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Tag: viva confidence

Nathan

Final Focus

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I try not to be overly prescriptive or proscriptive when it comes to advice about viva prep.

There are certain kinds of work that are helpful when someone is getting ready for their viva but every candidate faces their own challenges and situation. There are approaches to planning prep (start with reading, for example) that would seem appropriate for every candidate…

…but what might be a good approach for one person could be bad for someone else. You might need to read your thesis over the course of a week in preparation for your viva while a friend has the opportunity and impulse to read theirs in one afternoon.

I emphasise the kinds of work that help not how someone “must” do them. It’s helpful to make a plan but you need to make a plan that works for you.

And with all of that said, one thing I would encourage is to give a little focus towards your confidence at the end of your preparations.

A few days before your viva take some time to think about your PhD journey. Note down what you’ve done and what it means. Recognise the talents that you have developed and see them as a foundation for confidence at meeting your examiners.

Nathan

An Unlucky Date?

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I very rarely say “good luck” to someone – and in particular I don’t say it to a PhD candidate who has their viva in the near future.

I don’t believe in superstitions but have written before about my good day socks, the paperweight on my desk and listening to music to help me get ready.

Good luck and superstitions? No.

Best wishes and support? Yes!

Your viva won’t be harmed if it is on Friday the 13th. You won’t pass your viva because of your socks either but you might feel better if you do things to steer your confidence and nervousness.

You don’t need luck but you might benefit from taking specific actions, using placebos or rituals to help you feel better.

 

If you’re not sure what you need to steer your confidence then the process is simple. Reflect on what you could try to come up with options. Then decide on what you will do.

You don’t need luck to pass your viva – but you might need help to build your confidence.

Nathan

All The Opportunities

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A PhD journey is not successful because you do everything perfectly first time or achieve 100% of your goals. You find success because you make enough of all the opportunities that you have found and made for yourself along the way.

You made the most of what you could and were able to do something with it. You didn’t find the answer for everything but you found enough somethings that you made something that mattered.

The goal isn’t that different for your viva. You don’t need to get 100% or avoid too many wrong answers. Instead you need to make the most of all of the opportunities you’ll find there. Every question or comment from your examiners is an opportunity and invitation to say more and do more – to show more of what you did, who you are and what you can do.

An I don’t know or I forget is a small thing. It won’t lead you away from success. Make the most of the opportunities you find at your viva and you’ll be fine.

Nathan

Yesterday

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Yesterday was a great day to reflect on your PhD journey so far.

Yesterday was a good time to consider how you’ve got as far as you have.

Yesterday was a good day to reflect, remember and build your confidence for your viva.

Today is the next best opportunity.

Nathan

Achievements

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Think back over the course of your PhD so far and list five big achievements.

  • How did they happen?
  • What did you do?
  • Why do they stand out to you so much?
  • And what did those achievements allow you to do next?

Remember that all of your achievements are yours. You did the work.

You can’t be certain about the questions you’ll face at your viva or your examiners’ opinions but you can be certain of the work you have invested and what you’ve achieved.

 

PS: I’ll dig into more confidence-building viva prep at my live 3-hour Viva Survivor webinar on Wednesday 25th March 2026. Attendees get four-week access to a recording of the session and follow-up materials too. More details at the link – and you can save £10 on registration with code VSMARCH2026 before Sunday 8th February 2026. Thanks for reading!

Nathan

Viva Survivor Webinar, March 25th 2026

Event, Update

Let’s keep this webinar announcement short and simple:

  • I’m running my Viva Survivor webinar on Wednesday 25th March 2026.
  • Registration is open now for this three-hour live webinar. Participants will have access to a catch-up recording for four weeks after the session and receive follow-up materials including several of my publications.
  • Viva Survivor has been delivered for the last 15 years to more than 8300 PhD candidates at universities and programmes all over the UK.
  • In that time and in over 425 sessions I’ve been continuously developing Viva Survivor to be as helpful as possible to PGRs.
  • You can register now and use code VSMARCH2026 until midnight on Sunday 8th February 2026 to save £10 on registration.

There’s a lot more information at the link about what to expect from the webinar on Wednesday 25th March 2026. If you have any questions please get in touch. Viva Survivor is one of my favourite things to do and I’m really looking forward to this session.

Please take a look if you’re interested and don’t forget that the code VSMARCH2026 will save £10 on your ticket if you register before midnight on Sunday 8th February 2026.

Thanks for reading!

Nathan

Nathan

It’s Not The End

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It’s really, really helpful to have the proper perspective for your viva.

The viva is a challenge. It’s not the biggest challenge, the nastiest challenge or the hardest challenge of your PhD.

Your viva is not the end of the world – it’s not even the end of your PhD journey.

You’ve come a long way to get to this point. You’ve overcome many challenges and many of them are bigger challenges! The viva is one more challenge.

It’s not trivial. It’s only one more challenge for someone who is experienced at dealing with challenges.

You’ve come a long way. Remember how you got this far as you approach the end of your PhD journey.

Nathan

Inspecting Chapters

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Pick a chapter in the middle of your thesis. Have a quick read and then consider the following questions for a few minutes each:

  1. What does this chapter add to your thesis?
  2. What did you learn from doing the work?
  3. How did you feel writing this chapter?
  4. How did you feel reading it now?
  5. How many typos or other mistakes have you found?
  6. How many times did you think “I wish I could change that!”?
  7. What else from your research did you think about when reading it?
  8. What do you think your examiners might make of it?

Some of those questions might seem odd or unfair – but probably not as unfair as some of the questions you might ask when you doubt your progress or capability!

 

Doubts and worries are a part of being human but you can decide what you’d like to give your attention to. Not every question is worth your time. You can decide where to put your focus.

Find ways to ignore questions which only hinder your prep and confidence. One approach would be to focus on more helpful questions. In my opinion, questions 1, 2, 7 and 8 are probably the most helpful questions in the example above!

Nathan

Three Overviews

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I like the structure of Why-How-What for writing an overview of PhD research:

  • Why did you do this research?
  • How did you do it?
  • What was the result?

Why-How-What has a nice structure for creating a summary during viva prep. It can also be expanded on in other ways. For example:

  • Why did you explore this area?
  • How did your plans change?
  • What do you need to emphasise to your examiners?

A different set of questions can help you draw together different helpful ideas. You could also help your general viva preparation with a quick Why-How-What overview:

  • Why are you on track to succeed at your viva?
  • How could you build your confidence in the coming weeks?
  • What will you do to help yourself?

Keep Why-How-What in mind as you approach your viva. If you’re asked to prepare a presentation as part of your viva, as some candidates are, then consider this as a nice introduction structure too!

 

PS: if you’re looking for helpful viva prep ideas then check out Viva Survivors Select Volume 1. This is my complete collection of helpful viva zines I made last year. Volume 1 has eight issues, 165 curated posts from the archives and lots of new resources – and an introductory offer price until tomorrow at midnight!

Nathan

Find Your Whys

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Why did you want to do a PhD?

Why did you pursue the research that you’ve explored?

Why did you keep going when things were tough?

Why do you believe your work makes a contribution?

Why do you believe you’re ready for your viva?

 

When you have answers to all of these then you’re in a good place to succeed at your viva.

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