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Nathan

One Sentence Per Day

Daily Post

Every day after submission write down one sentence describing something that didn’t exist before you made it happen during your PhD.

It could be a result in your thesis. It could be an output or outcome of your research. It could be a chapter of your thesis. It could be a skillset or aptitude that you developed over the last few years. It could be a small idea or a great big contribution.

If you write one sentence per day in this way then by your viva you’ll have dozens of reminders of your capability and contribution.

You’ll have dozens of reminders that underscore why you’ll succeed in your viva.

 

PS: I’ll be exploring core reasons for viva success and confidence at my 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva webinar this Wednesday evening. Registration includes a catch-up recording, follow-up email and my pdf guide 101 Steps To A Great Viva. Hope to see you on Wednesday 8th July 2026 at 7!

Nathan

Listening Back

Daily Post

“Is it a good idea to record my mock viva?”

I’ve been asked this a lot. I’m not sure it is a good idea.

Rather than simply say no, I always ask a question in response: “What would a recording give you that you really need?”

The experience of a mock viva and maybe a chat with your supervisor afterwards will probably be enough. A mock isn’t about perfecting answers but building confidence in how you respond.

Would listening back to a recording help with that?

I’m not sure it would, but if it sounds good to you then go for it.

Like a lot of viva prep, ask for advice and think for yourself. Make sure you meet your needs.

Nathan

Known & Unknown Questions

Daily Post

It’s likely that you’re very aware of many questions you’ve been asked in the past:

  • Questions about why you’ve done the research you’ve done;
  • Questions about how you’ve done your research;
  • Questions asked because people don’t know what you know;
  • Questions asked for greater clarity from you;
  • Questions that help unpick what you’ve done;
  • Questions that show the limits or problems of your research.

And, I’m sure, a lot more besides.

It’ll help you to think about these past questions as you prepare for your viva. If any of these questions have been asked several times during your PhD it’s worth thinking about why that is. Perhaps you’ve addressed the question now in your thesis but it’s still worth thinking through. Perhaps some questions are natural consequences of what you’ve done before.

You can be aware of the many questions you’ve been asked in the past. You don’t have to have an answer for all of them though – and you don’t need to worry about the many possible unknown questions you could be asked at your viva.

Or rather, you might worry but you can do more than that.

For example, you can:

  • Read your thesis in preparation;
  • Consider your past questions and think again about how you’ve responded before;
  • Create summaries that help you to focus on what matters in your research;
  • Rehearse for the viva to give you opportunities to think and respond in the moment;
  • Make opportunities to tell others about what you’ve done;
  • Find out more to know the general expectations for viva questions.

You can’t prepare to answer every possible question at the viva by having a big list and thinking about them all – but you can be ready to respond to any possible question that comes up even if it is an unknown.

Nathan

The Same Viva

Daily Post

If you ask a friend about their viva experience you know that yours won’t be the same.

Even if they had it in your department with the same examiners your viva will be different because you are different: a different person with different research, resulting in a different thesis at a different time.

If you ask your friend and listen to their experience though you can:

  • Get a sense of what a viva is like;
  • Understand what you could do to prepare;
  • Consider the differences;
  • Ask questions to find out more;
  • Remember that you are not alone.

The last point helps a lot.

Doing a PhD, even in the best and most supportive departments, can feel like a lonely thing. Your unique position can make you feel that no-one else could understand.

You’re one of a kind but you’re not the only one. You won’t have the same viva but there’s lots that could be similar.

 

PS: I’ll be sharing more viva help tomorrow morning, Saturday 4th July 2026, at my 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva webinar. This is my first-ever weekend webinar and I’m very excited! Registration includes a catch-up recording, follow-up email and my pdf guide 101 Steps To A Great Viva. There are full details for all of my July webinars here. Hope to see you at a session soon 🙂

Nathan

Local Viva Culture

Daily Post

There are lots of stories that paint a picture of typical viva experiences. Your university has regulations that determine the framework and expectations for how vivas are conducted.

Your department will have a history and culture of viva examination: a way of doing things that is just how things are. If you ask around you can get a sense of the little things that could be useful to know.

Ask staff and postgraduate researchers in your department to find out more about the local viva culture:

  • Is it common for vivas in your department to be a particular length?
  • Are there areas or topics that seem to frequently be discussed?
  • How often do examiners ask for a presentation to start the viva?
  • Are there any post-viva traditions for celebration in your department?

Then, when it happens, your viva will be a unique examination and another example of the culture in your department.

 

PS: I’ll be exploring more aspects of viva expectations this Saturday morning, July 4th 2026, at my 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva webinar. This is my first-ever weekend webinar and I’m very excited! Registration includes a catch-up recording, follow-up email and my pdf guide 101 Steps To A Great Viva. There are full details for all of my July webinars here. Hope to see you at a session soon 🙂

Nathan

Problems Are Opportunities

Daily Post

Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.

I first came across this assertion many years ago when I first learned about creative thinking approaches. It’s fairly natural to be repelled by problems and think they’re only obstacles. Another perspective is to consider a problem as something to be worked at; it’s a more positive way of looking at things.

Any hint of a problem in your research, particularly around viva time, can be intimidating. There’s already enough in the viva situation to make a person nervous. A problem could go further and lead to stress – but if you shift your focus a little maybe there’s a better way to look at things.

A problem in your research or thesis could be an opportunity to make progress. It could be an opportunity to show what you know and what you can do. A difficult question at the viva might feel like a big problem, but it’s also a big opportunity to work and demonstrate the same knowledge, capability and determination you’ve shown in the past.

Research problems and viva problems can be opportunities for you to do more good work.

Nathan

Why Wait?

Daily Post

Friendly advice time: take a break from your research when you submit your thesis.

Give yourself time to rest, plan your next steps and ask for support. Don’t rush into prep when you’ve only just finished thinking about and working on your thesis.

Wait before you prepare so that you can change gears from the kind of work that has completed your thesis to the particular work that will help you get ready for your viva.

Like any advice there are exceptions – say, if your schedule is so busy it won’t accommodate a break you might prefer to keep busy – but reflect on the intent behind the advice.

It will more likely than not help you to prepare better for your viva if you have a break after submission.

Nathan

Perfect Prep

Daily Post

There are core viva prep areas that any candidate has to focus on like reading your thesis, checking regulations, rehearsing and so on. The way you focus on these areas and how you spend your time is all about you.

You need to prepare in a way that responds to the research you’ve done and the thesis you’ve written. You need to prepare in a way that meets your personal needs and preferences for work. You need to consider your situation, your energy and your life circumstances.

When you take all of that into account you can start to find prep perfection.

At submission take a little time to think about what you’ve done, what you need and what your life is like. Sketch out a possible plan for getting your prep done. Gather the resources you’ll need. Rest! Make sure your needs are covered. Look for advice from others but make sure that you tailor it to your situation.

Perfect viva preparation means perfect for you – or as close as you can get it.

Nathan

What You Want

Daily Post

There might be things you need for your viva, like a specific date or a reasonable adjustment. Needs have to be met.

Wants are different.

  • You might want a specific academic to be your external examiner.
  • You might want certain questions.
  • You might want to have no unexpected questions.
  • You might want to feel confident or to not feel too nervous.
  • You might want a morning viva.
  • You might want a viva over video.

Wants might be difficult or impossible to arrange. They might require compromise, coordination or persuasion. How do you make the case? And how do you deal with the wants that can’t be satisfied?

Focus on your needs first and then remember that what you want most of all is to succeed at your viva.

Nathan

Prep Is Particular

Daily Post

There are big areas to cover if you want to prepare well for your viva:

  • Reading your thesis;
  • Annotating your thesis;
  • Rehearsing for the viva.

How you engage with these areas has to be particular to your preferences and situation. Your viva preparation has to be personal.

What you do matters but how you do it matters too. How do you need to get ready?

  • How do you need to read your thesis? All at once or spread over many days?
  • How will you annotate your thesis? Where will you put your focus?
  • When and with who will you rehearse? Is a mock viva enough or will you rehearse with other people?

How will you get ready for your viva? How will you plan your preparation?

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