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Tag: viva process

Nathan

Scoring Points

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Your examiners aren’t making a tally of your contributions as you engage in the viva.

That response was a 5… I think we can give a bonus mark for that observation…

They don’t ask harder questions to give themselves a chance to mark you down either. They might make notes on what you say and how you say it but it’s not for points. The viva isn’t a great zero-sum discussion where only one side can “win”. The discussion is built together.

The viva is an exam but it’s not about scoring points.

Nathan

Not At The Viva

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Expect the unexpected at your viva but don’t expect:

  • Tiebreaks, lightning rounds and top tens.
  • Sudden death, all-or-nothing questions!
  • Written responses, trial by combat and surprise guests.
  • Irrelevant questions, impossible tasks and cunning riddles.

Expect an unexpected question. Expect an unexpected opinion. Expect that your examiners might have less understanding or require helpful explanation. Don’t expect them to change the rules or broader structure of the viva.

Expect the unexpected but expect that the unexpected will still be reasonable and relevant for your work.

Nathan

Second Thoughts

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They’re probably better than your first thoughts at the viva.

First thoughts might come from nerves, worry, mishearing a word, wanting to get a point across or wanting to move past a question as quickly as possible.

Second thoughts are definitely considered. They might be the same as first thoughts but they might have more nuance or be better expressed. They’ll slow the pace a little and show your thinking.

Think, then think again. Take your time to give the best responses you can at your viva.

Nathan

Finding The Rules

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The regulations for your viva shouldn’t be hidden but they might not be obvious. Ahead of your thesis submission find the regulations and take a little time to check:

  • What forms need to be handed in ahead of your thesis submission?
  • When do they need to be in and who else is involved?
  • What is the expected window of time between submission and the viva at your institution?
  • Under what circumstances might you have an independent chairperson as part of your viva?
  • If you have accessibility requirements how do you communicate those to your examiners? (who do you tell and when do they need to know?)
  • How will you be told the logistics for your viva?
  • What is the process for having a video viva?
  • What can you expect from the viva process generally?
  • How will you find out the result of the viva?
  • What deadlines are given for completing different categories of corrections?
  • What is the process for having corrections checked?
  • And what is the process for final thesis submission after corrections have been accepted?

None of these should be especially difficult to answer if you look through the regulations. One final question which might not be obvious though: who would you contact in case of emergency?

If you feel ill the day before your viva, who do you contact? If one of your examiners cancels their involvement, who do you contact?

An emergency might be unlikely but, as part of checking the regulations, figure out who you can turn to if something goes wrong in the days leading up to your viva.

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.

Nathan

Time To Shine

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The viva is your time to shine. You can show the best of your research, your PhD experience and your capability as a researcher in your field.

At the viva you have time to shine. You don’t need to rush and you don’t need to rapid-fire responses. You can pause and think and be careful in how you discuss everything with your examiners.

You have to be ready for the time you’ll shine. Getting ready means being prepared practically but also knowing that vivas take time. Two to three hours is fairly typical. What do you need to be ready to discuss your work for that long?

The viva is your time to shine. Be ready for it.

 

PS: it’s almost time for Viva Survivors Select 09 to shine! The next issue of my viva help zine is coming next Wednesday 15th April 2026. Twenty of my favourite posts from 2025, two new pages of viva help including a new viva prep game and all original artwork by me. Do look out for the release announcement next week and if you get help from the Viva Survivors blog do consider picking up the issue.

Cover for Viva Survivors Select 09, The 2025 Issue, April 2026 - by Nathan Ryder Cover shows a red game piece/pawn looking at a wall with twelve calendar pages with various tally marks.

Nathan

Simple & Easy

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These two words are not equivalent.

A question might be simple to understand but your response won’t be easy to unpack.

You might have a simple explanation for some of your research results but the work to get to that realisation will have been anything but easy.

And your examiners might ask some simple questions to start your viva – “Can you summarise X?” or “Why did you explore this area?” – but know that your thoughtful response will be anything but easy.

The challenge of the viva is relatively simple to explain. The work you’ll do at the viva will not be easy.

 

PS: Looking for more viva help? Then check out tomorrow’s live Viva Survivor webinar where I’ll share viva help for three hours! You’ll get four-week access to a recording of the session and follow-up materials too. There’s more information at the link and registration closes this afternoon. Thanks for reading!

Nathan

On Track

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What might it take to convince you that you’re on track to succeed at your PhD?

If you have questions about viva regulations and the process then information is available (from many sources) to satisfy your questions. If you need to finish your thesis or research then time, work and support will help remove those obstacles. Or if you’re done with all of that but need to get ready then there’s a wealth of ideas on good viva prep.

But if you have all of this and you need confidence – something to help you feel certain – then perhaps the only place to find that help is from yourself.

You need to look back, reflect, consider and recognise how you’ve got as far as you have. You did all of that so you can do the work needed at your viva.

You are undoubtedly on track to succeed.

 

PS: I’ll share a lot more about the viva process and confidence at my live 3-hour Viva Survivor webinar this Wednesday 25th March 2026! You’ll get four-week access to a recording of the session and follow-up materials too. Registration closes tomorrow afternoon and there’s more information at the link. Please get in touch if you have any questions or want to know more. Thanks for reading!

Nathan

Who Knows?

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If you and your examiners all know about something then you can talk with the same reference points.

If you know something and your examiners don’t then you might have to explain something to them so that you can have a fruitful discussion.

If your examiners know something and you don’t then you will benefit from being ready to ask questions so that you know more and can respond to their questions.

Neither you nor your examiners can know everything! There might be topics or questions where no-one knows the truth and none of you have given much thought to it previously. That doesn’t mean you can’t take the opportunity of the viva to use what you do know to consider and discuss.

Whatever you or your examiners know or don’t know, because the viva is a conversation you have space to think, ask questions, offer ideas and make the most of the opportunity.

 

Inspired by thinking about the Johari Window model!

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