You Are Here

Tag: viva expectations

Nathan

Your Role

Daily Post

At the viva you have to engage with the questions and comments of your examiners. You have to be a good participant in the discussion that rises from your thesis, the questions and what unfolds naturally.

That’s it.

You don’t have to be extra-smart or super-relaxed. They’re not looking for you to take on a persona. You don’t have to have an answer for everything or speak in a certain way.

Your examiners want to hear what you think and see what you know. Your role in the viva is to respond. You don’t have to be anything you’re not.

Nathan

The Breaks

Daily Post

It’s always worth saying: yes, you can have a break in your viva.

A bathroom break.

A medically necessary break.

A break to breathe and relax or compose yourself.

An hour in, two hours in, three hours in, it doesn’t matter when.

Your examiners might offer, but you can always ask.

Then at the end of your viva, most likely, one more short break while your examiners discuss the outcome. They exchange notes and reach their final consensus.

For that final break decide in advance what you might do, so that you aren’t sitting and wondering about what just happened and what is about to happen.

 

And hopefully when your viva is finished you can take a longer break that is solely about relaxing and resting.

Nathan

A Series Of Steps

Daily Post

You take a PhD one day at a time. Read, write, test, think and do it all again. Day by day you work through the journey.

You take viva prep one task at a time. Read, write, think, talk: each task brings you closer to the viva.

You take the viva one question at a time. Pause, think, respond, then on to the next point. Each question is an opportunity for you to demonstrate something about your research and yourself.

Step by step, each one bringing you closer to success.

Nathan

Good Question!

Daily Post

I listen to podcasts while I wash the dishes. It’s my little bit of “me time” in a busy day!

Recently, while scrubbing away at a pan I was struck by how often someone being interviewed began their response by saying, “That’s a good question…” They said it a lot, and every time they sounded very sincere and genuine – almost delighted to have been asked.

Many years ago in a short presentation skills seminar I was told that saying “that’s a good question” was a good way to stall and play for time to think. It could help to create a good impression and – as a presenter – engage with the person asking the question.

All those things can be true but stood in my kitchen with my hands covered in bubbles it hit me that it was also a really positive attitude to take into the viva.

 

Now, I don’t mean that every time your examiners ask something, you have to smile and say, “That’s a good question!”

But rather than worry in advance about what might come up, or ponder in the moment what your examiners could mean, just think that all of the questions you will be asked will be good questions.

Every single one.

Good because the topic is good.

Good because they get you to talk about something great.

Good because they challenge you.

Good because they highlight something that needs to be talked about.

Good because they help you get one step closer to the end of your viva and passing.

Your role in the viva is to engage with the discussion and respond to questions. Will some of them be tough? Probably – but start with the idea that they will all be good to give yourself a helpful way to engage throughout your viva.

Nathan

The Pauses

Daily Post

There are no bad reasons for taking a pause during your viva.

A pause to check you’ve heard your examiners correctly. A pause to get your thoughts in order is helpful. Checking a detail from your thesis is a useful beat of silence.

The pauses in the viva aren’t limited to your side of the table or the Zoom call. Your examiners may have to read their summaries or make a note for later. They may need to check between them to see who will speak next.

The pauses in your viva are the punctuation for the discussion. Like punctuation in a book they are just as necessary.

Pause, think and respond. Pause, check and ask. Pause, note and consider.

Silence isn’t always comfortable but pausing in the viva is never bad.

Take your time.

Pause.

Nathan

Viva Time

Daily Post

It could be a nervous time.

It could be a happy time.

It could be a strange time.

It could be a rushed time.

 

It’s a time of preparing.

A time for remembering.

A time for reflecting.

A time for checking.

 

Time could pass quickly.

Or time could pass slowly.

You could be waiting or pacing or chasing ideas.

Time could feel odd.

 

But it’s your time.

Your time to use as you want or need.

Your time to get ready and then be ready.

Viva time is your time.

Nathan

The Exp Words

Daily Post

What kind of speaking are you expecting to do in your viva?

Do you imagine you’ll have to explain what you did?

Do you think you’ll simply expand on what you’ve done?

Or perhaps you think you will explore what your research really means?

In truth: you’ll do all of these and more. The viva is a discussion centred on your research, your thesis and you. The conversation can go in many different directions. Expect that you’ll explain, expand on and explore a lot of what you’ve done.

Don’t expect that your examiners will expose big problems though – or explode your central ideas!

Nathan

Examiners Are Human

Daily Post

Doctor Important or Professor Amazing perhaps, but your viva examiners are still just people.

They know that exams can be stressful for the people taking them.

They know that you have worked hard. They know you might be nervous.

They can’t take your nerves away but they can create as good a space as possible for the viva.

Your examiners will do everything they can to make sure the viva is fair. Remember, they’ve likely had a viva or similar in the past too. They know what this means to you.

Nathan

Who’s There?

Daily Post

There are three types of people at your viva: those who will be there, those who might be there and those who may be there only if you agree.

Your examiners WILL be there. Every candidate in the UK has at least two examiners, typically one internal and one external. There are exceptions, but the majority of candidates will have two experienced academics examine them. Yours will have read your thesis, prepared and be ready to discuss whatever is needed at your viva.

You MIGHT have an independent chair at your viva. This person would typically be a senior academic from your university. They would act as an observer: no questions asked, no opinions given, except to confirm that the viva has been appropriate and fair. Not all vivas have an independent chair. It’s a good idea to check and find out if you might have one, so that you can prepare yourself accordingly.

Your supervisor may be present at your viva ONLY IF YOU AGREE. If they come they can only observe. No questions asked, no responses given. They could make notes on your behalf, but their presence might be stressful for you. You get to decide if they’re there: if you say no, they can’t go.

 

Oh! And you WILL be there. It’s your viva!

Nathan

Warming Up

Daily Post

How will you warm up on the day of your viva? You might not need to perform vocal exercises or physically stretch, but you could:

  • Read through a summary of your thesis one more time.
  • Check that you have everything packed in your bag.
  • Select a special outfit to wear.
  • Rehearse using your computer and software if you have a video viva.
  • Chat with your supervisor if there’s one more point to be sure of.
  • Write something to get any thoughts or feelings out of your head.

Or you could simply sit down with a cup of tea or coffee and wait for the right time to arrive.

1 … 35 36 37 38 39 … 106