By The Ends

By the end of your first year you probably have a direction or goal in mind for your research.

By the end of your final year you’ve realised enough of your aims to create a thesis.

By the end of your thesis someone can appreciate the contribution that you’re making.

By the end of your viva prep you’ll feel ready for the challenge of your viva.

By the end of your viva you’ll know that you did it.

By the end of all of this hopefully you’ll have a smile on your face as you think, “What now?”

PS: Take a look at the latest issue of Viva Survivors Select for more reflections, practical viva help and more. The 2025 Issue collects twenty of my favourite blog posts from last year and adds two new pages of viva help. You can see a few of the pages here to get a sense of what this little curated zine is all about. Please spread the word if you can!