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Tag: viva expectations

Nathan

Practical Matters

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Every so often I’m asked the following sorts of questions by future viva-havers:

  • Will I need to solve equations in my viva?
  • Do I need to take a laptop with me to show my programming?
  • Would it be best to take a prop to demonstrate how I did something?

My response to these questions and the hundred-and-one similar questions I’ve been asked is, “Maybe!”

I solved equations in my viva. I was stood at a chalkboard, sketching diagrams, showing how they were connected and demonstrating the algebra that underpinned my work. But if you weren’t a mathematician you wouldn’t expect to do that.

Are there visual ways of representing what you’ve done? Are there clearly defined processes that show how to do what you did? Then perhaps you might be asked to sketch something in your viva.

You can ask friends, colleagues and supervisors: in fact, they are the best people to ask.

Do you need tools, equipment or resources? Might you be asked to demonstrate something? I don’t know – but you know someone who will. Ask them!

Nathan

Expect The Unexpected

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There are regulations for vivas created by each university. There are expectations for the viva, general patterns of experience, that can be observed in the stories that graduates tell. There are norms we can derive from more considered inspection of stories with a departmental community.

These three aspects give a lot of certainty about the viva experience. Every viva is unique, but none of them are a great unknown.

And yet: questions are asked that can’t be anticipated. Corrections are requested that went unseen before submission. Opinions are suggested that have never been considered. And circumstances sometimes change, from simple logistical room switches on the day to last-minute changes to video vivas due to illness.

Expect the unexpected. You can’t discard the rules and patterns of experience. Embrace them, learn from them, but also remember that you have to expect that you won’t know any question until it is asked.

That doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared. That doesn’t mean you won’t be ready.

Learn about the range of possibilities. Rehearse to build your comfort for being in the viva. Expect the unexpected.

Nathan

The Challenge

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In your viva your examiners are, essentially, presenting you with a challenge.

  • Can you explore what your research (as described in your thesis) means?
  • Can you describe how you did this work and what the motivations were for doing the work?
  • And can you demonstrate that you are a capable researcher?

Your examiners want to have a conversation about all of these things. Given the level that you work at, given the work that you’ve invested and given the outcome you’re working towards – and what that means – this is a challenge.

But only a challenge.

Just one particular situation that you need to rise to, after a long series of success at responding to challenges throughout your PhD. Your viva might be difficult. You might be nervous. But that only makes the viva a challenge, nothing more.

What can help you be ready for it? Who can you turn to for support? And what have you learned throughout your PhD journey about rising to challenges?

Nathan

Without An Audience

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An important expectation for the UK viva is that it is private. Members of the public don’t attend and you’ll never have an audience present while you talk with your examiners.

Two examiners, one internal and one external, is the typical situation at the UK viva. It’s possible to have more, but rare. It’s possible to have an independent chair as part of your viva process, but they’re not an “audience member” either.

Your supervisor could attend, with your permission, but even then they are not like an audience member. They can only observe, they can’t participate like an audience member at a public thesis defence.

The UK viva is a discussion, not a presentation, not an open forum. It’s closed, and even if there are others present – chairs or supervisors – they’re not the audience.

Nathan

Differences, Difficulties & Opportunities

Daily Post

In-person and video vivas have differences but at the core is the same viva experience. The viva is the same whether or not you are in the same room as your examiners: same purpose, same drivers for questions, same outcomes and same people involved.

By now we know that some differences create difficulties. Awkward pauses. Signal delays. Rooms that are not wholly suitable. Logistical challenges for meeting in-person.

Oh, yes: not all difficulties come from vivas over video. In-person vivas could be difficult situations too.

It’s worth knowing that some differences create opportunities. Sitting around a table. A certain desired atmosphere. Being in one’s own space. Being in control of your working environment.

Your institution may or may not have a preference over where your viva would take place. Still, think about your circumstances and what you need.

What are the difficulties for you in having a viva in-person or over video? Are there opportunities for you if you had one or the other? After the last few years it’s important to acknowledge that there isn’t a best option generally: in-person and video vivas can both work well.

The right location and setup for the viva is what is best for you.

Nathan

Certainty

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You can’t know in advance what questions you’ll be asked at your viva. You can’t know how long it will be. You can’t know exactly what opinions your examiners will hold. A viva experience happens based on a range of expectations, combined with the regulations of an institution and the individual thesis and candidate.

And with all of that true, there’s still a lot you can be certain about for your viva.

You can be certain that your examiners have prepared. You can be certain that their questions, whatever they are, are all carefully considered. You can be certain of who your examiners are before your viva by researching them, if needed. You can be certain of the range of expectations because so many people have shared their viva stories.

And you can be certain of who you are, what you’ve done and what you know. You can be certain that you are ready.

Nathan

Out With The Old

Daily Post

What are you holding on to that you don’t need any more?

Perhaps it’s a drift of papers that you’ve never quite got around to reading. Maybe some scraps of notes for a section you’re not sure you need in your thesis. Or maybe you’re holding on to ideas about the viva that don’t help you.

If you think that vivas are a big mystery, then you can replace those thoughts with real expectations. Talk to people about their viva experiences, read blog posts and find out more. If you wonder what examiners might ask about your work then talk to your supervisor. Again, ask people about their vivas for a sense of what’s wanted. And read your thesis because that’s something you’ll definitely be asked about in your viva.

And if you worry that you’re not good enough, that you need to know more or need to be better, then look back over your PhD journey for the success. Look for the highlights. Realise when and how you have become a more capable researcher.

Let go of the old ideas that don’t help, and find new ways to think about yourself, your work and the viva.

Nathan

The Viva Radar

Daily Post

In movies, people look at radar, sonar and other detection screens and as a noise pings and a blur moves across the screen they say, “Something’s coming!”

Everyone stops and stares, holds their breath and wonders, “What is it? It’s getting closer! It’s big! It’s almost here!”

They wait to see what will happen. What exactly is this thing? What do they need to do in that situation? And then whatever it is – a submarine, an alien, a spaceship – arrives and urgent action is needed.

 

This isn’t so different from the situation some PhD candidates find themselves in with their viva.

“My viva is coming soon! Something will happen! I’ll be asked some questions! I need to get ready!”

But they hold it all in. They focus inwards. They wait until the day nears and they have to take urgent action.

Thousands of vivas happen every year. There are plenty of people around every candidate, not to mention books, blogs, podcasts, resources, supervisors, graduate schools and more. There is no reason for the viva to be just another vague blob on your screen.

Find out what it is and you’ll know what you need to do.

Nathan

The Right Words

Daily Post

There are wrong words you could use in the viva. You could exaggerate or bluff. You could lie! You could mis-speak. You could be too modest or you could be careless in your thought or speech.

There are no perfect words for the viva discussion. Your examiners don’t expect you to respond like a machine without hesitation, errors or deliberation. Questions can have answers but they could also have opinions offered or hunches shared. You can say I don’t know.

You need the right words in your viva. The right words aren’t perfect, but they are considered. The right words aren’t scripted but can benefit from practice beforehand. The right words don’t require knowing the questions ahead of time or special understanding of the process.

The right words just require you to do the work. Do the work and you’ll find the right words on your viva day.

Nathan

A Cracking Viva

Daily Post

A viva is a little like a Christmas cracker.

There’s a moment of tension between two sides. There’s an expectation that something will happen. But what?

Christmas crackers and vivas have a lot of variety. Some are small, some are big.

The contents can vary wildly. Some people like them and some don’t, but all put up with them when it’s time.

The tension is real-

-and then it’s done.

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