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Tag: viva process

Nathan

Thesis Vs Viva?

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“To what extent is the outcome based on the content of the thesis rather than the discussion in the viva? Is there an approximate ratio or is it totally random?”

Here’s another question from a webinar I delivered just before my summer break! I’ve been thinking this over for weeks. It’s a good question because it gives me another perspective to describe what is happening in the thesis examination process.

Here’s my almost-stream-of-consciousness reflection:

  • The viva outcome is not random but is there a ratio?
  • A ratio makes me think of recipes: three parts flour to two parts water and so on. But the viva is not as simple as that.
  • You can’t have a viva without a thesis. So that’s our starting point.
  • But: you can’t have a thesis without a candidate. So that goes back even further.
  • The viva process is an examination of the candidate.
  • The thesis is an artefact that represents the work and achievement of the candidate.
  • The thesis has to be good enough as an output and the candidate has to be good as a researcher.

So how about this as a response, not an answer, to the original question:

The outcome of the viva is based on the work and ability of the candidate. Examiners have to assess the thesis as an output of the candidate’s work and talk with the candidate to give them opportunities to say more about the thesis, their process and themselves.

The outcome isn’t based on some unpicking of thesis and viva but of considering the candidate: their work, their contribution and themselves.

 

PS: registration opens tomorrow for my upcoming 7 Reasons You’ll Pass Your Viva webinars. I have dates in October, November and December for this helpful 1-hour live session which I think of as a confidence boost for the viva. I’ll cover why PhD candidates succeed and what you can do to help how you approach this important event. Registration for all autumn dates opens tomorrow and there’ll be an announcement post going up then too. You can also follow my Eventbrite page or the individual event pages you can find via this link. Thank you!

Nathan

What It’s For

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The viva is a facilitated discussion to confirm that you did a good piece of work over a long period of time – and in doing so you became a good researcher.

The viva follows a long academic tradition in the UK and is seen as a good mechanism for assessing the progress that someone makes as they pursue their research goals. It’s a custom exam every time, following rules, traditions and experience, unique but not unknowable.

The viva is there to check you and your work out:

  • Is it enough?
  • Have you done enough?
  • Have you developed enough?

(and enough is enough: your examiners aren’t looking for perfection)

Your viva is for you: it’s your viva, your exam, your work, your journey.

That’s what your viva is for.

Nathan

Give and Take

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When you’re asked a question at the viva:

  • Give a response to the question;
  • Take your time to do it.

Any question. Any kind of question. Give a response, take your time.

There are no prizes for speed and only your own stress for rushing.

There might not be an answer but you can always respond with an opinion, a hunch, an idea or a question.

Give a response, take your time.

Nathan

Keeping It Simple

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The viva is simple. A group of examiners leading a discussion with purpose asking a candidate about what they did, how they did it, why it matters and who they are.

Simple.

Viva prep is simple. Invest a little time to be ready for the particular challenge of your viva. Read the regulations, get help if you need it and take tens of hours to build on thousands of hours of work. Read, think, rehearse and prepare.

Simple.

Feeling confident for your viva is simple. Reflect on what you did and what it means. Remember how much work you invested and see the difference between when you started and where you are now. See what change you’ve made.

Simple.

Everything about the viva is simple but simple does NOT mean easy.

Nathan

What Challenge?

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Here’s a helpful framing: the viva is simply the next challenge on your path to a PhD.

  • It implies you’ve already overcome other challenges.
  • It suggests the one in front of you can be overcome.
  • It’s on your path so it is knowable, at least in part.

The viva isn’t the only challenge or the final challenge. To get this far you have risen to many other situations and succeeded. Take what you’ve learned, prepare for the challenge that’s coming your way and keep going.

You can do it.

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

EDQs

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Or Extremely Difficult Questions.

You could make some educated guesses at what these might be for your viva:

  • A question on a topic you struggle to talk about.
  • A question about the bit of your PhD you didn’t like.
  • Something which is all about an examiner’s work.
  • Something completely unexpected.

It might be a surprise in the moment or something you’ve been dreading but an EDQ isn’t the end of the world – or, worse, the end of your viva.

If you’re faced with an EDQ then:

  • Pause and think before you respond – which is good advice for a REQ* as well.
  • Remember you can ask for clarity. Ask your examiners to say more.
  • Remember to take your time. More than simply pausing, remember it’s not a race or a rush.
  • Explore your thesis to help you support what you’re saying.

Remember that every question is an opportunity for you to demonstrate something but you are not expected to know everything. EDQs don’t have to dominate how you engage with your viva or be on your mind as you prepare.

 

* Really Easy Question!

Nathan

Clarify & Respond

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Could you repeat that please?

Can I just check…?

Before I respond, can I confirm that you…?

At the viva you need to make sure you’re comfortable with the question you’re trying to respond to.

Clarifying isn’t evasion: you’re not trying to dodge a question but be sure.

You’re not using up time as there’s no time limit: you have as long as you need to respond as well as you can.

Clarify the questions you need to so that you can give the best responses to your examiners.

Nathan

Selecting Your Examiners

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As a candidate it’s important to remember that you don’t get to formally choose your examiners. At best you can make suggestions to your supervisors: they can follow those ideas or not depending on what they think would work best for you, your thesis and the situation.

It’s reasonable to ask your supervisor why they think that Professor A or Doctor B are a good choice if you’re not sure. If your supervisor isn’t following your suggestion then you can at least know why and work from there.

You can safely assume that any examiner you would have is experienced and has the benefit of training. Beyond that, if you have the option to make suggestions, the first step is to think about what you would really like. What matters to you when you think about a good examiner? Do have names in mind or are you thinking about a kind of person? A specialist or a generalist? Or something else?

Explore your preferences, shortlist some names and then have a conversation with your supervisors. You might not get your choice but you can be confident that whoever your examiners are they are prepared and selected for good reasons.

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