know your whys

December 29, 2025October 15, 2025 Nathan

Best of Viva Survivors 2025: Short Posts

Daily Post

For day two of my best posts of 2025 I wanted to share a selection of the shorter posts I’ve published in the last year. These cover a lot of different topics as I like to explore many aspects of the viva. Sometimes it feels just right to write a little!

A Part Of You: a short post all about balancing what matters.
Unique? balancing viva expectations and the fact that every viva is unique.
Beyond Belief: hope is fine but…
Don’t Wait: it’s never too early to find out more.
Less Than Perfect… the standard for passing the viva!
What Does It Do? unpicking your significant original contribution.
Know Your Whys: six helpful questions for getting ready.
Small Changes: a little post about minor corrections.

There are lots more short posts in the archive – and twenty-five more curated posts in The Sparks Issue of Viva Survivors Select too!

December 3, 2025October 9, 2025 Nathan

Your Reasons

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There’s a reason you did your PhD.

There’s a reason you used the methods you used.

There are reasons why you think what you think.

There is a reason for the typo at the bottom of page 72.

There are reasons for the work you did and didn’t do.

There are many reasons why you’ll succeed at your viva.

When you can reflect and understand enough of the whys and reasons of your PhD journey then you’re probably ready to share them with your examiners – and ready to succeed.

September 15, 2025July 23, 2025 Nathan

Daily Post

Why did you want to do a PhD?

Why was your research worth pursuing?

Why do you believe your methods are sound?

Why did you keep going when you faced obstacles and setbacks?

Why does your thesis have a significant and original contribution to knowledge?

Why do you feel capable as a researcher in your field?

When you know your whys you have a foundation to respond to most questions at your viva.

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