You Are Here

Tag: the PhD journey

Nathan

Lucky & Fortunate

Daily Post

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

The Viva Essentials

Daily Post

What do you need for a viva?

You need to have a significant, original contribution to research from one or more projects that you’ve completed over (at least) several years.

You need to have a well-written thesis which, in some way, describes the research.

You need to have read the regulations for your institution and learned what to expect generally from a viva.

You need to have two suitable examiners (or sometimes more) who are going to prepare for and examine you at the viva.

You need to prepare for your viva.

You need to make sure that the university makes any necessary adjustments to the viva process to meet your specific needs, if you have any.

You need to show up on the day, ready to engage as well as you can with your examiners’ questions.

 

What else do you need? If you can think of something, how will you get it?

Nathan

Today & Tomorrow

Daily Post

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

Daily Post

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

All The Stats

Daily Post

The breakdown of viva lengths, pass rates, corrections and questions don’t mean a thing for confidence. They might give a little comfort but they won’t really make you feel better about your viva.

What did you do? What does that mean? What can you do now that you couldn’t do before?

Consider these simple questions, look back over your time as a postgraduate researcher and you’ll find lots of confidence to help you feel better about your viva.

Nathan

Crossing The Gap

Daily Post

Some candidates worry that viva prep will be a terrible task to complete.

The viva can seem like an awesome task to face – how can you get ready in the few months between submission and the viva when you’re being called to be prepared to talk about your work, yourself and what it all means with two experienced academics?

By recognising that in reality, the gap between who you are at submission and who you need to be for the viva is not that great.

By remembering that viva prep is doing particular work for the particular challenge of the viva – and remembering that if you have got to submission then you are very experienced at rising to challenges.

There’s a little work to do to cross that gap. You can do it.

Nathan

The Five Ends

Daily Post

The first is the end of your research. At some point, even if you’re figuring things out while writing, you have to stop doing practical research work.

The second is the end of writing your thesis. You submit your thesis, knowing that it’s probably not perfect but accepting that you’ve done all you can to make it good.

The third end is the end of your viva. Hours have passed after weeks of prep and you’ve succeeded! But you’re not quite done.

The fourth is the end of your corrections. You can hope you get none but most people get some. You likely will too. I hope it’s a smooth process for you!

The fifth and final end of your PhD journey is the opportunity for graduation. You might attend or might not but that’s the final, final end of your PhD. After that you’re officially Dr Someone.

That’s the end of your PhD and the beginning of the next chapter.

 

PS: you can find out more about the end of the PhD at my 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva webinar tomorrow evening, Wednesday 8th July 2026 at 7pm. Registration includes a catch-up recording, follow-up email and my pdf guide 101 Steps To A Great Viva. Hope to see you there – but if tomorrow is too short notice I have one more webinar next week!

Nathan

Problems Are Opportunities

Daily Post

Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.

I first came across this assertion many years ago when I first learned about creative thinking approaches. It’s fairly natural to be repelled by problems and think they’re only obstacles. Another perspective is to consider a problem as something to be worked at; it’s a more positive way of looking at things.

Any hint of a problem in your research, particularly around viva time, can be intimidating. There’s already enough in the viva situation to make a person nervous. A problem could go further and lead to stress – but if you shift your focus a little maybe there’s a better way to look at things.

A problem in your research or thesis could be an opportunity to make progress. It could be an opportunity to show what you know and what you can do. A difficult question at the viva might feel like a big problem, but it’s also a big opportunity to work and demonstrate the same knowledge, capability and determination you’ve shown in the past.

Research problems and viva problems can be opportunities for you to do more good work.

Nathan

Last, Final, Only or Next

Daily Post

How do you feel about these expressions?

  • The viva is your last chance to succeed.
  • Your viva is the final test of your PhD.
  • The viva is your only opportunity to convince your examiners.

These are sentiments that I’ve come across while doing my own PhD and in the two decades since. There’s a small hint of truth to them but the tone always works to weaken one’s feelings of confidence.

How about, “The viva is your next challenge”? As in the next challenge after successfully completing many others.

“The viva is your next opportunity to share your research” or “Your viva is the next chance for you to show what you can do”?

Words matter. Can you change the words you use to describe the viva or yourself?

Nathan

Needing More

Daily Post

A PhD candidate can feel like they need more of lots of things.

More prep. More time. More work.

More papers in your bibliography. More results in your research. More page in your thesis.

What might it take for you to feel like you have enough?

1 2 3 … 49