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Nathan

Lucky & Fortunate

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It’s important to properly frame the role of good fortune in a PhD journey or in viva success. Words matter – and the words you use to describe your progress and achievements have an impact on you and on others.

Lucky could happen to anyone but fortunate is down to you and your efforts.

Fortunate means you worked hard and enough of that hard work paid off.

Lucky means your actions didn’t matter. Anyone could have done it and it just happened to be you.

Whatever your research, remember that you’re not lucky: you’re fortunate.

 

PS: The latest issue of Viva Survivors Select 12, The Contribution Issue came out yesterday! Reflecting on your thesis contributions is a useful reminder of how your success really is down to good fortune and not luck. You’ll find a lot more in the issue too so please do take a look if you’re looking for more viva help.

Nathan

Today & Tomorrow

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You can’t change the past even if you wanted to.

You don’t get a do-over if you faced difficulties in your PhD or have regrets for something that could have been – or if you simply know more now than you did then.

Whatever happened, whatever the reason, today you can change course. Today you can decide that the past doesn’t define you. You can go a different way.

Today you can change course and tomorrow you can take action. And, importantly, you can do this again and again, steering yourself closer and closer to who you want to be for your viva.

So what do you want to achieve for yourself before your viva? How do you want to present yourself and your research at your viva? How might you change course? And what will you do to get to your destination?

 

PS: my final 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva webinar is running tomorrow morning, Wednesday 15th July 2026 at 11am. This is my last webinar before my summer break – so I’ve decided I’m really going to make it a good one! 😉 Registration includes a catch-up recording, follow-up email and my pdf guide 101 Steps To A Great Viva. Hope to see you there.

Nathan

A Problem

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When you have a problem in your research there are a lot of questions that someone could ask.

  • Why is it a problem?
  • How is it a problem?
  • When did you realise you had a problem?
  • Did you resolve it? How did you do this? Did you have to try anything else first? And can you think of any other way you might have approached it?
  • Was this a one-time problem? A recurring problem? Is there literature about this kind of problem – or even this specific problem?
  • What does it mean to resolve this problem?
  • How have you felt the impact of the problem?
  • How would you advise someone else who faces this problem or similar in the future?

When you have a problem in your research there are a lot of questions that someone could ask – and someone could be one of your examiners.

Consider the problems you’ve faced in your PhD before you go to your viva. The fact that you have faced problems is not negative: it means there plenty of things to talk about which can demonstrate your capability.

Nathan

A Final Conversation

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That’s what my viva was.

Of course, I have told people about my research in the years since, but I moved away from my research discipline into different work. Since June 2008 I’ve never had the opportunity to talk about my PhD research with knowledgeable people who really wanted to know more.

(I’ve had plenty of small chats with polite people who probably regretted asking, “So what did you do for your PhD?”)

I don’t have any regrets but I didn’t know that was going to be the final real conversation I’d have about my PhD work. Your future plans might give you some confidence that there will be plenty more times to come when you can discuss all of what you’ve done…

…but if you’re not sure then please consider: if your viva was the final substantive conversation you would have about your PhD research what would you want to make sure you talk about?

Nathan

Framing The Page

Daily Post

Every page in your thesis has a significant border. You don’t need to fill all of that space to annotate your thesis well and be ready for your viva. You can make some sensible additions to your thesis pages to make your thesis as useful as possible:

  • You can add sticky notes or bookmarks to help navigate your thesis;
  • You can add short summaries at the top of key pages;
  • You can use colour to draw your attention to specific sentences;
  • You can add notes to help unpick or explain your writing;
  • You can add reminders for the things you really need to remember.

And you can do a lot more.

You don’t need to fill your pages to be well prepared. You can do what you need to get the most from your thesis.

Nathan

One Sentence Per Day

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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

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

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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

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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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