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Tag: fair adjustments

Nathan

Best of Viva Survivors 2025: Confidence

Daily Post

For day three of my look back at 2025 I return to confidence. I really love exploring how to encourage confidence for the viva. Digging into this topic has had a huge impact on my life and I love sharing ideas with PhD candidates.

How confident are you feeling for your viva? What steps are you taking to help yourself?

One helpful step might be to take a look at The Confidence Issue, the seventh issue of curated help from my Viva Survivors Select series of zines!

Nathan

Fair Adjustments

Daily Post

You might need adjustments for your viva to be fair for you.

  • You might need your examiners to use a microphone.
  • You might need them to ask questions in a particular way.
  • You might need to write questions down so that you can process your thoughts.
  • You might need frequent breaks.
  • You might need a room at a particular location or with a particular setup.
  • You might need your viva to be over video or have some other technology involved.

It’s expected that every PhD viva might be difficult. The viva is supposed to be a challenge because of what you’re there to do, the level you work at, the meaning of what you’ve done.

Difficult is reasonable but barriers that limit you engaging with the viva are unreasonable. If you need adjustments to make the viva fair then make sure your institution knows.