Enough work. Enough papers read. Enough knowledge in your brain. Enough talent built up...
What will you do when you pass your viva? Who will you tell first? On that day, maybe that evening, after the first thrill has passed, what will you do to mark the occasion? (it may be that you have...
Picture two friends: the first has just passed their viva, the second is trying to unpick what happened… …I was really lucky with the questions- -lucky? Why, were they easy? Well… No, they were pretty challenging in places. I was...
“What determines your fate in the viva?” is one of the more unusual questions I’ve been asked in seminars. Could it be your topic? Perhaps you need to choose something that resonates with your examiners and others. In which case,...