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Tag: viva feelings

Nathan

Everything But That

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“I don’t want to talk about my methods chapter.”

“I’m ready for any questions except something about my bibliography!”

“Please, please don’t let them ask about my interpretation of that paper…”

“I will be OK so long as……”

 

Sound familiar? If any resonate with how you feel about your viva and talking with your examiners then you are most definitely not alone.

You’re perfectly rational: the process and pressures of the viva could easily make anyone nervous about needing to talk about a particular something. It might even make them stressed.

What do you do? If a possible question makes you feel nervous or stressed before the viva, what are you going to do?

You could review part of your thesis, talk with a friend, make some notes, read a paper or ask your supervisor to bring it up in a mock viva.

If there’s something that troubles you then there’s something you could do.

Consider your options and make a choice. Don’t stop at feeling nervous or stressed.

Nathan

Generous Questions

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I often thank people in webinars for “generous questions” that they ask.

Typically these are questions that cover a sensitive topic or difficult area for them. It might be something they would struggle to talk about in another context or if it was outside the private space of the webinar chat.

I often call these generous questions because they allow me to talk about difficult things. Without exception and despite the specifics for that person, the questions are always related to broader topics that concern others.

  • The specific question about a regulation worry can be addressed for that person and for others who will be worried.
  • The question about what to do about a mock viva with a challenging supervisor can be explored and we can look at other options for everyone.
  • Not knowing how to respond to particular criticism or disagreement can be widened out for all present.

Another thing that’s quite common in webinars but which happens in real life as well is people apologising for “silly questions” or “questions that might not matter much” or “questions that are difficult”.

Of course, these apologies aren’t necessary – in fact the questions themselves are necessary because they can help the person asking to find some peace or next actions to take, assuming that they’re asking the right person.

If you have a question, ask it. And if the response can be applied more broadly than your particular circumstances then please pass it on.

Nathan

Associations

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Eggs. Hot cross buns. Hills. Rabbits. Sunrise.

Easter has a lot of associations. These come from religion and tradition but also from the specific associations that build up in families.

It’s a recurring tradition in our family that we organise little treasure hunts at Easter – I’m not sure how common that is in the UK!

 

The viva has strong meanings for lots of people, whether or not they’ve had one. What associations are you aware of? When you’re getting ready it’s important to unpick what you think and feel about the viva. Why do you think that? Who told you? Why do you feel that way?

Associations can be generally true expressions of viva expectations. Equally they might be part of the local culture in your department, the way things are done in your discipline – or the result of learning of a single bad experience of someone else.

Unpick the associations you have when you think about your upcoming viva. Make sure that the story you’re telling yourself is accurate and helpful.

Nathan

Beliefs Lead To Actions

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What happens if you believe your examiners are going to be harsh with you?

What happens if you believe the viva is a tough process?

What happens if you believe you’re going to forget something important?

You won’t be more likely to fail, but if you believe the viva will be harsh or tough then you’re going to act accordingly.

You’ll be on alert in your prep, looking for problems instead of looking for progress; you’ll be cautious in the viva, wondering when the bad questions will come. If you worry about forgetting you’ll be watching yourself and distracted from simply engaging with the discussion.

Your beliefs about the viva have an impact on how you approach it. Sometimes they place limits where there don’t need to be.

What happens if you believe that you’ve done enough? What happens if you believe you’re good enough?

Nathan

Stress & Tensions

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It’s a good idea to reduce stress ahead of your viva. A little pressure might motivate some people but stress never helps anyone. You can reduce stress by planning your prep so that you aren’t overwhelmed. You can reduce stress by reading regulations and asking others about their experiences. You can reduce stress for the viva by doing the prep you need to do so that you feel more ready.

On the other hand, it will help to accept that there are tensions around the viva – and the best you can do is acknowledge them and work with them. For example, the tension between not knowing the questions you will be asked but still being able to respond. There’s a tension between knowing that most vivas succeed but not knowing your own outcome until the end. There can be a tension between being nervous because the viva matters but being confident that you have done enough to do well.

Reduce stress. Accept tensions. In both cases, you need to find your way forward.

Nathan

Encouraged

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What are your sources of encouragement ahead of your viva?

  • Hopefully your supervisor. They can offer guidance and evidence that you are on the right track.
  • Friends and colleagues can share their experiences to give encouragement. The viva in reality is not the horror stories that spread through researcher culture.
  • Your work can be an encouragement. Read, reflect and remember that this is something valuable.
  • Your journey can be an encouragement. You are now a more capable individual than when you started your PhD. You are more capable than your worst and most difficult days.

You’ve done the work to get you this far. You can prepare for the particular challenges of the viva.

Don’t forget to find encouragement. There are plenty of sources when you look.

Nathan

Different Kinds Of Expectations

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Here’s a little model that I’m still working out to see if it makes sense.

Procedural expectations about the viva are what happens generally: the typical lengths, common questions, the process of the exam and so on.

Emotional expectations about the viva are how candidates might generally feel: it’s not uncommon to be nervous, it’s human to wonder “what if…?” and so on.

Personal expectations about the viva are how individual candidates feel: the particular worries, specific requirements, self-knowledge and so on.

 

Knowing more about procedural expectations can have an impact on the other two areas for a candidate: a greater sense of the process could reduce nervousness and any worries. That’s not to suggest that someone shouldn’t do something directly to improve the other areas; perhaps starting with a good foundation of understanding the process will have an impact on the other areas and mean there is less to tackle.

So, if this seems reasonable: what do you not know about the procedural viva expectations? And what are you going to do to fill that gap?

Nathan

When You Have To Stop

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There’s a moment coming when you will start your viva.

All of your preparations will stop. You will have to be ready.

What do you want that moment to be like? How would you like to feel? What would you need to know by then?

 

Whether your viva is a week away, a month from now or some date later this year take a little time to reflect on the questions above. You can’t directly control how ready you’ll feel but you can decide on and take steps that lead you in that general direction.

So what steps will you take? How do you want to feel when you have to stop?

Nathan

Future Feelings

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What do you think it will feel like to wake up the day after your viva?

How might you feel if you were to look at a list of requested corrections?

What do you think it will feel like to be told you’ve passed?

How will you feel when you shake someone important’s hand at graduation?

 

And assuming that some of the above are positive or good expected feelings, what are you going to do between now and your viva to get to that reality?

Nathan

Careful Prep

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Is there a danger that I could be overprepared for my viva? Do I need to be careful?

No to the first question, yes to the second.

I don’t think a candidate can do so much preparation that they can harm how ready they are for their viva – as if they were driving so fast in one direction that they missed their destination. Of course, a candidate could be over-invested: prep is necessary but it’s a means to an end.

Being careful means making a plan and trying to follow it. Sketch out the things you need to do, ask others for a little help or guidance and then do the work. Leave yourself time so that you aren’t stressed. Don’t fill in the hours with more and more work just so you feel busy.

You can’t be overprepared for your viva. Be careful that you don’t spend more time than you need or leave yourself too little time to feel really ready.

 

PS: want to know exactly what kind of work goes into being prepared for your viva? Take a look at the details of my Viva Survivor session on March 27th 2025. I’ll be covering a lot at my live webinar next week and providing a catch-up recording too!

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