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Nathan

“What Does This Mean?”

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Four words that can feel very loaded in the viva.

If your examiners ask does that mean your thesis didn’t say it? Or was there a mistake? Or…?

In truth, “What does this mean?” could be a simple way to start a new topic. It could be a question that seeks clarity. Or a small question to start exploring something more deeply.

With the importance of the viva it’s easy to see how it can be received as a difficult and troubling question. Your examiners could just want to know more.

“What does this mean?” is a simple question, asked for many reasons.

Nathan

Varieties Of Questions

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There can be lots of questions at a viva.

Some will be easy but many could be hard.

A question could be asked very simply but have a complicated response – and vice versa.

You can definitely expect certain questions and also know that some will be completely unknown to you.

Some will be quick and others long.

A response could be yes or no, true or false or a small essay of words.

 

There are lots of types of questions that can come up at the viva but all have a few things in common.

They’re fair.

They’re reasonable.

They’re always asked with a purpose in mind.

And they’re all a part of the process of getting you to say more, show more and engage with your examiners.

Nathan

Nasty

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Do you think your examiners would ask a harsh question at the viva? If you think yes, why?

If you think yes, what do you think it would be about?

And if you think yes, how likely do you really think it is?

 

I don’t think it’s common for candidates to worry about particularly nasty questions, but for candidates who do the worry is particularly nasty. If it’s on your mind, don’t wait to find out if your fears will come true at the viva.

Talk to someone. Talk to your supervisor. Review anything and everything related to the topic of the question.

Questions at the viva shouldn’t be nasty but if you’re worried, don’t wait: do something to help yourself.

Nathan

Critical

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Your examiners have to be critical of your thesis and research.

That doesn’t mean that they will be negative.

Your examiners have to critically read what you have written.

That doesn’t mean that they have to go looking for problems.

Your examiners have to ask you critical questions.

That doesn’t mean that they are trying to catch you out.

Nathan

The Responsibilities

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Your institution has a responsibility for communicating the regulations and processes of the viva to you.

Your supervisor has a responsibility to guide you and provide appropriate practical support.

Your examiners have a responsibility to be fair but to ask questions. These could be difficult questions at times. Your examiners have a responsibility to help the viva work well.

Your independent chairperson, if you have one, has a responsibility to ensure that the viva is fair.

You have a lot of responsibilities. Many of them follow from the same basic principles you must have been following for a long time though. You have to show up, engage well and continue to do what you do: be a good researcher in whatever way that means for your discipline.

Whilst the viva isn’t easy, your responsibilities shouldn’t be too hard to fulfil. You’ve been on this track for years.

A few more hours. Keep going.

Nathan

Asking About Examiners

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When your supervisors have decided on your examiners make sure to have a conversation about those choices, even if you’ve already asked them before. Make sure, for your own peace of mind, that you explore the following:

  • Why do your supervisors think that these two people are the right choice?
  • How can you prepare for meeting them in the viva?
  • What, in particular, do your supervisors think these two examiners might ask about?

Exploring that last question in general might be too big a problem to consider, but with two individuals, known to your supervisors – who know about your work – there might be some specific questions to unpick as part of your viva preparations.

Nathan

The Ideal Viva

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Defining an ideal viva is really tricky.

Do we start from the outline descriptions that emerge from considering the regulations? Or base our idea on the general expectations that rise from the many stories of viva experiences?

Would it be better to take notes from a candidate and see what they want? Or follow the experience of examiners and allow them to set out what a good viva would be like?

There could be more perspectives to take onboard too. These four alone make for an interesting collage of ideas. If you’re reading this post I’d assume you’re most likely a PhD candidate. What does this mean for you? Is it even possible to figure out anything related to the ideal viva?

Maybe it’s as simple as this: learn all that you can. Read the regulations and learn about expectations so you have a good sense of perspective of the general viva. Explore what examiners do to get a sense of what a good viva might be for them.

And finally explore what you want or need from your viva. If that aligns closely with everything else you’ve learned then great! But if not, what do you do?

 

PS: one thing you could do, if you’re trying to find out more about what to expect, is take a look at the second issue of Viva Survivors Select. This is my monthly pdf zine sharing curated collections of writing from the Viva Survivors archive. The Uncertainty Issue was released two weeks ago and contains advice, practical suggestions and reflections to help with a lot of viva uncertainty.

And if you’re looking for even more help the first issue is still available and The Preparation Issue is due on Wednesday 11th June! 🙂

Thanks for reading.

Nathan

Different Words

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The viva is a purposeful discussion or series of them: sparked by your thesis, made deeper by your contributions and aimed at providing enough evidence for your examiners to confirm that you’ve earned your PhD status.

What you and your examiners say helps to move the conversation along. Of course, different prompts and different responses mean different things.

A question has a different impact than a statement. An answer means something different to an opinion. A big general question is different to a finely-focussed small question about page 72. Saying “I don’t know” means something different to a three-minute monologue about something you do know.

Different does not mean better or worse. It’s just different.

Whatever your words, be clear. Be thoughtful. Take your time. Check the details.

Nathan

The Closed Door

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The viva typically takes place in a small room with a small team of examiners, one person and their thesis and their history – and a closed door that screens it all off from the outside world.

There are lots of negative perceptions about what happens at vivas. The perceived attitudes of examiners, the nature of questions, the unlikely-but-possible negative outcomes – these all combine and make many candidates feel down on the whole experience.

All of this is perception though: if you ask PhD graduates typically they’ll describe a challenge but one that’s positive. Maybe tiring, but fair. Difficult but doable.

It’s hard to change the overall perception of the viva in academic culture, but you can steer yourself if it seems intimidating to you. Focus on regulations and expectations. Yes there’s a closed door and two examiners and a challenge but what can you focus on?

You’ll be asked a lot of questions but remember: you did the work.

The door is closed here and now perhaps, but you have years of work, weeks of prep and a few hours to show what you know. The closed door doesn’t mean that you’re closed off.

Nathan

Small Expectations

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There is research on viva lengths and the range of experiences. We could plot out the opening questions of a hundred PhD graduates to explore the first questions of vivas. We can examine the fine detail of requested corrections to see how much work is needed.

We can do this and more – and the result would be a big report that does not tell you what your viva will be like.

Keep your expectations small. Keep them simple.

  • Vivas take time. You can take your time.
  • Take the viva one question at a time.
  • Expect it to be difficult. Remember that you are good at difficult challenges.
  • Your examiners will be prepared. You can be too.
  • Most vivas result in corrections. Don’t expect perfection but don’t expect a lot.

What other small expectations do you have for your viva?

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