Silence
What if it gets silent in my viva? A small question I’m asked from time to time. A candidate hears that the viva is a discussion; discussions involve talking and so if the talking stops then it’s not going well,...
Daily viva help for PhDs
What if it gets silent in my viva? A small question I’m asked from time to time. A candidate hears that the viva is a discussion; discussions involve talking and so if the talking stops then it’s not going well,...
I’ve sensed the worry and the shame behind many PhD candidates’ questions about the viva. If only I’d done more, I could have worked harder… If I knew then what I know now I wouldn’t have made that mistake… Ugh…...
I love maths problems that look really simple. A simple statement that asks a question. A string of numbers looking for connection. A picture with an undefined angle or shaded area. They can look really simple but require real thought...
Some candidates feel nervous because of what they did in their thesis. Is it enough? Some people feel nervous because of what they haven’t done. Have they missed something? Some feel nervous because of who there examiners are. Will their...
Lots of viva worries are centred around responding to questions. Viva Worry 1: I’ll freeze. Viva Worry 2: My examiners will ask me something difficult. Viva Worry 3: I’ll get a question I can’t answer. A deeper worry is that some combination of...
Whatever the worry, issue or problem, if you find yourself concerned by something during your viva prep just pause and reflect on three questions: Why is this a problem? How could you fix it? What will you do next? Ask...
If you have any worries or concerns about your viva then take steps to address them. It sounds like really obvious advice, right? But I talk to hundreds and hundreds of PhD candidates every year who are worried about their...
If you feel worried about your viva, what do you need to do to lessen the worry? If you feel nervous about questions from your examiners, what do you need to do to feel better? If you feel unsure about...
It’s not wrong to hope that your viva goes well but working towards being prepared is far more valuable. You can hope your viva will be short but it’s better to read, rehearse and take steps to being ready to...
Is it possible to have a “bad” viva? There are lots of general expectations about the viva process. A reasonable expectation for the duration is two to three hours. There are outliers: it’s possible to be finished in less than...