Confrontation?

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.