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Month: January 2026

Nathan

Bumped

Daily Post

At my daughter’s birthday party last year it hit me: independent chairpersons at vivas fulfil the same function as bumpers at bowling alleys.

 

…let me explain!

There are regulations that underpin viva experiences. There are general expectations and a culture of examination. Academics receive training when they agree to take on thesis examination responsibilities but still might need additional support.

This is one of the purposes of an independent chair. They’re not an examiner at the viva, they’re there to provide support as needed – perhaps a little direction if required. A bumper in a bowling alley does the same thing: it doesn’t guarantee that anyone bowling scores a strike; they help guide the ball to where it needs to be.

The bowling ball is the general discussion in the viva: it can go off target but if necessary the bumpers at the sides will help it back on track.

Independent chairpersons help vivas go well. That’s the only reason they’re there. Not having one isn’t negative though: regulations, training and experience can help your examiners do the right thing.

Check your institution’s regulations to see when and why you might have an independent chair and check your circumstances to see particularly if you will.

Nathan

Three Overviews

Daily Post

I like the structure of Why-How-What for writing an overview of PhD research:

  • Why did you do this research?
  • How did you do it?
  • What was the result?

Why-How-What has a nice structure for creating a summary during viva prep. It can also be expanded on in other ways. For example:

  • Why did you explore this area?
  • How did your plans change?
  • What do you need to emphasise to your examiners?

A different set of questions can help you draw together different helpful ideas. You could also help your general viva preparation with a quick Why-How-What overview:

  • Why are you on track to succeed at your viva?
  • How could you build your confidence in the coming weeks?
  • What will you do to help yourself?

Keep Why-How-What in mind as you approach your viva. If you’re asked to prepare a presentation as part of your viva, as some candidates are, then consider this as a nice introduction structure too!

 

PS: if you’re looking for helpful viva prep ideas then check out Viva Survivors Select Volume 1. This is my complete collection of helpful viva zines I made last year. Volume 1 has eight issues, 165 curated posts from the archives and lots of new resources – and an introductory offer price until tomorrow at midnight!

Nathan

No Shortcuts Needed

Daily Post

Viva prep takes a little time. It’s the necessary steps to getting ready for your viva. There are no tricks, hacks or shortcuts that will knock it out of the way.

There don’t need to be.

  • Make a plan that fits your needs and situation.
  • Prioritise reading your thesis, annotating it well, creating helpful summaries and rehearsing for the viva.
  • Remember to check the regulations in case you’re missing any detail of what to expect.
  • Give yourself enough time and a good environment for work.
  • Do the work.

That’s it. It takes time! It takes effort! But not a lot of either.

You don’t need shortcuts when the work isn’t long and when the work is the point.

Nathan

Find Your Whys

Daily Post

Why did you want to do a PhD?

Why did you pursue the research that you’ve explored?

Why did you keep going when things were tough?

Why do you believe your work makes a contribution?

Why do you believe you’re ready for your viva?

 

When you have answers to all of these then you’re in a good place to succeed at your viva.

Nathan

Refreshing Your Memory

Daily Post

Photographic recall isn’t needed for viva success. You are expected to know about your field and remember your research but you don’t need to know everything. Your thesis is a resource you can use in your viva to support your memory, your thinking in the moment and what you’re saying in response to your examiners’ questions.

If you worry about remembering things or simply want to be well prepared then you can take steps in your viva preparation to refresh your memory and support yourself in the viva.

  • Read your thesis carefully during prep.
  • Add sticky notes or bookmarks to help you navigate your thesis.
  • Annotate anything in your thesis that you want to stand out.
  • Find opportunities to rehearse responding to questions.

Build your knowledge, refresh your understanding and find ways to prompt your memory. That’s enough to help you be ready for your viva.

 

PS: if you’re looking for more ideas of what you need to be ready for your viva (and what you can do to help yourself) then check out Viva Survivors Select Volume 1. This is my complete collection of helpful viva zines I made last year. Volume 1 has eight issues, 165 curated posts from the archives and lots of new helpful resources – plus an introductory offer price until 31st January 2026!

Nathan

A Nice Viva?

Daily Post

Nice doesn’t feel like the right word to describe a viva.

Engaging? Yes.

Fun? Maybe.

Difficult? Certainly!

Nice suggests easy and there are a range of expectations for the viva which seem to exclude an easy time. The viva necessarily involves being asked questions and engaging in a discussion about substantive and original work you have been pursuing for a long period of time. You don’t know the questions until they’re asked. You don’t know what your examiners think until they share it. You probably feel nervous because of how important it is.

Expect a difficult challenge rather than an easy time. Understand that your viva could be enjoyable but don’t expect that it will be nice.

 

PS: if you want to know more of what to expect from your viva then take a look at Viva Survivors Select Volume 1, which I released a week ago. This is my complete collection of helpful viva zines from last year: eight issues, 165 posts from the archives and lots of new resources – and with an introductory offer price until 31st January 2026!

Nathan

Little Differences

Daily Post

Thesis annotation is an accumulation of little differences.

Margin notes, underlining, bookmarks, highlighting, red pen, encouragements and more.

All of those little differences become a big improvement on your thesis for the viva.

What will you add to make your thesis better?

 

Nathan

Cut

Daily Post

What did you leave out of your thesis?

You can’t have included everything you did over the last few years. You read papers that aren’t listed, had ideas you didn’t follow, worked on projects that ultimately aren’t written about and probably even developed results that you’re not sharing.

Part of the work of writing a thesis is curation: you did a lot but only present the material you think is necessary. For your viva do a little work to remember why. Reflect on what you cut and remember why you didn’t include it.

More importantly, remember what you left in and why. All of the references you’ve included and their impact, all of the ideas and their value, all off the projects and their outcomes – and all of the results and their meaning.

You made a contribution by deciding what really matters.

 

PS: you’ll find more helpful reflections in Viva Survivors Select Volume 1 – my complete collection of helpful viva zines that I made in 2025. Volume 1 is eight issues containing 165 curated posts from the archives along with a lot of new resources to help with viva prep. Check out the introductory offer price available until 31st January 2026.

Nathan

Confrontation?

Daily Post

The language that’s often used to describe the viva has unfortunate associations. Defending your thesis could make someone think that the viva is a confrontation and that they have to protect their work.

“Defend” really means support in this context: you’ve done a lot of work and now in the viva you’re doing a little more to explore, provide clarity and discuss your research.

But what if you face a question that shows disagreement? What if your examiners have a different opinion?

In the first instance make sure you understand why your examiners are expressing their view. Ask them why if you need to. What is there reason for disagreeing with what you’ve done or written?

When you know, think about what that means. Is this really a big deal? Is it a minor point? Is it simply a difference of opinions? Does it make an impact? Do you need to do something to defend your work or do you simply need to acknowledge a different perspective?

You don’t need to approach the viva as a confrontation or be argumentative. You can be ready to defend and support your research in a good way.

Nathan

My Checklist

Daily Post

Before I deliver a webinar I go through a checklist to make sure everything is right.

  • Equipment set up?
  • Software running smoothly?
  • All of my session notes up to date?
  • Any special notes for this webinar?
  • Got my backup notes?
  • Water bottle?
  • Break time chocolate stash?
  • Chair adjusted?
  • Captions working on Zoom?
  • Adjusted other Zoom settings?
  • And have I got the paperweight I like to hand?

There are a lot of needs being met here. Some are purely practical: the software and equipment for delivering a webinar. Some are informational: the general and specific notes. Some are emotional: the chocolate and paperweight!

If I meet all of these needs I can be sure I’m ready. This list is the final piece of confidence I’m looking for.

 

What do you need for your viva? Make a list and check things off. Gather up whatever you need in terms of resources. Do the preparations that will support you. Ask for the support you need from other people and from your institution.

Once you meet your needs for the viva then you’re on your way to feeling ready for the exam.

 

PS: one more thing for your checklist might be Viva Survivors Select Volume 1, which I released this week. This is my complete collection of helpful viva zines from 2025: eight issues containing a total of 165 posts from the Viva Survivors archives and lots of new viva prep resources. Volume 1 is a great deal made better with an introductory offer price available until 31st January 2026!

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