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Nathan

Run The Numbers

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Success at your viva is not directly determined by:

  • The number of papers in your bibliography.
  • The number of pages in your thesis.
  • The number of words on all those pages.
  • How many days you showed up to do the work.
  • How many meetings you had with your supervisor.
  • How many times you failed.
  • How often you were challenged.
  • The number of times you overcame significant obstacles to get your thesis done.

Success isn’t directly determined by any of these numbers but your capability and confidence can be helped by simply considering just how much you’ve done to complete your PhD.

Run the numbers. Reflect on how much you’ve done, how far you’ve come and what that all means for you and your viva.

Nathan

Further

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A reflection and summary task for viva prep.

Take a sheet of paper, divide it into three parts and respond with some quick thoughts on each of the following questions:

  • How much further have you advanced knowledge in your field through your PhD research?
  • How would you take your research further if you had the opportunity?
  • How could someone else potentially take your research further?

It’s definitely helpful to remind yourself how far you’ve come on your PhD journey. It’s a valuable exercise to think about how you or others could take things further.

Continuing in research might not be your plan, but it can help your viva prep to explore the context of what you’ve achieved and then think about how it could go further.

Nathan

A VIVA For Examiners

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I use VIVA as a little acronym-tool for reflecting on one’s research ahead of the viva:

  • Valuable (to others): what might someone else find useful in your work?
  • Interesting (to you): what do you find fascinating about your work?
  • Vague (or unclear): what do you find difficult to talk about or explain?
  • Ask (your examiners): given the chance, what would you ask your examiners at the viva?

It’s a helpful tool and can be particularly helpful when thinking about the thesis chapter-by-chapter.

I’ve found it useful sometimes to take the VIVA prompts and apply them to other aspects of the viva as well. For example, what if we took the prompts and considered your examiners?

  • Valuable: what might your examiners find useful in your work?
  • Interesting: how can you make connections between your research and their interests?
  • Vague: do you foresee any difficulties in communicating your work to them?
  • Ask: given the chance, what would you ask your examiners at the viva?

OK, OK, the last question didn’t change! But there are still four good reflection on your examiners ahead of your viva!

Nathan

Fresh Thinking

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There’s a lot of fresh thinking in and around the viva.

Your thesis has to contain a significant and original contribution; there must be something new and fresh in it.

To get ready for the viva you have to look again at what you’ve done and try to explore it in different ways to be ready for your examiners.

Then your examiners will likely have fresh questions at the viva. You will have a lot of experience of talking about your work but it’s probable you’ll face a question or idea you’ve never considered before.

There’s a lot of fresh thinking in and around the viva – but thankfully you have a lot of knowledge, understanding and experience.

 

PS: your significant original contribution is a big discussion point for the viva – find out what else to expect at Viva Survivor, my live webinar on Thursday 5th December 2024!

Nathan

Save The Best For Last?

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It’s not needed for your viva.

The knowledge, understanding, skillset and determination that you apply to get to thesis submission is all you need in your viva. A little prep for the particular challenge of talking to your examiners will help, that’s all.

You’ve already displayed your best and been through the worst by the time you get to your viva.

Nathan

Not The Reason

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I’ve lost count of the number of PhD candidates who’ve told me that they’re worried about receiving critical questions.

Some are worried about particular criticisms. Some are worried about hypothetical questions. Some are worried about the questions that they haven’t anticipated.

All are being rational.

It’s not that they should worry, more that it’s not irrational to worry about critical viva questions. Given the amount of work involved in getting to the viva – and given the outcome that a candidate would be hoping for – it’s understandable to worry.

As ever, in situations where someone worries it helps to ask why.

  • If you’re worried about a particular criticism, why? What’s the reason?
  • If you’re worried about a particular hypothetical question, why? If you’ve thought about it, can’t you do something to think about how you might respond?
  • If you’re worried about the undefined mass of questions you’ve never considered, why? Is there nothing you can do to change how you feel?

I have a three-word aphorism that I always try to keep in mind (both for myself and others): work past worry. Worry is human, but action will always take you closer to resolving the situation than worrying alone.

If you worry, do something.

If you worry there’s a reason for that worry. If you do something you can work towards the concern being satisfied in some way.

Remember as well that whatever question your examiners ask, there is always a reason motivating them. If you’re not sure how to respond then try to consider the reason for their question in the first place.

Nathan

Hyped

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It’s sometimes said that excitement and nervousness are two sides of the same coin.

That might suggest there’s no control over which side is shown, like a coin toss, but really it’s just focus. If you try to focus on excitement that’s what you’ll find more and more.

You could focus on the opportunity to talk about your work with experienced academics. You could think about the contribution you’ve made to your discipline. You could think about how close you are to finishing your PhD!

It won’t eliminate nerves, but getting excited can help a lot to reduce the discomfort of nervousness – and maybe it will give you one more reason to feel confident for your viva.

Nathan

Important Future Dates

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Your submission date: it helps to be mindful of when this will be. Check what paperwork needs to be completed for your institution – including notice of submission forms – and also double-check whether you have a specific deadline when you must have submitted your thesis.

Your first day of viva prep: it doesn’t matter so much when it is or what you do. Plan for it in advance. Decide what you will do. Start with a good intention.

The day before your viva: deep breath, final checks, decide on what you will wear and pack your bag (if needed).

Viva Day: do I need to say anything more?

Final submission deadline: most candidates are asked to complete minor corrections. Universities have regulations that state the amount of time for completing minor corrections. Therefore as soon as you know your viva date you can estimate when you will have to have your corrected thesis completed and submitted.

Graduation Day: attendance is your choice, but this marks the date when you’ll officially be Dr Somebody – and that will be something worth celebrating!

 

PS: and one important future date is Thursday 5th December 2024 – when I’ll be sharing my live Viva Survivor webinar! Full details at the link – do check it out.

Nathan

Effort

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What did you learn in order to get through the first year of your PhD?

What did you figure out about your research area before you were halfway through your PhD journey?

What challenges did you overcome along the way?

How many pages does your thesis have?

How many chapters?

How many references in your bibliography?

How many days did you show up to do the work of your PhD?

 

Perfection isn’t possible in a PhD. Luck is only a very small factor in success. When you really reflect on the last few years, you only got this far through sheer effort.

And when you reflect on what all that effort means you can see why you’ll succeed at your viva too.

 

PS: I’ll be exploring success and how you achieve it at the viva at Viva Survivor, my upcoming live webinar on Thursday 5th December 2024. Lots more as well: expectations, examiners, viva prep – they all feed into confidence and success. Find out more about the session here.

Nathan

Swotting Up

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Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats – or SWOT, a neat acronym for prompting thoughts about plans, innovation and getting things done.

It’s not enough to simply look at the good points or strengths of an idea: what are the weaknesses? Are there other opportunities to explore? What potential threats can be foreseen?

 

I find that a good acronym is often useful when applied to radically different areas as well. Consider your examiners:

  • What strengths do you have when it comes to discussing your work with them?
  • How can you address any perceived weaknesses in your knowledge or understanding?
  • What opportunities can you find in going through the viva experience with them?
  • Do they pose any real threats to your viva success?

If you worry about your examiners, who they are, what they do and how they might be at your viva, then consider reflecting on the questions above to give yourself a little peace.

Remember your own strengths too because there must be a lot! Remember any weaknesses that you’ve worked past. Remember the opportunities that you’ve managed to fulfil. Remember that whatever threats you’ve faced, you are now close to finishing your PhD journey.

 

PS: I’ll be talking about examiners a lot at Viva Survivor, my live webinar on Thursday 5th December 2024. Check out full details at the link on what else you can expect there!

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