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Year: 2025

Nathan

Not For Them

Daily Post

Who is your thesis for?

It’s unlikely that you have written your thesis with only your examiners in mind. Whatever your topic, structure or conclusions, your thesis isn’t for your examiners. You’ll have another general audience in mind but your examiners have to read it, digest it and plan to ask you about it at your viva.

It’s not for them – but you have to think a lot once it is written and ready about how you will talk to them about it at your viva.

To do that it helps to know who your examiners are. Do a little research into them and their publications if you need to. It also helps to know what they might be interested in. Remind yourself of the regulations and purpose of the viva.

Prepare to talk to your examiners about your thesis but remember who it is really for.

Nathan

Solving Viva Prep

Daily Post

If 20 to 30 hours of viva prep is about right for most candidates then depending on someone’s plans that might mean:

  • 1 or 2 hours of viva prep every day over the course of two weeks;
  • 30 mins to 1 hour of viva prep most days over the course of a month;
  • At least 3 hours of viva prep every day if there is just one week left.

The last option is probably not desirable or helpful!

The other two could work and more generally you can find a solution for viva prep simply by thinking about your circumstances, needs and preferences.

How much time do you have? What pressures constrain you? How do you like to work?

Reflect on those questions and compare the timings above. Then you can start to think about how you might plan your viva prep in a kind and sustainable way for yourself.

Nathan

Making Mistakes

Daily Post

It’s important if you find a mistake after submission that you take a little time to think about the correction. Other people – including your examiners – might think you are unprepared.

It’s important to correct any mistakes after your viva because otherwise you won’t pass!

 

It’s not important generally whether you have things to correct or not. Writing is hard. Doing research is hard. Bringing those difficulties together makes making mistakes almost inevitable.

It’s important to know what’s important at your viva. You can work hard, proofread and do your best. Did you make mistakes or not spot some typos? That’s OK, so long as you’re prepared.

You did something that matters in your research – and that’s far more important than a few mistakes that can be corrected.

 

PS: The Confidence Issue, the most recent issue of Viva Survivors Select, has a lot about focussing on what matters. Do you want to know how to build confidence for your viva? Do you want ideas on how to respond well to questions from your examiners? Then take a look at this curated collection of twenty posts from the Viva Survivors archive plus two new helpful resources!

Nathan

Crossing A Line

Daily Post

Some PhD candidates worry about getting something wrong at the viva because they don’t know what they need to do to get it right.

Does that resonate? If it does you don’t have to do a lot to get rid of the worry.

  • Read the regulations for your institution;
  • Talk with friends and colleagues about their viva experiences;
  • Ask your supervisors if your department has any particular viva practices.

These three sources are enough to figure out a useful sense of what to expect. You’ll see that there are no hidden red lines, no secrets and no terrible traps waiting ahead.

You’re unlikely to cross a line. Get things right at your viva by learning that there’s nothing really you can get wrong.

Nathan

Waiting For A Good Time

Daily Post

It might feel like you have to wait a long time to get to your viva. Hopefully you’ll be busy enough along the way that it won’t feel too bad.

And hopefully it won’t feel too much like waiting for your viva while you’re preparing.

There will probably be some waiting to get started on the day.

And you might wait a little during the viva while your examiners pause and think – which you can do too – or during breaks.

And wait again when they confer about the outcome towards the end.

And then again when you wait to hear if your corrections have been accepted.

And then again(!) when you wait for an opportunity to graduate.

There’s a lot of waiting on the journey to being a PhD graduate. What can you do to get used to it or to make a good use of the time for yourself?

Nathan

Is A Video Viva A Good Idea?

Daily Post

Things have come a long way since the emergency measures of 2020 when, against an uncertain background, many PhD candidates had to change plans and have a viva over video.

Without the stress of those times there are definite pros and cons of a video viva.

On the plus side:

  • Not needing to travel could be a positive for many candidates;
  • Not needing to meet in person could reduce anxiety for some;
  • Being able to control the setup and space could be really helpful.

And of course, there are some situations where a video viva isn’t just a positive idea: it could be a necessity that will allow someone to have a viva at all or participate fully.

There are potential negatives though:

  • Anecdotes suggest that video vivas are more formalised, probably due to the format;
  • There is the potential for conversations to be awkward because of platform limitations;
  • They might not allow for networking-style conversations in the same way as an in-person conversation.

Where does all of this leave a candidate wondering what to do?

 

Unless a video viva is a necessity because of travel or availability it just depends on the candidate and what they feel they need. There are plenty of positives that can make a video viva a good experience. The negatives are not overwhelmingly negative in any way.

And remember: we are not in 2020 any more. Technology, training and experience has moved on. A video viva is a known thing and can be learned about and prepared for. If you need one or are thinking about one it’s not a bad idea at all.

Whatever the format the purpose and process of the viva is the same. You can do well in it wherever you are.

 

PS: I’ll be sharing a lot more about the general viva process at my Viva Survivor webinar on Wednesday 3rd December 2025. This is my comprehensive session on getting ready for the viva. Check the link for full details of what to expect but please get in touch if you have any questions!

Nathan

Defending & Supporting

Daily Post

Defending your thesis means supporting your research.

Defending doesn’t mean protecting. Your examiners’ comments and questions aren’t trying to exploit weak points or diminish your work.

Defending means saying and doing more in the viva in addition to the thousands of hours of work that lead to your thesis.

Defending can mean exploring a topic, providing clarity, expanding on details and more.

More than anything, defending might mean saying why. Even if you’ve said it in depth in your thesis and you feel you’ve said it clearly, your examiners could want a little more from you.

Why does your work make a contribution?

 

PS: If you want more ideas of how you can defend your thesis and respond well to questions in the viva then take a look at  The Confidence Issue, the latest instalment of Viva Survivors Select. The issue contains twenty posts from the Viva Survivors archive plus two new pages of viva help and I think it’s worth your time to take a look 🙂

Nathan

What Did You Enjoy?

Daily Post

When you’re getting ready for your viva there’s both time and a need to explore what was a challenge. Anything that challenged you has some value. You can explore what made it difficult and what you achieved by rising to the challenge.

If you faced problems then it makes sense to consider them again before your viva. You might need to talk about them with your examiners. It then makes sense to write summaries, rehearse and figure out how you explain why something was a problem and what you did about it.

Then there’s your research contribution. What makes it significant? How does it make a difference to your field or disciplines?

 

All of the above are worth exploring as you prepare for your viva but perhaps begin with something simpler. What did you enjoy during your PhD? What did you look forward to doing or come to appreciate?

When you’re getting ready for your viva a good starting point might be to think about what you enjoyed doing your research. There’s plenty of time for harder topics. What did you enjoy?

Nathan

What You Want & What You Need

Daily Post

Wants are nice. Needs are non-negotiable.

Wants can follow preferences while needs follow your situation and circumstances.

If you want to have a particular external examiner maybe you can make a case to your supervisor. If they say no there will be someone else.

If you need your viva to be in an accessible room for you then that’s where it needs to be. No ifs or buts.

Put your focus where it needs to be as your viva is arranged. Try to get the things you want but if there’s something you need make sure that the right people know.

When you meet your needs you probably remove the worst of the stress that something as important as your viva could bring.

Make sure your needs are met then work to get your wants if you can.

Nathan

Getting To Done

Daily Post

How did you get this far in your PhD journey?

There’s a great series of steps, actions, ideas, questions, papers, successes, failures, setbacks, breakthroughs, meetings and long hours.

All of which boils down to: you did it.

The talent, skill and knowledge are yours. The actions were yours.

You did it. Remember that as you get ready for your viva.

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