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Tag: viva expectations

Nathan

Making Mistakes

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It’s important if you find a mistake after submission that you take a little time to think about the correction. Other people – including your examiners – might think you are unprepared.

It’s important to correct any mistakes after your viva because otherwise you won’t pass!

 

It’s not important generally whether you have things to correct or not. Writing is hard. Doing research is hard. Bringing those difficulties together makes making mistakes almost inevitable.

It’s important to know what’s important at your viva. You can work hard, proofread and do your best. Did you make mistakes or not spot some typos? That’s OK, so long as you’re prepared.

You did something that matters in your research – and that’s far more important than a few mistakes that can be corrected.

 

PS: The Confidence Issue, the most recent issue of Viva Survivors Select, has a lot about focussing on what matters. Do you want to know how to build confidence for your viva? Do you want ideas on how to respond well to questions from your examiners? Then take a look at this curated collection of twenty posts from the Viva Survivors archive plus two new helpful resources!

Nathan

Crossing A Line

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Some PhD candidates worry about getting something wrong at the viva because they don’t know what they need to do to get it right.

Does that resonate? If it does you don’t have to do a lot to get rid of the worry.

  • Read the regulations for your institution;
  • Talk with friends and colleagues about their viva experiences;
  • Ask your supervisors if your department has any particular viva practices.

These three sources are enough to figure out a useful sense of what to expect. You’ll see that there are no hidden red lines, no secrets and no terrible traps waiting ahead.

You’re unlikely to cross a line. Get things right at your viva by learning that there’s nothing really you can get wrong.

Nathan

Is A Video Viva A Good Idea?

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Things have come a long way since the emergency measures of 2020 when, against an uncertain background, many PhD candidates had to change plans and have a viva over video.

Without the stress of those times there are definite pros and cons of a video viva.

On the plus side:

  • Not needing to travel could be a positive for many candidates;
  • Not needing to meet in person could reduce anxiety for some;
  • Being able to control the setup and space could be really helpful.

And of course, there are some situations where a video viva isn’t just a positive idea: it could be a necessity that will allow someone to have a viva at all or participate fully.

There are potential negatives though:

  • Anecdotes suggest that video vivas are more formalised, probably due to the format;
  • There is the potential for conversations to be awkward because of platform limitations;
  • They might not allow for networking-style conversations in the same way as an in-person conversation.

Where does all of this leave a candidate wondering what to do?

 

Unless a video viva is a necessity because of travel or availability it just depends on the candidate and what they feel they need. There are plenty of positives that can make a video viva a good experience. The negatives are not overwhelmingly negative in any way.

And remember: we are not in 2020 any more. Technology, training and experience has moved on. A video viva is a known thing and can be learned about and prepared for. If you need one or are thinking about one it’s not a bad idea at all.

Whatever the format the purpose and process of the viva is the same. You can do well in it wherever you are.

 

PS: I’ll be sharing a lot more about the general viva process at my Viva Survivor webinar on Wednesday 3rd December 2025. This is my comprehensive session on getting ready for the viva. Check the link for full details of what to expect but please get in touch if you have any questions!

Nathan

Defending & Supporting

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Defending your thesis means supporting your research.

Defending doesn’t mean protecting. Your examiners’ comments and questions aren’t trying to exploit weak points or diminish your work.

Defending means saying and doing more in the viva in addition to the thousands of hours of work that lead to your thesis.

Defending can mean exploring a topic, providing clarity, expanding on details and more.

More than anything, defending might mean saying why. Even if you’ve said it in depth in your thesis and you feel you’ve said it clearly, your examiners could want a little more from you.

Why does your work make a contribution?

 

PS: If you want more ideas of how you can defend your thesis and respond well to questions in the viva then take a look at  The Confidence Issue, the latest instalment of Viva Survivors Select. The issue contains twenty posts from the Viva Survivors archive plus two new pages of viva help and I think it’s worth your time to take a look 🙂

Nathan

What You Want & What You Need

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Wants are nice. Needs are non-negotiable.

Wants can follow preferences while needs follow your situation and circumstances.

If you want to have a particular external examiner maybe you can make a case to your supervisor. If they say no there will be someone else.

If you need your viva to be in an accessible room for you then that’s where it needs to be. No ifs or buts.

Put your focus where it needs to be as your viva is arranged. Try to get the things you want but if there’s something you need make sure that the right people know.

When you meet your needs you probably remove the worst of the stress that something as important as your viva could bring.

Make sure your needs are met then work to get your wants if you can.

Nathan

Unusual Expectations

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Some PhD candidates have unusual expectations for their vivas.

I’m not a mind-reader, but I know this must be true because of the questions that some candidates ask. I have met candidates who have expected the following:

  • Every question will be hard and every comment will be critical;
  • The external will ask most of the questions and the internal won’t care;
  • Success at the viva is 50/50, a coin toss between passing and failing;
  • The examiners will play good cop/bad cop!
  • The viva is just random so there’s no way to prepare.

These are all quite extreme! More benign and unusual expectations include candidates believing that they can’t take a break or that they can’t consult their thesis.

 

It’s not just that these expectations are wrong and don’t match reality: they are really negative. To hold them can only harm someone’s confidence as they get ready.

It’s not wrong to feel nervous ahead of your viva, but if you find yourself worried by an expectation or belief about the viva then find a way to check if your expectation is reasonable. If it’s unusual then you can maybe stop worrying.

And if you find that it isn’t unusual then there will still be something you can do towards feeling more prepared and more ready.

 

PS: I released the latest edition of Viva Survivors Select yesterday! The Confidence Issue contains twenty posts from the Viva Survivors archive exploring confidence for the viva including how to respond well to questions in the viva – something which definitely helps with having good expectations.

Nathan

Regulations & Requests

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Thesis examination regulations underpin viva expectations. They set out how examiners should generally approach the viva and how they should behave. Coupled with practice and culture this gives rise to expectations and patterns. Things tend to happen in certain ways.

This doesn’t mean that viva expectations are the only way they can proceed. In particular, if you need something that doesn’t follow past patterns then you should ask for it. If you need more breaks, a specific room setup or have other particular requirements then your examiners need to know.

Vivas follow regulations but those regulations are there to help ensure that vivas are fair for all candidates. If you need something make sure you make a request. Don’t hope. Don’t expect that people will somehow know.

Check and follow the regulations. Make requests for what you need for your viva.

Nathan

Moments & Pauses

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Your viva is a conversation.

It will have a rhythm and a flow.

The direction is lead to some extent by your examiners with their questions and comments, but you set the pace with your responses.

Pause to think, to breathe, to check and to be sure.

Take a moment to break up what you’re saying.

The viva is a conversation and you want it to flow well – but the viva is an important conversation that needs time. You need time to think well and respond well.

A moment here or there will not increase your viva length dramatically or negatively. Taking a pause to respond well can only help your viva and your performance.

Nathan

Tried & Failed

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There was a two-month period in my maths PhD where I tried and tried to make something work. Here’s my layperson’s description of the problem:

  • Imagine you’re looking at two knotted balls of wool;
  • Your task is to compare them and try to figure out if they’re knotted the same way or differently.
  • Now imagine that while you’re comparing them they start to grow.
  • And they also have lengthening algebraic expressions pinned to them.
  • And every time you stop to take stock you realise your notes have increased dramatically…

I tried a lot of different things. I found some results in the process but I didn’t reach an answer.

I tried and I failed.

 

I thought for a split-second-that-felt-like-forever at my viva that this was going to be a problem.

In Chapter 7 you detail your failure at a problem. That’s interesting.

I can still remember the way my internal examiner said it seventeen years later!

It was an odd way to express a point. It knocked me for a few seconds but really he just wanted to explore the situation:

  • What had I tried and why had it not worked?
  • What did I try next and how far did I get?
  • Why did I stop and what did it all really mean?

These were all good questions. I had a lot to say because there was a lot to talk about.

If any of this seems resonant – although hopefully not the knotted balls of wool! – then prepare for your viva with your problems in mind. If you tried and failed at something then be sure you know why. Be sure you can explain why.

And be sure you realise that while it might have been a problem while you were doing your research it doesn’t have to be a problem at your viva.

Nathan

Verb Carefully

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If you’re getting ready to endure your viva then you’re probably not going to approach it with a good frame of mind. If you are hoping it goes well you’re probably downplaying the force of your other prep and work.

It’s one thing to worry that your viva will be a nightmare – a nasty noun could easily distract you – but the real concern is that you might worry!

Unhelpful verbs while you’re thinking about your viva and viva prep can have a big impact on your confidence. You might not simply be able to choose how you feel or choose the verbs you keep in mind but if you’re aware of negative associations you can make changes. Read the regulations for the viva, ask for support and find out more about what to expect.

How do you want to approach your viva? What do you need to change? What will you do?

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