Daily viva help for PhDs
Remember that you don’t need to be perfect to succeed in the viva.
Remember that you will have invested a lot of time, effort and energy into becoming practised at all the things necessary for you to succeed.
You have read, you have written, you have learned, you have developed the skills for a researcher in your field and a lot more.
You’re not perfect. You are practised.
And that’s enough.
There’s a lot of attention given to the idea that the viva could be the last time that a candidate gets to really talk about their research.
Discussing your work with your examiners could be the final chance to do so – after that, even if you stay in academia maybe your conversations will be on new research and new ideas. If you move out of academia perhaps the viva will be the last chance to talk about your research.
Not a lot of attention is given to the truth that while the viva might be the last time to have a deep discussion about your PhD research, it will not be the first time. So many candidates are nervous thinking about the “final” time, without paying attention to the fact that they have done this many, many times before – and can be confident as a result.
Meetings, seminars, webinars, practical demonstrations, conversations and hour upon hour of deep thought about how best to explain things. If your viva is the last time you go to it plenty of experience to make the best of the occasion.
With hindsight my PhD journey feels a lot like the movie Groundhog Day.
Every day was get up, go to the office, do some maths, go home, go to bed, get up, go to the office… And so on. There was a definite rhythm to things; my days and weeks punctuated with breaks, seminars and meetings at the same times.
Until submission! Until the viva! Two very different days, days when everything changes. No more repetition, and like the end of Groundhog Day, uncertainty – but positivity – about the future.
What will happen next? Who knows – but it won’t be the same as every other day.
I don’t mean to sound negative about my PhD. It was a formative time in my life; I didn’t find all the answers but at least I realised what I was missing. I had a good foundation to build on for life afterwards. However it was hard: every day the same, more or less. Work work work work work, and occasionally some results, then back to work.
I’m not negative, but it can be hard if your experience is similar to see the change in yourself. The development in your abilities, talents, knowledge and the contribution you make. If you don’t see that, by the time you reach submission day or viva day you might feel unprepared for the new challenges ahead.
Before your viva take a little time to reflect on your PhD journey. The thousand or more days of the PhD have made a difference to you.
What is that difference? How far have you come? And how does that set you up well for the viva and for life after the PhD?
Beneath the surface of the viva is a conversation. For all the importance it has, it’s a discussion and one you can prepare for.
Beneath the surface of your thesis is a contribution. Across thousands of words you tell the story of what you did, what it means and why it matters.
Beneath the surface of you, the candidate, is a real human being. Not perfect, but certainly capable, knowledgeable and experienced.
Beneath the surface of your nervousness, assuming you feel it, is a highly capable researcher who can share their contribution through a conversation. We wrap layers of importance and association around what a viva is, what a thesis must have and what being a good candidate means.
Beneath the surface of all of this are simple thoughts that help.
You don’t get to choose your examiners. You might be asked for your opinion but ultimately, your supervisors will decide. They have the responsibility of nominating the two people who will examiner your thesis and convene your viva.
You don’t get to choose – but you might be able to steer the selection. You can put names forward, and it’s worth doing so. If your supervisors already have a good idea then ask them to share that with you. Ask them to explain why these choices are good ones for you; not to dissuade them but to build your confidence that they are the best choices for your viva.
You don’t get to choose. When your examiners are selected you can always find out more about them. You can be certain they are good candidates – in the same way that you are a good candidate. You can learn about them to get a sense of their perspective.
You don’t get to choose but that doesn’t have a big impact on how ready you will be to talk with them on viva day.
There are PhD games that people play that are ultimately not fun or helpful. They’re founded in perfectionism and not knowing what’s expected. Playing them seems like a good idea sometimes, but is ultimately frustrating. Don’t play those games.
These games aren’t worth playing. They won’t reward you or your progress.
The games that will help are personal games. You set a reasonable target and try to achieve it. You recognise the commitment you have and your growth (as a person and a researcher). You take action and move along the very, very long journey.
Play the games worth playing. Save your focus for what matters the most. Your success does not have to be defined by the achievements of others or false expectations.
I remember checking in with my supervisor half an hour before my viva and asking him about a key definition. I don’t remember seeing him at all later that day, but he must have been there. Right?
I shared an office with four other people at the time, but don’t recall any of them being there on my viva day. Isn’t that strange? A Monday in early June and no-one was around. Did that happen? Or do I just not remember?
I started my viva with a presentation. I remember my examiners asking me questions almost immediately, as I was sharing a summary. I remember difficult questions about my explanation for some results. However, I don’t remember any questions at all about the key result of my thesis. Isn’t that strange?
I remember passing but have a hole in my memory until that evening, a celebratory dinner in a restaurant with my family. I don’t know if my examiners gave me a list of corrections after my viva. I don’t know if I saw any friends around the department. I don’t know if I called or texted anyone to let them know I was done.
I’m starting to forget my viva. I remember a story, a fragment of what happened, but not the day.
Maybe it means my viva really wasn’t that big a deal compared to everything else in my PhD. Maybe it means I’ve finally finished thinking about that day – unlikely as that may seem!
Why am I sharing this? To offer a little perspective, for those who have their viva in the future. It matters. Your viva is important. But it won’t be the most important thing you ever do.
The viva is one day on your journey to getting your PhD.
And maybe one day you’ll realise you’ve forgotten all about it.
You can’t have perfect recall.
A mock viva won’t make you bulletproof to a difficult question.
Notes and summaries won’t cover everything.
Remember that perfection isn’t the point of preparation.
Prepare to become prepared.
Read, revise and rehearse to be ready.
In preparation for your viva consider the old and the new.
The old:
The new:
Reflect and draw out valuable ideas about your research; explore for yourself how you have grown as a researcher. There’s a lot to unpick about your journey, your research and how you have got it done. Take time to reflect and prepare before your viva.
The viva might be the final challenge of your PhD, but it’s not the final challenge you’ll ever face.
The questions your examiners ask might prompt the final big discussion you have about your PhD research.
Your final preparations for the viva are building on a foundation that has taken years to create.
Before you start your viva take a final deep breath and remind yourself how you have got this far. Not by luck. Not by chance. Through work, determination and ability you have reached the one of the final things to do for your PhD.