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Nathan

The Whispers

Daily Post

There are lots of whispers, rumours and half-truths about the viva.

…I know someone whose viva was almost a whole day…

…I’ve heard the internal barely says anything…

…why do we have to have them, what’s the point, most people pass anyway…

…don’t get corrections, they’re the worst, try to avoid them…

…you just have to hope it all goes well…

Make sure when you ask your friends for advice that you look for views not wholly skewed by worry, apocryphal stories and negativity.

Start with a solid foundation that isn’t built on whispers.

Nathan

Whispers

Daily Post

Postgraduate researchers find out a lot of things during the PhD through whispers.

  • “Psst! How do I do this?!”
  • “Who do I talk to about that?”
  • “What even is a viva?!”

Of course, some conversations have to be held quietly: perhaps the topic is sensitive or difficult. More often, there’s a lot that could be talked about openly in academia, but we don’t because of culture, power structures and “the way things have always been done”.

Thankfully, despite all of this, there are people who do share good, helpful advice. You’ll find quite a few curated on the Whisper Collective site – a great initiative that’s been running for a year now. Over a dozen blogs, including Viva Survivors, standing around saying, “Can I help?”

Whatever stage of the PhD you’re at, you’ll find helpful, practical advice by checking out the Whisper Collective. And when you find something helpful don’t whisper: pass it on! 🙂