Nathan

General Ideas About The Viva

Daily Post

Here are seven things I’ve heard a lot about the viva:

  1. It’s pass or fail but almost everyone passes.
  2. Corrections are bad and to be avoided.
  3. The external decides the outcome.
  4. You need publications.
  5. Your supervisor knows if you’re on track to pass.
  6. The viva is typically long: two to three hours!
  7. You have to dress smart or else!

If I had £1 for every time I’ve heard one of these I could probably retire!

These are some of the most common expectations and ideas that people have about the viva. None of them are quite right. There are hints of truth here and there but without the nuance of what really matters. Some are just wrong and yet they’re among the most common background beliefs that candidates have about the viva.

What can you do? Ask around about real experiences. Dig into stories rather than hear a surface opinion. Don’t go for the quick and easy answer but try to appreciate what really matters about the viva.

 

PS: here’s my first response to each of those seven ideas!

  1. Almost everyone passes AND there are lots of different kinds of pass.
  2. Corrections are to be expected because writing is hard.
  3. Explore who your internal and external are.
  4. You need a thesis!
  5. Your supervisor is a great person to get perspective and guidance from.
  6. The viva is typically two to three hours – is that long?!
  7. It helps to dress in a way that makes you feel good.

 

If you want to get a lot more viva help that cuts through the rumours and half-truths then take a look at my live webinar on Wednesday 25th March 2026. Viva Survivor is one of my favourite things to do and I’m really looking forward to next month’s session. Take a look if you’re interested – code VSMARCH2026 will save £10 on your ticket if you register before midnight on Sunday 8th February 2026.

Nathan

Viva Survivor Webinar, March 25th 2026

Event, Update

Let’s keep this webinar announcement short and simple:

  • I’m running my Viva Survivor webinar on Wednesday 25th March 2026.
  • Registration is open now for this three-hour live webinar. Participants will have access to a catch-up recording for four weeks after the session and receive follow-up materials including several of my publications.
  • Viva Survivor has been delivered for the last 15 years to more than 8300 PhD candidates at universities and programmes all over the UK.
  • In that time and in over 425 sessions I’ve been continuously developing Viva Survivor to be as helpful as possible to PGRs.
  • You can register now and use code VSMARCH2026 until midnight on Sunday 8th February 2026 to save £10 on registration.

There’s a lot more information at the link about what to expect from the webinar on Wednesday 25th March 2026. If you have any questions please get in touch. Viva Survivor is one of my favourite things to do and I’m really looking forward to this session.

Please take a look if you’re interested and don’t forget that the code VSMARCH2026 will save £10 on your ticket if you register before midnight on Sunday 8th February 2026.

Thanks for reading!

Nathan

Nathan

It’s Not The End

Daily Post

It’s really, really helpful to have the proper perspective for your viva.

The viva is a challenge. It’s not the biggest challenge, the nastiest challenge or the hardest challenge of your PhD.

Your viva is not the end of the world – it’s not even the end of your PhD journey.

You’ve come a long way to get to this point. You’ve overcome many challenges and many of them are bigger challenges! The viva is one more challenge.

It’s not trivial. It’s only one more challenge for someone who is experienced at dealing with challenges.

You’ve come a long way. Remember how you got this far as you approach the end of your PhD journey.

Nathan

Inspecting Chapters

Daily Post

Pick a chapter in the middle of your thesis. Have a quick read and then consider the following questions for a few minutes each:

  1. What does this chapter add to your thesis?
  2. What did you learn from doing the work?
  3. How did you feel writing this chapter?
  4. How did you feel reading it now?
  5. How many typos or other mistakes have you found?
  6. How many times did you think “I wish I could change that!”?
  7. What else from your research did you think about when reading it?
  8. What do you think your examiners might make of it?

Some of those questions might seem odd or unfair – but probably not as unfair as some of the questions you might ask when you doubt your progress or capability!

 

Doubts and worries are a part of being human but you can decide what you’d like to give your attention to. Not every question is worth your time. You can decide where to put your focus.

Find ways to ignore questions which only hinder your prep and confidence. One approach would be to focus on more helpful questions. In my opinion, questions 1, 2, 7 and 8 are probably the most helpful questions in the example above!

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!

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