Different Ways

As you prepare for your viva it might be helpful to consider the alternatives you didn’t choose.

• Were there other papers you could have cited?
• Are there other possible methods to the process you selected?
• Can there be other explanations for what you’ve presented in your thesis?

When you find something that could be different then unpick the situation to help you explain it to your examiners. Ultimately you made a choice so you have to explain why you made it.

• Were there alternatives? If so, why did you choose this?
• If there were no alternatives at the time what made you realise the possibility later?
• If you would keep your choice, why? If you would change your choice, why?
• What did you learn through the process?

It’s uncommon for there to be only one way to do something during a PhD (although it can be that different ways arrive at the same ultimate outcome or result).

If there was another way then reflect, understand why and consider how you could explain the situation to your examiners.

PS: I’ll be talking about viva prep, viva expectations, examiners and lots more at my live 3-hour Viva Survivor webinar on Wednesday 25th March 2026. Attendees get four-week access to a recording of the session and follow-up materials too. More details at the link – and you can save £10 on registration with code VSMARCH2026 before midnight tonight. Thanks for reading!