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Tag: viva experiences

Nathan

On General Questions

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I’m often asked by candidates about the general questions that come up at the viva. It’s a natural topic to ask about but it’s a really hard question to respond to!

More often than not I just want to say: Your thesis is different to every other ever written. You are unique. Why would you get general questions or questions that others get?

Instead of general questions consider general categories: examiners need to ask about contributions, PhD experiences and the candidate.

After possible general opening questions like “What attracted you to this project?” or “How would you summarise your thesis?” you can expect that your examiners will want to dig deeper into your research. They won’t ask general questions – they’ll ask specific questions based on the work you’ve presented.

Trying to know general viva questions is hard. Knowing categories of questions is easy. Knowing your stuff takes work but it’s simple. Prepare for your examiners’ questions by reviewing your work and rehearsing with whatever questions your supervisors and others ask you.

 

PS: If you’re looking for more helpful thoughts on rehearsal then Viva Survivors Select 14, The Rehearsal Issue, is out now. If you like the blog, want more help and want to support what I do then please check it out. It’s the latest issue in my series of curated collections of viva help: twenty posts from the blog’s archive and new help to help you get ready!

Nathan

A List Of Requirements

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Success at your viva requires:

  • A candidate (you).
  • One or more research projects.
  • One or more active supervisors.
  • A few years of work.
  • A suitably written thesis.
  • Regulations that have been followed.
  • Two or more examiners.
  • A period of preparation for those examiners.
  • A period of preparation for the candidate.
  • A sufficient amount of self confidence.
  • Adjustments to the typical viva process depending on the candidate’s personal requirements.
  • An interesting discussion that facilitates an exam.

What else do you require to succeed at your viva?

Nathan

The Differences

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Every viva is different because every candidate’s circumstances are different.

Your research is different. Your thesis is different. You are different!

Your examiners are not your friend’s examiners. Your work exists in a different context to every other PhD journey.

And yet, overall, your viva will be similar to others. Regulations create processes. Experiences create expectations. Local culture in your department gives rise to ideas of how things “should” be done.

Similar and different.

For the most part, focus on the differences that matter and are important. If something feels like it will have an impact then decide what you will need to do as a result.

Otherwise, find out how and why most vivas are similar. Figure out what you need to do to get ready.

Pay attention to what makes your work different from what has come before: it’s likely that that difference creates something valuable and worth talking about.

Nathan

The Improbable

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There’s a lot that could happen at a viva that is extremely improbable.

  • You could have a six-hour viva or be done in 45 minutes. Neither is likely.
  • You could be asked to write a new chapter for your thesis but it’s a very, very rare outcome.
  • You could be surprised by completely unexpected questions but it’s far more likely to have questions about things you know and understand.

You could spend a lot of time worrying about improbable hypotheticals before your viva. Worry alone won’t help but it can steer you towards action or advice that will ease your concerns.

If an improbable situation is on your mind then look for help and work past that worry.

 

PS: if you’re looking for more viva help to work past your worries then set a reminder for one of my upcoming webinars in the next few months. I have dates in October, November and December for my 1-hour 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva session and registration for all of them opens on Monday 7th September. Follow my Eventbrite page or the individual event pages you can find via this link. Thank you!

Nathan

Expectations Aren’t The Viva

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Viva expectations can give a sense of the flow, taking breaks and how people should behave.

Expectations can give real certainty for some aspects like the general process, what examiners do and securing reasonable adjustments.

And expectations can show a measure of uncertainty for things like the questions you’ll receive, what you’ll feel and how long your viva will be.

 

Expectations aren’t the viva: let’s say that together they create a valuable tension.

You can feel sure of some things, have a sense of others and give yourself an opportunity to get comfortable with what you won’t know until your viva is happening.

Nathan

Uncertainty & The Viva

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There’s a tension between the structure of regulations and expectations versus the unique circumstances of your thesis and situation.

Your viva will be unique but not a total unknown. You can have confidence that the process is set up well and also be aware of what you won’t know until the day.

Uncertainty is the tension you feel. Uncertainty is probably the discomfort you feel.

You can’t get rid of it completely but you can ask questions, check things out, ask for help and get yourself ready.

Don’t let uncertainty drive you to worry. Acknowledge the tension and do anything you can to get certainty for the things you can be certain about. Then prepare for the things that will remain uncertain until viva time.

 

PS: you, your research, your thesis and your viva are all unique. Your upcoming viva experience is a deeply personal thing in how you feel, how you approach getting ready and how you engage on the day. There’s a lot to think about and if you’re looking for some help then please take a look at the latest issue of my viva help zine, Viva Survivors Select 13, The Personal Issue. I hope it helps.

Nathan

The Wait

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I wasn’t prepared for the wait at the end of my viva. I didn’t know it was fairly typical for examiners to have a private conversation after all of the discussion.

I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t know I was going to be waiting a while.

In fact it was almost twenty minutes. It seemed to stretch on and on.

Not knowing what else to do I went and sat in my office at the other end of the long corridor from the seminar room where I’d had my viva.

I wasn’t prepared for the wait. I just sat there. I tried to think about what had just happened, what I thought it might mean and what to do with myself.

It was a struggle because I was so tired.

I wasn’t prepared for the sudden knock on the door from my internal examiner. He invited me back to hear the outcome and what would come next. It was a surprise: a little under twenty minutes isn’t that long but had also felt much longer.

I wasn’t prepared for the wait at the end of my viva – so I use any opportunity to share my experience so that others might think ahead.

What would you do to be ready for the wait at the end of your viva?

Nathan

Local Viva Culture

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There are lots of stories that paint a picture of typical viva experiences. Your university has regulations that determine the framework and expectations for how vivas are conducted.

Your department will have a history and culture of viva examination: a way of doing things that is just how things are. If you ask around you can get a sense of the little things that could be useful to know.

Ask staff and postgraduate researchers in your department to find out more about the local viva culture:

  • Is it common for vivas in your department to be a particular length?
  • Are there areas or topics that seem to frequently be discussed?
  • How often do examiners ask for a presentation to start the viva?
  • Are there any post-viva traditions for celebration in your department?

Then, when it happens, your viva will be a unique examination and another example of the culture in your department.

 

PS: I’ll be exploring more aspects of viva expectations this Saturday morning, July 4th 2026, at my 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva webinar. This is my first-ever weekend webinar and I’m very excited! Registration includes a catch-up recording, follow-up email and my pdf guide 101 Steps To A Great Viva. There are full details for all of my July webinars here. Hope to see you at a session soon 🙂

Nathan

Beginning & End

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Expect your viva to begin with questions that help you start well.

Expect your examiners to have a plan (but don’t expect them to share it).

As you start the viva you can expect to feel nervous but the opening questions should help you move past that feeling.

And as you begin you could try to have a rhythm for engaging with questions: take a sip of water, make a note or take a breath – do something to help you pause.

 

As your viva ends, expect your examiners to ask you to leave for a little while so they can talk privately.

Expect to feel nervous then too.

Expect that when they bring you back in they’ll be telling you that you’ve succeeded!

And expect they’ll tell you that you have corrections to complete as well!

Nathan

Impossible Vivas

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A viva with no questions is impossible.

Equally impossible: a viva with all the questions!

It helps to recognise ahead of meeting your examiners…

  • …you won’t know how many questions you’ll be asked;
  • …you won’t know what questions you’ll be asked;
  • …you won’t know what the start of your viva will be exactly;
  • …you won’t know what they’re thinking about as they manage their side of the discussion.

And none of these things make the viva impossible for you.

You can’t be asked every question. You won’t be asked none. You can’t know what you will be asked. Rather than guess you can rehearse and prepare for being there. You can know what it’s like to be at the viva by practising. You can prepare to respond by having a mock and doing things that help you consider your work again.

There are a number of impossible scenarios for the viva. Your own experience will be much more manageable.

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