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Tag: examiner expectations

Nathan

Valuable Work

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It’s a PhD expectation that you will have made a significant and original contribution to research.

Your work is valuable – so as you prepare, reflect:

  • Who will value your research?
  • What does your contribution add to knowledge?
  • Which journals might find your results and conclusions valuable?
  • What might your particular examiners find valuable?

The last question isn’t necessarily the most important but it is relevant because you’ll be talking with these two people for hours.

If there is something they might connect with then it makes sense to think about who they are, what they do and what they might really want to know – then rehearse how you might share that with them.

Nathan

Perspectives Matter

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If there is more than one way to explain what you’ve done or what it means then make sure you practise talking about all of them.

If there was more than one way to accomplish your research goals then it helps to be able to explain what you did AND why you didn’t take the other approaches.

If you and your examiners look at things differently then that’s not a cause for concern – but it makes sense to understand their perspective to respond to it.

 

Writing notes to unpack your thinking or rehearsing aloud how you explain things can be helpful for grappling with also sorts of different perspectives.

What you have ultimately done through your work matters a lot – it’s one of the key things you’re there to talk about at your viva – but being aware of the variety of perspectives, processes, beliefs and understandings matters a lot too.

Nathan

Listening

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It’s a big part of the viva.

There are no gotcha questions and hazing remarks. Your examiners are there to listen and they’ve giving you opportunities to speak about your work, your PhD journey and yourself.

They’re there to listen but you have to listen first. The questions they ask and the discussion they prompt are your opportunities to do well. You have to listen carefully to make the most of them.

When they ask a question, pause and check that you understood it. Ask for clarification if you didn’t. Consider what it all means and take your time to respond well.

They’ll be listening.

Nathan

What’s It About?

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If you want to describe your research to someone – and do it well – you have to consider who your audience is.

The general audience for your PhD thesis probably has a different knowledge and understanding than a family member who is curious about what you do. If you want to respond well to either audience you have to consider what they might know, what terms you might use and where they might find interesting parallels with their own knowledge.

The general audience for your PhD thesis might overlap with your examiners but the latter will probably have some interesting distinctions. While your research is for a wider audience it makes sense to consider your examiners particularly when you’re preparing for your viva.

You didn’t write your thesis for them but you’re preparing to meet them and talk about it. It makes sense to consider what they might know, what they probably understand and to explore what they have been working on recently to look for connections and mutual understanding.

Perfection isn’t the goal with preparing for your examiners. You’re working towards being ready to explore your research and present yourself as a capable researcher.

That’s what it’s all about.

Nathan

Prep For Your Examiners

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Viva prep is for the specific challenges that you’ll find at the viva – and two of those challenges are your internal and external examiners.

  • Talk to your supervisors, if you haven’t already, to explore why these academics are good choices to be your examiners.
  • Read the most recent publications by your examiners to get a sense of who they are and what they do.
  • Rehearse for the viva by having a mock viva so that you have a feel for the process that your examiners will be using on the day.

If the viva is a challenge then it makes sense to focus some preparation on the people who will be challenging you.

 

PS: Looking for more viva prep ideas and information about examiners? Then check out my live 3-hour Viva Survivor webinar on Wednesday 25th March 2026 where I’ll talk about these topics and a lot more. Attendees get four-week access to a recording of the session and follow-up materials too. There’s more information at the link but please get in touch if you have any questions or want to know more. Thanks for reading!

Nathan

Their Focus

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The two academics who examine you and your thesis at the viva are first of all focussed on doing the job well. They are taking on the responsibility of being examiners and do it carefully.

Your examiners, internal and external, are focussed on exploring your contribution, discussing your PhD experience and examining your capability as a researcher. While they have a big picture focus they have their own work and ideas as well. Taking a little time to understand what they do as researchers can help you to think about how they read your thesis and what they might want to talk about, what they will understand and so on.

 

One more way to grasp their focus is to remind yourself of your focus. Whatever you did during your PhD and whatever you’ve presented in your thesis is the focus of the viva.

Nathan

Your Research, Your Questions

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Your examiners don’t ask random questions.

They might have some common questions. If examiners typically ask about the methods you used then there will be common formulations of questions that could explore that topic.

When it comes to the deep discussion in your viva the questions will become targeted. They’ll ask about the particular sentence on page 47. They’ll ask you to say more about the summary on page 78. They’ll ask you about the choices you made in Chapter 4.

 

All of which is to say that you and your work lead to the questions you’ll get in your viva. Common, generic questions exist – but they will still be asked about your work. And these questions are small by comparison to the specific and relevant questions that will be directly inspired by your work.

If you want to be ready for the discussion at your viva you could take a glance at questions you’ll find on the internet or be prompted by an AI – but then get to work with reviewing your thesis, take time to create summaries and invest a few hours in rehearsal with others.

Your research leads to your questions at the viva.

Nathan

Basic Expectations

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Here’s an incomplete list of what to expect for your viva:

  • Examiners have training and support.
  • Examiners prepare for the viva in an appropriate way.
  • Examiners ask relevant questions and make appropriate comments to examine a candidate.
  • Logistics for the viva are communicated in a fair and appropriate way.
  • The viva will be a fair and reasonable challenge given the nature of the research, the thesis and the candidate.

And as the candidate you’re expected to have done the work, prepared and have a sense of what the viva is supposed to be like.

Or, more concisely, at a basic level you are expected to be ready.

There are patterns for lengths of viva, common first questions and so on, but the expectations that really matter are knowing that your examiners are professionals and that you are capable – ready to do what you need to do to succeed.

Nathan

Right and Wrong Examiners

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Some academics are definitely wrong as examiners for your viva: they don’t know your subject, your discipline or don’t have the requisite experience. They would never be asked.

Some academics are definitely capable to be your examiners: they are subject experts, experienced and have a good combination of knowledge and ability that means they could do the job.

Some academics might feel wrong to you as examiners: you’ve heard rumours or you’ve got a sense from interacting with them that you’d prefer not to engage with them in your viva.

Some academics might feel more right to you as examiner choices: they have a specific research interest you think connects with your work.

And some academics might be selected as your examiners regardless of whether you approve or not: ultimately, your supervisors decide.

What you can do, in advance of your viva, is think, consider and suggest names. You can express preferences and your supervisors can listen and decide what they need to decide.

Whoever your examiners are, they will be experienced, supported and capable. You will know who they are and know what they do. You can help yourself to be ready for meeting them.

Nathan

A Special Day

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Vivas are special days.

Like most special days it’s not the setting or the build-up that makes it really special. There are lots of expectations about what special days need – cost, preparation, traditions and so on – but like any other day what makes your viva special are the people involved.

While your examiners are special and particular to your viva you could also have your viva without them; they could have been busy and someone else would have said yes. Your examiners are like the DJ at a party or a celebrant at a wedding: they’re good but there are other people who could fill that special role.

So let’s be clear: you’re the reason why your viva is a special day. You and your work are what make it matter. Prepare and get ready but remember who the viva is for and how you got there.

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