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Tag: the PhD journey

Nathan

To Be Continued

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After submission you need to prepare for your viva – but you also need to prepare for life after the PhD.

For some that could be simple (or welcome!) but for all candidates, particularly those who have attachments to physical spaces, people or even access to resources, consider:

  • What do you need to take home with you? When will you do it? How will you do it?
  • Who do you need and want to stay in contact with? How will you do that?
  • What will you do when you don’t have access to library resources, software or other things that disappear when you are no longer a student? If you’re typically contactable by a university email address, how will you tell people where to find or reach you?

If you’re not sure if you plan to continue with research in some way, then really think about what you need to take home. Do you need all your notes? Do you need all of your papers?

Whatever you need to do, remember that life goes on. You will continue to have opportunities to show your ability and knowledge. Reflect on what you are taking away from your PhD journey – and remember that all of that talent and capability is available to you in your viva as well.

Nathan

Framing Limitations

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Limitations in your research are constraints, parameters and requirements.

They could arise from setbacks and problems or be a result of the project specifications for your PhD.

You might acknowledge them, regret them or be frustrated by them.

They could have been anticipated, they might have surprised you or they could be a previously unforeseen complication due to the pandemic.

 

If your research – and consequently your PhD – has been impacted by limitations then you have to address it at some point in your thesis, and probably also in your viva.

But you get to choose the words you use to describe those limitations. Of course, be honest: but also realise that words mean something, and the words you use help to convince a reader, a listener and also oneself.

So: what words do you choose to use to describe the limitations of your PhD research?

Nathan

Three Things

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Do you want a simple task to help how you feel about your viva?

Every day after submission, take five minutes to write down three things about your research: things that you know are good, that you’re proud of, that you know turned out well or that you know make a difference.

Three things, every day. Three things about your work that then go into the mix of thoughts and feelings for your viva. Three things you could draw on as you go to the viva to share your work. Three things to help build your confidence before you meet your examiners.

Viva prep takes more than five minutes each day after submission, but little tasks can make a big difference. Start with three things to help your viva preparation.

Nathan

Recognise Your Strengths

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As you prepare for your viva, take an hour to think about how you have changed during your PhD journey.

What can you do better now than when you started? What have you learned how to do? What methods, processes or tasks do you feel confident performing?

Your capability doesn’t have to be limited to things that are directly connected to your research. You could know that you are good at managing a project. You could see clearly that you are a good presenter or communicator.

Reflect on your journey. No-one can get to submission and their viva by being lucky. Recognise your strengths and realise that you have come so far by being and becoming good at the many things you do.

Recognise your strengths and remember that you are going to pass your viva.

Nathan

One Day, Not Day One

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The viva is a single day when you have to rise to the occasion – but not the first day of the journey that you’re on.

Your viva could be difficult. You can expect to be challenged, but that challenge – discussing your research, your thesis and your ability as a researcher with your examiners – is not the first challenge of your PhD.

It’s not the tenth or even the hundredth.

The viva is one day you have to meet a challenge and succeed. By that day you have a lot of experience of doing just that.

Nathan

Comments & Corrections

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A comment from one of your examiners does not automatically become a correction that you have to make to your thesis. A correction you receive is not always something that needs to be commented on in the viva.

A comment doesn’t mean that something is “wrong” – it could be something interesting to talk about. A correction doesn’t mean that something is “wrong” either – it could be a typo or it could be needed to create a clearer piece of writing.

Comments and corrections have to be expected as part of the viva process. Your research and your thesis are not perfect and that’s OK.

You can expect to receive comments and corrections and also expect your examiners to think that your work is good.

Nathan

Examiners’ Choice

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Candidates don’t choose examiners. For all the good ideas you might have about this person or that person to examine your thesis and you in the viva, you don’t choose them outright.

Your supervisors choose your examiners. They might ask you for your ideas and they might respond positively to your suggestions but they don’t have to. They are responsible for nominating the academics who will examine you.

Your university has to approve the nominations. They have to check the details of who your supervisor selects to check they are suitable. There are criteria that examiners have to satisfy.

And after all of this two people have to say yes.

They can say no if they’re busy. They can say no if, for whatever reason, they feel it doesn’t seem like a good fit for them to be your examiner. They don’t say yes to tick a box. They don’t say yes because they know your supervisor.

When your examiners are confirmed then you can prepare. You can make a choice at that stage to be ready to talk to them at your viva.

That’s the choice you make.

Nathan

A Piece Of Paper

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When your PhD journey is finally finished you get a piece of paper. It will be quite fancy with official words and special ink. One page that says: you did it.

Before graduation, before your viva even, you might need something else to help you believe that you are capable. Kind words and good experiences help, but self-confidence has to come from you.

So take another sheet of paper, probably less fancy, but important all the same. Write down anything and everything you can think of that you know is good about your work: ideas, conclusions, methods – whatever you think makes a difference.

Then realise that all of those things are a part of your work because of you, your effort and your ability.

After your viva you’ll have a piece of paper that shows everyone what you did. Take time before the viva to show yourself what you’ve done.

Nathan

Fortune’s Favours

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The harder I work, the luckier I get.

As with so many quotes it’s difficult to pin down who said it. Whoever said it they were definitely on to something. There’s such a thing as simple luck, but in many cases we create good fortune by working hard, by investing time in ourselves and the things we do.

We create the circumstances by which good things can happen, and the more we do the more chances there are that we can find “luck” or good fortune.

So for a PhD candidate, success at the viva isn’t due to luck. Good fortune through the PhD, in writing the thesis and in passing the viva comes down to work: time invested in getting better as a researcher, effort invested in making something that wasn’t there before and energy invested in writing it up.

When you pass your viva it’s not through luck: you’ve done the work and made your own good fortune.

Nathan

Viva Prep Blues

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This post is for anyone who feels down at the thought of getting ready for their viva.

  • Remember that the hardest work is done by the time you submit your thesis.
  • Planning your preparation helps to break down the work you still have to do.
  • There is no rule that says you can’t take a break.
  • There is no rule that says you can’t make your preparations enjoyable.
  • In most cases it’s easier to do a little prep each day than squeeze everything into one or two pressured days of preparation.

And if you feel blue about getting ready or about your viva then it will probably help to talk to someone you trust to get advice or support.

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