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5 tips for passing your PhD viva

Every Doctoral researcher is expected to defend their thesis through an oral test known as a viva voce - so discover how to prepare for your PhD viva and ensure you make a good impression on the examiners

1. Understand what's expected of you

The PhD viva exam has traditionally always taken place in person, with the interview style discussion overseen by at least two (internal and external) examiners. Afterwards, you would be provided with a joint written report detailing any corrections that need to be made.

However, during the pandemic, the online PhD viva become more commonplace with this exam more likely to take place via Microsoft Teams, Skype or Zoom. Even now, a number of years later, many universities still allow for the viva to take place online, or a hybrid of online and in-person assessment.

The virtual experience still follows much the same format, but you'll be briefed in advance about the arrangements and any technical aspects to bear in mind. You can prepare for an online PhD viva by reading our video interview tips .

The chair of the viva is usually the internal examiner, although it can be an independent person. If you and the examiners agree, your PhD supervisor can also be present.

The examiners' main objective is to ascertain that you've written your own thesis, so if you have and are ready to talk through how you completed it, there's no need to panic. You may even enjoy the viva voce test.

In addition to assessing your thesis, the examiners are also there to assist you in deciding how and where this research might be published.

There are various results between a 'pass' and 'fail' but it's very rare to slip up at this point of a PhD. Most Doctorate awards will be made upon the condition that a number of minor corrections are made, with re-submission requests far less common.

While the pass rate is high, the viva exam itself can still be intellectually demanding. This is because you'll be debating issues that are conceptually complex, so preparation is crucial to your success.

At the end of it, whatever the outcome, be prepared to take on board any advice, as the examiners are there to help you improve your argument or the presentation of your thesis.

2. Know your thesis inside out

While this isn't a memory test - as you're fine bringing notes and a copy of your thesis with you - it's still important to gain a good understanding of what you've written and be knowledgeable about your field of study.

You'll need to think carefully about where this original piece of work would be placed in the context of the wider body of research carried out in this field. Questions will be asked about this, as well as whether the project could possibly be developed further through any future research.

As you'll be explaining parts of the document to the examiners (who'll also have a digital or physical copy), make sure the pagination is the same in your version as the one they're looking at to avoid any issues regarding everybody being on the same page.

If you get stuck at any point during the viva exam, you can use looking at the thesis as an excuse to re-focus and gather your thoughts.

3. Anticipate the PhD viva questions

The examiners will have prepared a series of questions for you to answer at the viva voce, but this is nothing to get too concerned about. The questions will all be based on your thesis - what it's about, what you did and what you found out - and why this matters, in relation to your field of study.

So when getting ready for the viva, consider the types of questions you're likely to be asked, including:

What original contribution has your thesis made to this field of study?
Explain the main research questions you were hoping to address.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of your thesis?
If you had to start the thesis again, what would you do differently?
If funding was no object, describe how you'd follow on from this project.
What are your plans for the future?

It can be helpful to practise your answers beforehand, ideally vocalising them by arranging a mock mini viva - although, as you aren't restricted in terms of referring to notes in the exam, you can leave room for spontaneity, and you don't need to learn it all off by heart.

If your viva is being held online, you can ensure any technical issues are identified before the day by having a run through with your supervisor or a friend.

While it may sound simple, stick to answering the questions posed. It's really easy to go off on a tangent and this can open up other lines of enquiry from the examiners - possibly in areas you hadn't expected to be quizzed about.

On the other hand, it's completely fine to bring personality to your reasoning and use stories as a means of describing the learning process you've gone through and the techniques mastered over the last three or four years that have brought you to this point.

4. Learn about your examiners' own work

The senior and well-respected academics who'll be reading your thesis will have their own ideas on conducting PhD standard research. Therefore, it's worth taking a look online at their academic and LinkedIn profiles to discover if there's any correlation with the research they've had published and your own work.

From this, you should be able to gain a better idea of their motivations, their possible views on your thesis and the kinds of questions they might wish to discuss after having read through it.

You should research up-to-date theories, read any recent papers on the subject and speak to others who've recently had their own viva exam. Think about how your work differentiates from the research carried out by others in your chosen field.

Prepare to provide any supporting evidence asked of you by the examiners - for example, they may request to see experimental data you mention once the exam is over.

It's also necessary to check the policies and practices in place at your university and be sure of what the roles of the examiners are and how the viva panel will be structured. In many cases, Doctoral students can choose the examiners conducting the PhD viva.

5. Plan towards the viva exam

From the moment you know the date of your viva voce, work backwards and plan the steps you'll need to take before the day itself. Allow enough time to assess and review your work so that as the day approaches, you can focus on the practicalities.

This encompasses everything from making sure you relax, eat and sleep well the day before to arranging transport so you get to the viva on time.

An online PhD viva will present its own challenges, so ensure your working space is presentable and you still make an effort in terms of what you'll be wearing.

It's always advisable to adhere to interview etiquette and go with something that's both smart and comfortable. By looking the part, this should get you in the right frame of mind to communicate in a professional manner.

In the build-up, avoid any situations that might make you feel stressed and instead try to adopt a positive attitude, one that results in a genuine eagerness to engage in a debate about the work you've been toiling over.

If you're travelling to the exam, be sure to check that you have everything you need, including the thesis, plus any notes or other materials that will help support your claims.

The Doctoral viva can last between one and four hours - usually two - so it's necessary to pace yourself to get off to the best possible start.

Remember, the examiners aren't trying to trip you up - they want you to pass and are primarily there to hear you talk about your project. So, after the polite introductions, they'll typically start with an icebreaker to put you at ease and help calm the nerves.

It's meant to be an open and honest conversation about your work, so feel free to politely disagree with the examiners, especially on areas you feel strongly about. Don't forget to use examples from your thesis to back up what you're saying, remembering to be clear and concise.

If you know your way around your thesis and can explain your thinking and way of working, this test shouldn't be a problem. And if you don't know the answer to a specific question - admit it, as it's better to concede your limitations in an area than ramble on and hope they don't notice you're struggling to come up with an explanation.

Remember that no research is perfect, so it's important to appreciate this during the discussion - but don't be too overcritical about your work either, as that's not your job.

Finally, as the PhD viva can quickly move from a series of friendly questions to those that are more in-depth, take some time to think before answering. Don't worry about any periods of silence from the examiners, as this certainly isn't an indication that you're doing badly.

Find out more

Read about 5 challenges faced by PhD students .
Explore possible careers at your PhD, what next?
Consider getting an academic job .

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14 top tips to help you prepare for the PhD viva

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The viva examination can be an exciting but nerve-wracking experience – the culmination of years of hard work and research. Prior planning for the event will help ease the nerves and boost your confidence.

The following ideas are taken from publications, my own experience and discussions with other PhD students and should help you prepare for a more enjoyable viva. You don’t need to do all of these. Remember, if you’re at the stage where you’re preparing for your viva, you’ve already done 99% of the work!

1) Annotate your thesis I used highlighters and different pens as well as post-its indicating emphasis, important literature, the contribution of the study, typos, useful extracts, and sections.

2) Find out about the viva process Who will be there? What are their roles? Would you like your supervisors to attend? Take part in the Cardiff University Doctoral Academy viva course to understand what to expect.

3) Do some (more) research Look at the examination procedures, university guidance, and criteria. To what extent does your thesis meet the criteria?

4) Get reading I read the book How to Survive Your Viva: Defending a Thesis in an Oral Examination by Rowena Murray; it is filled with helpful information about viva preparation.

5) Think ahead Plan certain topics in advance that you can refer to during the viva, such as:

the key authors/main studies in the field
the gap in research and your original contribution
a short summary of the thesis
a more extended summary of the thesis
summaries of each chapter
questions for the examiner
the highlights of your thesis

6) Practise and rehearse What are the most commonly asked questions in your field? Plan and practise your answers in advance. Elaborate; plan how you can extend the answers. Think about how to say what you did and why you did it. I found listening back to recordings of myself answering some trickier questions really effective.

7) Buy yourself time Plan what you will say if you do not know the answer to a question. The examiners may ask you things that you have not thought about. You are allowed to ask for clarification, or you can come back to the question later.

8) Present at a conference This will help you to practise articulating your work to others, get used to answering questions about your research and gain confidence. You know your research better than anyone; be ready to defend it.

9) Mock it up Arrange a mock viva with your supervisors or ask a colleague to ask you questions. Practise giving concise and confident answers in an examination situation.

10) Look at the examiners’ work You are probably already familiar with what they have done; they may ask about things they are interested in and have published about.

11) Listen to podcasts The PhD Life Raft podcast has excellent episodes, such as Preparing for Your Viva , and What Does a PhD Examiner Look for in a Thesis? . Some Viva Survivor podcast episodes could also be beneficial.

12) Visualise and mentally prepare Imagine yourself in the viva situation, successfully discussing your research. Think about all the achievements, the efforts you have put in, successes, and positive feedback throughout your PhD. Everyone gets nervous. Can you rest, exercise, or do something enjoyable in the days leading up to the viva?

13) Prep your ‘on the day’ details What will you wear? Pack paper and pens for note taking and the annotated thesis. What else are you going to take with you? The viva can last up to a few hours; will you need water, food, or your laptop?

14) Finally, try to enjoy the big day! The viva is a unique opportunity to discuss your work with experts in the field. They have spent time reading your thesis; now is your opportunity to demonstrate your contribution, your knowledge of the field, the work you have put in, your learning, and your research skills.

Get in touch with Kaisa on Twitter/X and LinkedIn.

You can also hear more about her PhD journey on the PhD Life Raft Podcast .

Want more tips?

The Doctoral Academy is running the following online sessions on the Viva:

Examination and the Viva (Humanities and Social Sciences) – 29 November
The Viva – 11 December

Book your place now via the Learner Portal .

Have you signed up to Dr App yet?

On this resource you’ll find lots of great videos including one on preparing for the viva. To sign up, complete our Dr.App registration form .

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What is the PhD Viva?

Written by Mark Bennett

The viva voce is the final assessment for a PhD. It is an oral examination where the student defends their research to two academic examiners. This involves answering questions about your work, typically related to the literature, methodology, your findings and the significance of your conclusions. In some countries (like the USA ) the viva is actually referred to as a 'PhD defence', because the candidate defends their thesis from these questions.

This guide explains exactly how the viva works, what to expect on the day, how to prepare and what happens afterwards.

An overview of the PhD viva

The PhD viva can seem like an intimidating process, but it actually serves a very simple purpose: proving that your research is original, that you understand its contribution to knowledge and – most importantly – that your work is your own. It's also very rare for students to fail.

Who attends a viva?

A PhD viva usually involves two examiners: one internal examiner (from your university) and one external examiner (from another university). Both should be familiar with your field and the external examiner in particular should be a recognised expert in your specific research area.

The internal examiner usually acts as the chairperson for the exam, making sure it follows your university's procedures.

Your supervisor doesn't normally attend the viva itself, but they will help you prepare for it and should be around to provide support on the day.

How long does a PhD viva take?

There is no set length for a viva voce exam, but most take between one and three hours .

A longer viva doesn't necessarily indicate any problems with your thesis: it may simply be that the examiners are enjoying the discussion. Equally, a shorter viva may just mean that your examiners are satisfied with the thesis and your responses to their questions.

Why is the viva necessary?

The most basic function of the viva is to prove that your work is original (i.e. not plagiarised). This is especially important because the criteria for a doctorate is to offer a significant new contribution to knowledge.

By discussing your work with you directly and confirming that you fully understand your thesis, examiners can be confident that this is your own research.

Do all PhD students have to have a viva?

Almost always. One exception is for PhDs by publication (as the work in these will already have been through academic peer review). Some countries such as Australia and New Zealand also take a slightly different approach as their location makes it harder to invite external examiners for a face-to-face defence.

The viva format

Universities set their own viva voce processes, but most will follow a fairly similar format.

Before the exam

Many supervisors let you choose an external examiner . They need to have expertise in the topics you have researched, but not someone you have collaborated closely with during your PhD or who you have a strong personal friendship with (as these might create a conflict of interest).

Your supervisor will normally discuss possible options and then submit the invitation on your behalf. This usually happens just before you complete your PhD.

The next step is to submit your thesis . Nowadays most universities only ask for a digital submission which is sent out to your examiners for you.

The gap between submission and viva is usually one to three months. This allows time for both examiners to thoroughly read and consider your thesis and for you to prepare.

Your supervisor/s should offer to conduct a mock viva with you shortly before the real exam. They'll ask the sort of questions an examiner might have about your thesis so that you can practice answering and discussing them.

Your supervisor will normally meet with you before the viva begins to help you relax and ease any last minute nerves.

The exam room will be somewhere on your university campus that has been booked for the occasion. It will be laid out very similarly to a job interview, with space for you and the examiners to sit with your notes. Drinking water is also normally provided.

Most vivas are recorded and will begin with the internal examiner explaining the rules and regulations as a formality. Either they or the external will then begin asking questions about your thesis.

The examiners will usually help you relax and settle in to the discussion by asking something quite general, such as what interested you in this PhD project or what the most enjoyable part of the research was. Subsequent questions will be more specific, often referring the arguments made at particular points in your thesis.

The examiners will end the viva once they have completed their questions and feel able to come to a judgement. You will then be asked to leave the room whilst they discuss your performance and decide on a result to recommend. This normally takes around fifteen minutes or so.

After the viva

The next steps depend on your viva result. The examiners will invite you back in to explain their recommendation and provide general feedback on your work. This may include advice on whether or not you should seek to publish any of your PhD thesis and what sort of edits or further work might be required to prepare it for that.

Hopefully you'll then be able to celebrate with your supervisor, but they should be on hand to offer their to support and advise you whatever the outcome.

The majority of students have some corrections (usually minor) to make before resubmitting a final version of the thesis to be checked by the internal examiner. Once the final copy of your thesis is approved, you will be awarded your PhD! It's time to look forward to using your new title (and wearing some exceptionally elaborate robes at your graduation).

Viva preperation tips

It may feel like you're at the end of a long PhD journey by the time the viva comes around (and you are) but the oral exam is an important part of your doctorate and you should prepare accordingly.

Whatever else you do or don't do, listen to the advice of your supervisors. They'll have experience of all sides of the process, from sitting their own viva voce to preparing previous students for theirs. Chances are they've also served as internal or external examiners too and will know exactly what sort of questions they'd ask about a thesis like yours.

Here are seven tips for effective viva preparation.

#1 Take a (short) break first

Chances are you've been working very hard on your PhD recently, getting it written up, responding to feedback from your supervisor, making edits, sorting the bibliography (which you still left to the last minute, right) and getting the whole thing printed in time for the final deadline.

Whatever happens next, you've just successfully submitted a PhD thesis and you deserve a break. So take one.

A week or two away from your PhD will be ideal (no, don't take a copy of your dissertation with you). You'll get some mental rest and be in a better place to take a fresh look at your thesis and think clearly about it.

There's no need to feel guilty: the time between submission and viva is partly intended to make this possible.

#2 Read through your thesis

You may feel pretty familiar with your thesis by now but, actually, you aren't. You're familiar with a series of chapters that may well have developed separately over several years. It was probably only recently that you wrote them up in their final form, added an introduction and conclusion and turned the whole thing into a dissertation setting out your entire PhD thesis.

You need to know that thesis inside out and be completely familiar with the structure of the dissertation that contains and communicates it: which page a key concept or topic appears on for the first time, where key stages of your argument occur, where you cite or critique particular scholarship, and so on.

At the very least, this means reading your full thesis through at least once. Really though, you should be re-reading each chapter a couple of times and. . .

#3 Annotate key points

The PhD viva isn't a closed-book exam and you're expected to take a copy of your thesis with you. It's perfectly fine to consult it in response to questions, so make that process easy by annotating the most important stages of your argument.

There are lots of ways to do this, but, really, there's no substitute for sticking markers through your dissertation and scribbling in the margins.

If the copy of the thesis you take into the exam room looks like it's survived an explosion in a post-it note factory and then spent several years being read by rough-fingered undergraduate students in the library, well, you're on the right track.

#4 Note down potential questions (and answers)

You'll never be able to guess all of the questions that will come up at your viva, but you should be able to anticipate a few of them. Sketching out some bullet-point answers in advance will help you think critically about your thesis and boost your confidence going into the exam.

Spend extra time on any questions you're concerned about. If there's a point where your argument gets a bit strained or where you think your conclusions might be easy to challenge, have a think about how you'd defend them. Remember that your thesis doesn't have to be perfect, but you do need to be able to make a case for it – so practice doing that.

Incidentally, no one has been able to completely test the hypothesis that preparing for a viva question ensures it doesn't actually come up, but, well, the anecdotal evidence is strong. Prepare anyway.

#5 (Re)familiarise yourself with your examiners' work

The viva is about your thesis, but your examiners will have been selected due to the relevance of their own research and their perspectives will be at least partly informed by it.

It makes sense to consider how their work might inform their attitudes towards yours (this should also help you antitipate some questions, as above).

#6 Definitely take up the offer of a mock viva

Your supervisor/s should offer to arrange a mock viva with you shortly before the actual exam (once you've had time to prepare). This is a really helpful process.

The mock viva won't be anything like as long as the real thing and it won't cover every question your examiners will ask (or necessarily predict any of them). But it doesn't need to.

The most valuable feature of a mock viva is to get feedback on how you answer questions. Your supervisors will be able to spot whether you're coming across as too hesitant or too confident, or whether your answers are sufficiently clear.

#7 Try to enjoy it

Chances are you'll be sick of hearing this advice by the time your exam comes around, but it's true. A PhD viva voce really can be fun.

This is your chance to sit down with two experts in your academic field who have read and carefully considered your thesis and whose attention, for the duration of the exam, is entirely on your research. That's a privilege and it's one you've earned by getting to this stage.

Prepare effectively and give the viva voce the respect it deserves. But, once you get into that exam room, be confident, own your ideas and enjoy the chance to let them take centre stage in a serious academic discussion.

Viva results

The vast majority of PhD students pass their viva. By the time you're ready to submit your PhD you will be an expert in your subject area, more than capable of discussing and debating it. You'll also have done so many times before: at conferences, in conversations with your supervisor, and in your own writing.

Your supervisor will also ensure your thesis is ready for examination before they recommend you proceed to this stage. The only exceptions to this will be if you submit against the advice of your supervisor (never a good idea) or if you've over-run the time period for your PhD and have to hand in a thesis that isn't ready (you're unlikely to get to this point unless your PhD has been going badly for some time).

PhD viva outcomes

It's rare to fail a viva, but it's also rare to pass outright. Instead, most students are asked to make some corrections to their thesis.

Here are the possible outcomes of a PhD viva voce:

Pass with no corrections – (uncommon) – Your viva has revealed no significant issues with your thesis and the dissertation itself is error-free. Congratulations, you are eligible to receive your PhD now!
Pass with minor corrections – (very common) – Your thesis is essentially sound, but there are some minor issues with your dissertation (such as typographical errors, or missing references). You will normally have three months to submit a corrected thesis.
Pass with major corrections – (fairly uncommon) – There are some parts of your argument that need to be clarified, expanded or otherwise rewritten. You will normally have six months to submit a revised thesis, but won't need a second viva.
Revise and resubmit – (fairly rare) – Your thesis is potentially good enough for a PhD, but it needs some significant work, usually including some substantial additional research. You will have around a year to re-submit an improved and updated version of your dissertation for a second viva voce exam.
Be recommended for MPhil – (rare) – Your thesis isn't good enough for a PhD, but it is sufficient for an MPhil (a research Masters that doesn't require a substantial original contribution to knowledge). You may receive the MPhil outright, or after some edits and corrections.
Fail – (exceptionally rare) – Your thesis does not meet the required standard for a PhD (perhaps due to fundamental flaws in your data and analysis, or due to evidence of plagiarism) and it cannot be converted into an MPhil. You have failed your doctorate and cannot resubmit your thesis.

Those last couple of results may appear scary but, in practice, it's only a few % of candidates each year who don't pass with corrections. The only way a PhD is likely to fail outright is if you have run down the clock on your registration period, submitted a poorly written thesis based on insufficient data and probably done so against the advice of your supervisor/s. The entire PhD process is designed to prevent this happening.

So relax. The likelihood is that your PhD will pass with minor corrections (or better) and that your next challenge will be deciding what to use your new 'Dr' title on first.

Can you appeal a viva result?

If you think your viva outcome was incorrect or unfair, then you may be able to appeal it with your university. The first thing to do is check their guidelines and appeal process. Your students' union may also be able to support and advise you.

Note that you can't normally appeal on academic grounds . Your examiners' judgement is generally final. It is also difficult to appeal a PhD result if you submitted without the support of your supervisor/s or have otherwise ignored their advice at other points in your project.

You may have grounds for appeal if you can demonstrate that you have been poorly advised or supervised (you will need evidence of this and of the specific impact it has had) or if there was an irregularity in the conduct of your viva (such as interruptions, an unsuitable venue, or a lack of consideration for relevant disabilities or health conditions that may have impacted your performance).

Common viva questions

The questions your examiners ask will obviously be very specific to your thesis and anticipating them is a big part of your specific viva preparation . There are a few things that are likely to crop up more often than not, though.

Here are some example viva questions , along with some tips for answering them well.

"Why did you choose this PhD project?" / "What interested you most about this topic?"

This is a classic icebreaker: it's an invitation to speak generally and positively about your work. As well as being a fairly easy question to answer (after all, there must be at least something you enjoyed about your PhD) this should also help you channel your passion and enthusiasm for your research as the viva gets going.

"What was the most challenging part of the project?"

This probably won't be the first question you're asked, but it might also come up early in the viva as the examiners ease you into talking about your project. It doesn't mean that they think your PhD is flawed. All research involves overcoming obstacles. This is an invitation to talk about how you did that and reflect on the practicalities of your project.

"What is the original contribution to knowledge made by this thesis?"

This question is highly likely to come up at some point in the viva and it's one you absolutely must have a clear answer for. You should be able to explain in one or two sentences what your contribution is, how it's original and why it matters.

Some examiners might not be so explicit or direct in asking this, so be on the lookout for questions like "why is this PhD important?", "why was this project worth completing?", "what were your main findings?" or "why does this research matter?". If you hear any of those, it's time to deploy the original contribution answer.

"Why did you include / exclude X?"

All doctoral projects need to be selective about what they can and can't include, and successful PhD students need to set boundaries for their research. At some point your examiners will probably want to see the logic behind yours.

Be confident and own your decisions. If there was a particular topic or approach you didn't include, then give your reasons for that.

Remember that there are lots of reasons why something might not make the cut for a PhD and the examiners aren't trying to catch you out. They don't even need to agree 100% with your decisions, but they do need to hear that you had credible reasons for making them.

It may be that there wasn't space to cover everything (in which case you should justify prioritising the material you did include). Or perhaps you felt that there was already sufficient scholarship related to a particular source or concept and your aim was to take the field in a different direction (this is a very good answer, if you can make it convincingly).

"If you were to repeat this project, what would you do differently?"

This question (or one like it) may come towards the end of the viva as you reflect on the project as a whole.

Again, the aim isn't to try and undermine your thesis, but rather to see whether you can constructively critique your own work and approaches. Or, to put it another way, have you learned anything from the experience of doing a PhD? You should have. After all, a doctorate is partly about learning to become an effective researcher and mistakes are a great thing to learn from.

In any case, this shouldn't be too hard to answer. There are likely to be all sorts of things you would do differently in future: from adopting different approaches or directions sooner, to heading off blind alleys or methodological mistakes.

"What do you think the next steps might be for this research?"

Relax, your examiners aren't expecting you to dive straight into another PhD. But they may want to hear where you would take this research next, or what you think other scholars could do to build on your findings. After all, part of the value in a new contribution to your field should lie in what it makes possible, as well as what it is .

It's best to be modest and realistic here, rather than making sweeping claims for how your findings will allow other researchers to reinvent the wheel (unless you have actually come up with a new technique for designing wheels, in which case, go ahead).

"Do you have any questions or comments for us?"

Your examiners will probably end the viva by asking if you'd like to ask them any questions, or say anything else about your thesis. This might seem a bit odd, but it's actually a helpful way for you to revisit or clarify any of your earlier answers.

For example, you might like to acknowledge a specific critique and reiterate your reasons for believing the thesis to be valid in spite of it. Or you might want to confirm that the examiners understood what you meant at a particular point in the previous discussion.

It's not a good idea to try and rehash large chunks of the viva here, but it's fine to pick out one or two things and be assertive. This demonstrates your confidence and commitment.

Equally, you can take the opportunity to ask the examiner's opinions on areas of the thesis that haven't come up, if you wish. This is fine, provided you're confident in those sections and comfortable discussing them.

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Five top tips to pass your PhD viva

Research assistant Kirsty Devaney , who successfully completed her doctorate , provides five invaluable pieces of advice on passing the PhD viva.

First thing's first...what is the PhD viva?

Officially called the viva voce , meaning ‘living voice’ in Latin, the viva is an oral examination that sees a PhD student defend their thesis and showcase their knowledge to a panel of academic experts.

The viva takes place after you have completed your thesis and sees these experts ask you various questions to ensure you understand your work and have become an expert in your field.

Now, over to Kirsty…

1). Make your own learning space

"It's important on the lead up to the viva voce to have a space that's designated for your preparations. This could be at your university, in a coffee shop or at home.

"For instance, I took over my dining room table for a good two months. I had all of my resources there - my books, my thesis and lots of post-it notes."

2). Take some time away from your thesis

"I had a three-month wait in between submitting my thesis and sitting my viva, but I knew I couldn’t spend that time prepping as it would be far too intense. I took a full month off from revising and returned with a clear idea of what I needed to do."

3). Make a plan of action

"A month before my viva, I made a list of things I wanted to achieve before the day.

"One was to read through my thesis in full three times. I also committed to tabbing all of the important chapters, diagrams and data in my thesis, so I could refer to them quickly if needed.

"I then compiled a series of questions which I thought might come up in the viva and put them all into a pot. Once I’d got enough questions, I’d ask my husband to pull out one of the pieces of paper at random and ask me the question.

"Some days I would also catch up on any recent literature I may have missed that could be relevant.

"All of this proved incredibly useful for when my viva arrived."

4). Know your examiners

"When you’re close to completing your doctorate, you might have a conversation with your supervisors about the people in the field who might be external examiners.

"Once you know who they are going to be, it’s really important to get to know their research, what their research interests are and what methodologies they use."

5). Become the expert

"BCU does a mock viva, which I found incredibly helpful as it meant I could work on any difficulties I faced.

"One issue that arose from my mock was that I had to become a lot more confident and assertive about my research and my findings.

"When you walk into the room to do your viva, you are making the leap from being a student to having the certainty of an expert."

How scary was the PhD viva?

Kirsty, who also runs the successful Young Composers Project , says it’s important not to be too fearful of the examiners.

"They are there to challenge you, but they’re not trying to be mean for the sake of it,” she explains. “They want to make sure you know your stuff and haven’t just plagiarised the material.

"However, it’s important to breathe and take your time – they’re not expecting rapid-fire responses."

Kirsty credits the support of the School of Education and Social Work for getting her through her PhD.

"They really got it right,” she says. "They have been incredibly supportive. I never felt alone."

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What is a viva? PhD viva, viva voce, viva process and more

If you are a PhD candidate and preparing to take the biggest step in your academic journey, you might be overwhelmed by the thought of your impending viva voce or the oral defense of your thesis.

Worry not, we are here to demystify the process and provide you with actionable tips to successfully navigate this crucial academic milestone.

Here, we will guide you through the viva process, shed light on the perspective of your examiners, and help you understand how to prepare for this pivotal examination.

Whether you’re just beginning to wrap your head around what a viva entails or are already deep in the trenches of preparation, this blog is designed to offer you comprehensive, step-by-step guidance.

By understanding the process, expectations, and preparing effectively, you can walk into your viva with confidence, ready to defend your thesis and demonstrate your deep understanding of your research area.

What is a PhD viva or viva voce?

A PhD viva or viva voce is an oral examination where you defend your thesis in front of internal examiner(s) from your institution and/or external examiner(s) from another institution specializing in your subject area.

There may be up to 5 people on your viva panel.

They are testing your knowledge and thought processed to be admitted into the degree.

Typically lasting for an hour and a half to two hours, the viva is a conversation between experts, giving you the chance to elaborate and clarify your research.

Preparation for the viva can involve ongoing conversations, with supervisors and focused development after thesis submission.

As the viva voce derives from the Latin for ‘living voice,’ let your passion for your research come alive in your defense.

As nerve-wracking as it might be, remember to relax and use this opportunity to share your contribution to your field.

Supervisors will (or at least should) conduct mock vivas to help you prepare for questions and build confidence. Ask for a mock viva if one is not offered by your supervisor.

During the viva, your supervisor may be present as a silent observer, ensuring examination conduct.

Outcomes of a viva range from:

passing without corrections,
passing with minor or major corrections,
or not passing at all.

Examiners won’t necessarily spot all mistakes, but they read your work thoroughly, engage in a comprehensive discussion, and submit independent reports before the viva.

Understand what’s expected of you in your viva (Examiner point of view)

From an examiner’s point of view, in your viva, you are expected to confidently explain and defend your thesis.

You should be well-prepared, recognizing that examiners will carefully read your work and may identify minor mistakes.

Keep in mind that examiners may not know your thesis as well as you, so be prepared to clarify and elaborate on your research.

They may ask some really simple and basic questions of you – particularly early on in your thesis defense.

It is essential to demonstrate your understanding of the topic and address any questions posed by the examiners.

You may have the option to include your supervisor or other supportive figures from your institution during the viva for moral support and to witness the examination’s conduct.

Understand that examiners typically work independently and exchange reports just before the viva, so be ready to engage in a comprehensive discussion about your work.

Focus on showcasing your:

research abilities, and
significance of your thesis

during the viva.

How to prepare for your viva exam

To prepare for a PhD viva, follow these actionable steps:

1. Familiarize yourself with your examiner’s and supervisor’s work (4-5 days): Know their research interests, potential biases, and recent publications, and consider how they might relate to your thesis.

2. Understand your thesis deeply (5-6 days): Be able to explain your research question/hypothesis, aims, theoretical framework, methods, and key results concisely. Review all the papers you discussed or mentioned in your thesis, noting their relevance to your work. Address any weaknesses in your analysis, and justify your study’s merit to earn a PhD.

3. Practice summarizing your thesis: Prepare a 200-word summary of each chapter and a 2-minute explanation of your whole thesis. Be ready to clarify your work in one or two sentences.

4. Anticipate general questions : Examples include summarizing your thesis, stating your research question or hypothesis, and discussing your main results. Prepare answers for potential questions from both a general and discipline-specific context.

5. Conduct mock vivas with your supervisor: Simulate the viva experience to get comfortable with the format, build confidence, and receive feedback on your performance.

6. Review general questions and answers (last 1-2 days): Brush up on your prepared responses and make any necessary final adjustments.

Remember, most PhD students pass their viva, so focus on preparing and confidently discussing your research.

Things to keep in mind during your viva – top tips

Here are the top tips to keep in mind during your viva:

1. Ask for clarifications if a question is unclear. Be polite and ensure you understand the question before attempting to answer it. 2. Don’t interrupt the examiner while they are asking a question. Give them time to finish, as it shows respect and allows you to fully comprehend the inquiry.

3. Be honest if you don’t know the answer to a question. Prepare a polite response for unexpected questions you cannot answer.

4. Maintain confidence without arrogance. Display a level of nervousness that reflects your dedication to the process, but avoid overconfidence or disrespect.

5. Keep your answers concise and structured. Use a clear format when providing your response, such as breaking it down into key points.

6. Speak at a moderate pace. Avoid talking too fast or too slow, as it can be distracting for the listeners. Practice controlling your speech rate during your preparations.

7. Give yourself plenty of time before the defense to prepare and relax. You should be in the right state of mind for your viva.

8. Be familiar with the protocols, format, and panel of your viva. Attend other thesis defenses, read your institution’s guidelines, and research the background of the examiners on your panel.

By following these tips, you can enter your viva well-prepared and have a successful defense. Enjoy the experience and demonstrate the hard work you have put into your research.

Wrapping up – thesis viva

Concluding our comprehensive guide on the viva process for PhD students, the final thought we leave you with is this: your PhD viva, or viva voce, is an opportunity to defend your research, a unique chance to demonstrate your motivation, strengths, and even your limitations as a researcher.

It’s important to understand the viva definition in its entirety: a viva voce is an oral test undertaken in front of a panel of examiners.

This panel usually includes one internal examiner from your institution and one external examiner from another. It may also include other experts depending on policies and practices.

Preparation is key when you get to the viva stage.

To that end, arranging a mock viva with your supervisor could help you anticipate the types of questions you’ll be asked. This practice could enable you to put your best foot forward during the real deal.

Don’t be surprised if the viva examination lasts anywhere between one and four hours.

You may be asked to elaborate on your PhD thesis, defend your field of study’s claims, discuss its strengths and weaknesses, and suggest future research opportunities. Your response to the assessment task should be in-depth and thoughtful.

Under the current COVID-19 conditions, many students are having their viva over Zoom or Skype.

In these cases, it’s important to arrange your setting to minimise distractions. Feel free to ask for clarification if the audio cuts out or you miss a question.

In preparation for your viva, review the academic profiles of your panel members, anticipate questions they might ask, and keep a copy of your thesis at hand.

Also, remember that while it’s important to provide an in-depth response, a concise explanation is ideal to avoid going on a tangent. If you’re asked about any weaknesses or limitations in your work, be honest and thoughtful in your response, highlighting your problem-solving skills as a researcher.

You’ve worked hard to reach this stage; now it’s your chance to shine! Best of luck!

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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Defending your doctoral thesis: the PhD viva

Format for defending a doctoral thesis.

Every institution will have specific regulations for the thesis defence. In some countries or institutions, the convention is for thesis defences to be public events where you will give a lecture explaining your research, followed by a discussion with a panel of examiners (opponents). Both your examiners and the audience are able to ask questions.

In other countries, including the UK, the oral examination is usually conducted behind closed doors by at least two examiners, usually with at least one being from another institution (external examiner) and an expert in your topic of research. In the UK the supervisor does not participate in the viva, but may be allowed to observe. Sometimes someone from your own institution is appointed as an independent chair. Although it is now becoming more common for the candidate to have an opportunity to give a public lecture in UK institutions, this does not form part of the examination and may or may not be attended by the examiners.

Viva preparation

Take the preparation for your viva seriously and devote a substantial amount of time to it. The viva preparation checklist may be useful to help you prepare.

Your institution may offer courses on viva preparation and there may be opportunities to organise a practice viva. Take advantage of these opportunities: they can be extremely valuable experiences.

Things you may wish to take with you

your thesis – mildly annotated if you wish
a list of questions that you might be asked and your planned responses
any questions that you want to ask your examiners
additional notes which you have made during your revision
list of minor corrections that you have come across during your revision.

During the viva

Your study will have strengths and weaknesses: it is essential that you are prepared to discuss both. You could think of any weaknesses as an opportunity to demonstrate your skill at critical appraisal. Examiners will seek to find and discuss weaknesses in all theses. Do not interpret criticism as indication of a possible negative outcome.

Examiners have different personalities, styles and levels of experience. Sometimes a candidate may feel that a challenge is made in a confrontational way. Experienced, effective examiners will not be inappropriately confrontational, but some will. Do not take offence. A relaxed, thoughtful, and non-confrontational response from you will help re-balance the discussion. Having an independent chair can help maintain a constructive environment.

Useful tips for during your viva:

Ask for clarification of ambiguous questions or ask for the question to be repeated if necessary
Take time to think before answering
Be prepared to ask questions and enter into a dialogue with your examiners
Be prepared to discuss your research in context of other work done in your field
Be ready to admit if you don't know the answer to a question
Be prepared to express opinions of your own

You are not expected to have perfect recall of your thesis and everything that you have read and done. If you get flustered, or need to refer to notes your examiners will understand. They have been in your situation themselves!

After your viva

There are several possible outcomes of a thesis defence. Most commonly, your examiners will recommend to your institution that you are awarded your degree subject to minor corrections, although in some instances they might ask for more substantial work.

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Research toolkit

How to prepare for PhD viva? Get advice from researchers around the world!

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February 16, 2021
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Want to know how to prepare for PhD viva? We’ve collected advice and tips from successful researchers from around the world! Succeed in your PhD viva!

Each PhD is a distinctive journey in the fascinating world of yet-to-be-discovered knowledge. And as most of the journeys we take in our lives, it has a very specific destination – the PhD viva exam!

I’ve discussed what PhD viva is, what are the requirements and what you should expect in my last article – make sure you read it if you haven’t done so yet!

The key to a success in a PhD viva is thorough preparation. We cannot just “wing it”!

The viva exam not only aims to verify whether you’ve done your research yourself, and I bet this isn’t the issue, and whether it is novel. It also aims to test whether you understand the work presented in your PhD thesis and the broader discussions in your field of study. The examiners also aim to verify if you’re ready to undertake a career as an independent academic.

But how do you prepare for PhD viva and pass it with a flying colours?

As I said at the the very beginning of this article, each PhD is unique and depends on the context of your doctorate, your examiners, your project and so on. Therefore, the viva preparation and viva experience is different.

That is why I asked my friends who successfully passed their vivas in the recent years to share their tips and advice on viva preparation. Please meet Dr María Erans, Dr Ahmed Saleh and Dr Sinemobong Essien with whom I had a pleasure to work with in various capacities during the past decade.

I asked them three simple questions:

– what advice would you give yourself before viva?

– how did you prepare for PhD viva?

– what did you find most useful in your preparation?

If your main goal for this year is to pass your PhD viva, you can find their recommendations below. I will build on their advice and share the tools and reflections from my PhD viva preparation in the webinar.

Dr María Erans, Marie Curie Fellow at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Graduated with PhD at Cranfield University

For preparing a viva, in my opinion, the most important thing is to be proactive. The weeks leading to my viva, I read my thesis a couple of times putting different coloured post-its with a colour scheme. Green post-its were for possible questions, yellow for minor errors and pink for the most important points/findings. This allowed me to prepare for any possible questions that I might be asked, and not that surprisingly the examiners asked questions in the locations of my green post-its, so I was ready for them. At the end of the day, you know your thesis better than anyone and you are aware of its strengths and weaknesses.

Another important point is to not psyche yourself out; you have been preparing for this for around three years and if your supervisors think you are ready, trust them! Also, relax the day before your viva, go for a walk, watch a movie you like or read a book. I always tell this to any soon to be Dr. the days prior to their viva, and not many believe: a viva is a conversation between scientist peers that are actually interested in your work, so above everything ENJOY IT! It will only happen once!

Viva is a conversation between scientist peers that are actually interested in your work, so above everything ENJOY IT! It will only happen once! | Dr María Erans Tweet

Follow Maria’s work on ResearchGate and LinkedIn !

Dr Sinemobong Essien, Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Auckland

Graduated with PhD at the University of Auckland

What advice would you give yourself before viva?

Relax and Prepare early. Remember, the planning and execution of this research project was done by you. Agreed, you might have had some help here and there. But the bulk of the work was done by you. So, get confident in that fact, plan, prepare early, practice, repeat. The viva is just a discussion session with other experts, who only want to know if it was you who did the work.

How did you prepare for PhD viva?

I started preparing for my oral presentation from the first day I resumed my doctoral degree. The plan was to build confidence in my research and the results thereof. So, I worked on gaining a complete understanding of what my research stood to achieve, the big picture and specific targets. I used standard practices, like having controls and repeated measures, for my experiments. This is very important when drawing conclusions especially in new research areas.

I began arranging and populating my presentation slides at least a month to the D day. This was to allow time for practicing and editing. My presentation was organised in a way that gave an executive summary of my research background, approach and results while addressing questions that were raised by the examiner. The latter part is very essential because it helps you expound on the questions/issues that were raised thus giving more depth to your presentation.

I had several mock presentations in front of the mirror, where I noted non-verbal cues that may indicate confidence or lack of it, then I adjusted these body signs where necessary. One more mock presentation with the supervisor to gain perspective from a more experienced person in the field. Another mock presentation with friends who gave tips on presentation style.

I backed up my presentation slides and thesis in various location e.g., email, cloud storage, USB, external drive. Storing your thesis and presentation slides in different location helps prevent document losses. The impact of this loss can be devasting to both physical and mental health.

I looked at the viva as a discussion session and not as an examination. That way I was able to reduce the undue examination tension which allowed me focus on arranging, practicing, editing and back.

Lastly, I took breaks. The time allowed me recharge and also come up with better ideas to improve my presentation.

What did you find most useful in your preparations?

The practice sessions. The tips provided helped improve my presentation, both the style and the content. Most people shy away from this because of various reasons including timidity. But I encourage everyone preparing for their viva to try practicing in front of the mirror, to friends and to research group. The pointers you receive may be very useful for preparing for your viva. Best wishes for you big day.

I encourage everyone preparing for their viva to try practicing in front of the mirror, to friends and to research group. The pointers you receive may be very useful for preparing for your viva. | Dr Sinemobong Essien Tweet

Follow Sinemobong’s work on Instagram and LinkedIn !

Dr Ahmed Saleh, Low Carbon Energy Engineering Consultant

Graduated with PhD at Heriot-Watt University

You have reached this stage, congratulations! You are almost there; just a few steps away from your dream. Be confident about your work. Be full respect to your examiners and their experience but remember you have something special that you have done all that amount of research and analysis was done by yourself and you know each part of it. Now it is the time to talk about and explain.

Be confident about your work. Be full respect to your examiners and their experience but remember you have something special that you have done . | Dr Ahmed Saleh Tweet

In my introductory paragraph, I have avoided using the word defend and I used explain and talk instead. The reason for that I believe that dealing with the viva as discussion and explanation session, rather than a defence session, would reduce your stress compared to dealing with it as a defence session and you have to be prepared for others attack.

Personally, I believe that the preparation for the viva starts from choosing your examiners. Choosing examiners with a research profile close to what you are doing in your PhD might help to have a smooth viva what we could call a discussion session.

To prepare for PhD viva, first read carefully the thesis from the start to the end. Do it at least once before the viva. It should be a deep reading and try to stop and challenge your self about what you have written. Ask yourself if you were the examiner how could you ask about this point. Do not leave anything vague. If you do assumptions prepare your self to be asked WHY?

If you faced a problem in the design or the calculations prepare your self for a question of HOW did you manage to solve and so on?

While you do the deep reading practise, take notes and put them either on the hard copy of your thesis or gather them in a separate file.

After completing what I called the deep reading and challenging yourself, you may get a list of questions or points you are highly expecting the examiners to ask you about. Prepare the answer for each of them and make your self ready with one step ahead.

Second advice I would like to give you is to do a couple of mock vivas. In my case, I did it twice. Once with my supervisor and once with a friend who was studying something completely different from what I am doing. The main advantage I could see from the two mock vivas that I have received different opinions, questions and suggestions from experts and non-experts in my major.

Although it is optional to give a presentation in the day of the viva, I found it very useful as you may answer some of the examiners’ questions and the most important thing is that it might guide them to the right question in the core of your thesis which you are well prepared for.

Finally, to wrap up, the thesis is your hard work which you have spent months to prepare and this a very good chance for you to explain, discuss and impress others.

Follow Ahmed’s work on LinkedIn !

A final word…

I trust the reflections and advice from my friends around the world will inspire you and will help you to prepare for PhD viva – let me know if this has been useful in the comments!

If you’ve already passed your viva, I’d like to hear from you! If there’s any piece of advice that you’d like to give current or prospective PhD students, use the contact form to reach out !

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Top 10 Ph.D. Viva Questions and How to Answer Them

Every doctoral candidate will complete the Ph.D. viva to defend a thesis and seek that coveted doctorate degree. You've worked hard throughout your academic career, and now you face this intimidating meeting! Before your viva, you might feel nervous, picturing yourself tap dancing as fast as you can in front of a firing squad. But your viva should feel more like a confident performance of your crowning research for an audience of adoring fans. Take a breath—you've done good work, and soon the committee will see that, too.

What is a Ph.D. viva? In this case, viva is short for viva voce, Latin for "living voice." The term refers to contexts in which responses to something are given out loud for people to hear, for example a real-time vote (all in favor, say "aye"!). In the academic context, the Ph.D. viva is a discussion between you (the Ph.D. candidate) and a panel of academic experts, during which you present your Ph.D. thesis. The panel of experts can include an internal and/or external examiner, your Ph.D. supervisor, and other people you can request to be in attendance, like your family members.

The examiner's main purpose is to determine that you've written your own thesis and ask you some probing questions about the work you've done. It's intended to be an open, frank conversation about your research, not an interrogation. Don't be afraid to challenge points your examiner makes if they don't align with what you've found in your study. Your expertise and passion about your work will demonstrate that you know your stuff and care deeply about it.

Of course, in order to think clearly and objectively about the subject you've been immersed in for months, you will need a healthy dose of confidence. To help you gain that confidence to make your viva a positive experience, preparation is key. Here are some prompts and questions you might be asked and how you can prepare beforehand to answer them.

1. Tell us about your study

Usually the first question is an opener and is asked with the goal of breaking the ice and getting you talking about your thesis. The items the panel presents to you will start broad and get more specific and involved as your viva progresses. Since you're here to talk about your project, give a good overview of who you are, your history in the field, and the process you followed in your study. You will have a lot of potential detail to provide, but since you won't know how much your panel is looking for, prepare synopses of different lengths: 1-minute, 3-minute, and 5-minute summaries.

2. What are your main research questions and why did you select them?

You'll very likely be prompted to talk about your research questions in detail, so be prepared to list the questions you set out to answer and the motivation behind selecting each one. Also, be prepared to discuss your aims, objectives, and hypotheses, just in case they ask about those as well.

3. What original contribution has your thesis made to this field of study?

Before you began your study, you probably looked at the gaps in the existing literature and decided on a research direction to fill those gaps. Now that you've finished your research, tell your panel what the world knows now as a result of your work. When future researchers delve into your subject matter, what will they cite you on?

4. Whose work has most influenced yours?

Because you went through the process of determining what your field of study still needs in terms of research and the kind of analysis that will contribute to it, you possess a pretty clear understanding of what has already been done. A lot of that knowledge comes from your academic journey leading up to the awarding of your doctorate, during which you've read a lot of papers and delved into the work that has been done before yours. Talk about the most influential works you've encountered. This can be a work that inspired you or papers that you felt were done poorly and motivated you to get it right. Bonus: The chair of the viva will be someone who knows a lot about your field, so take some time to get familiar with his or her work. Don't be a stalker, but be prepared to mention that you know what he or she has done. Not only will that demonstrate that you've prepared yourself for your presentation, but it will also show an interest in his or her life's work, which can't hurt. Don't spend too long on this, though—you're here primarily to talk about your work, not theirs.

5. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your thesis?

You certainly want to brag about your thesis and offer reasons why you and your work are great, so don't hold back about what went right. Start with the strengths; outline your main findings and give reasons why your study enabled you to uncover them. Then, while it might feel counterintuitive to point out the ways that your thesis isn't the greatest ever, a report about the weaknesses of your research shows a sense of self-awareness and humility that benefits your study in that it paves the way for future researchers and shows that you aren't blind to your own potential for growth. If you prepare your response to this question before your viva, you can craft your response to show that you have already thought about the ways you can address the weaknesses of your thesis.

6. What ethical considerations did you apply?

Most Ph.D. candidates encounter ethical issues during the course of their research, and the committee might want to know whether you took measures to ensure an ethical project. Did you follow any ethical protocols in gathering data? Did you provide informed consent to participants in your study? What are the ethical implications of your work?

7. Did your study go as expected? If you had to start the thesis again, what would you do differently?

Every researcher has at least some idea of what he or she might find upon performing a study. Many form research questions and perform the study to provide support for that expected outcome, but sometimes the research leads to a different result. Consider what your own expectations were before you began and the path your research process took, either in alignment with that expectation or not. Knowing what you know now, would you change anything about your research? Would you approach the process differently? Maybe you would forego a step or two knowing that it wasn't as consequential or helpful as you originally thought.

8. Now that you've completed your study, what did you enjoy about the process?

Ph.D. thesis examiners are looking for a candidate who is passionate about the work. Remember that they know exactly how stressful the process is, so avoid delving into the hardships you encountered. Instead, give a summary of the high points and the reasons you were excited to keep going. While you should keep the tone professional and avoid gushing, feel free to talk about your personal motivation for pursuing this study.

9. If funding was no object, how would you follow up on this project?

Every researcher faces limits regarding the scope of a study that prevent them from gathering as much data as they'd like. Time limits, budget caps, and lack of interest or willingness among study participants can all put a damper on the dreams a researcher has for an analysis. Money can solve most obstacles within an examination, so dream big—what could you make happen with an infinite budget? This is another question that reveals your passion for the subject.

10.What are your plans for the future?

Questions might not be limited to your thesis, so give some thought to where you will go from here. Describe your plans for your future research or professional pursuits; this gives the panel a sense of your passion for the work and sets you apart from a doctoral candidate who is just trying to check the boxes and get a diploma in hand.

The questions your panel asks you on the day of your viva will probably not be exactly the ones listed in this article, but these topics will almost certainly be covered during the discussion with your examiner. If you prepare responses to these questions and make sure you know your thesis inside and out, you will be much more ready to answer whatever the experts ask you. Equally important, planning out your responses will also help calm your nerves before this very important event, so give yourself the gift of preparation as you anticipate your Ph.D. viva. Good luck—you'll do great!

Header image by lightpoet .

How to Excel in Your Doctoral Viva

© 2022
Stacey Bedwell 0 ,
Isabelle Butcher 1

Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK

You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

Explains what the viva is, how the process works, and what the purpose of the viva is
Explores the course of preparing for a viva examination, focusing on organisation through to dealing with viva concerns
Features contributions from over 25 academics for a unique insight into the experiences of PhD candidates and examiners

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Why Tourette syndrome research needs philosophical phenomenology

Enactments in Transference: Embodiment, Trauma and Depression. What Have Psychoanalysis and the Neurosciences to Offer to Each Other

The Madness of Interpretation and Meaning in Psychoanalytic Treatment and Literature: Reading Patrick Casement’s ‘A Retrospective Overview’

life sciences
social sciences
research degree

Table of contents (11 chapters)

Front matter, introduction.

Stacey Bedwell, Isabelle Butcher

What Is the Viva?

Isabelle Butcher

Urban Myths about the PhD Viva

Stacey Bedwell

Real Viva Experiences

Making the most of and enjoying your viva, after the viva, practice questions, being confident in your thesis, the viva preparation timeline, participating in a mock viva, viva concerns, back matter.

— Sarah Lloyd , final year PhD candidate

— Gemini Katwa , PhD candidate

Authors and Affiliations

About the authors.

Dr. Isabelle Butcher was awarded her PhD in Psychology in 2021 from the University of Manchester, UK, for her work on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and traumatic life events. Isabelle’s current research interests are in the area of adolescent mental health and the impact of traumatic life events. Isabelle also has a keen interest in the ethics of research and is currently chair of an NHS ethics research committee.

Bibliographic Information

Book Title : How to Excel in Your Doctoral Viva

Authors : Stacey Bedwell, Isabelle Butcher

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10172-4

Publisher : Palgrave Macmillan Cham

eBook Packages : Education , Education (R0)

Copyright Information : The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022

Softcover ISBN : 978-3-031-10171-7 Published: 16 September 2022

eBook ISBN : 978-3-031-10172-4 Published: 15 September 2022

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XIII, 183

Number of Illustrations : 69 b/w illustrations

Topics : Science Education , Higher Education , Psychology, general

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Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

What is a PhD Viva Like? Sharing Graduates’ Experiences

When you’re trying to prepare for a PhD viva it can be really difficult to know what to expect. Unlike pretty much every other exam you’ll have experienced, the viva isn’t a standardised exam so you won’t find any past papers to practice on!

In this post I’ll be sharing the inside scoop on what a PhD viva is like. Both from my own experiences plus those of a few other PhD graduates.

Preparing for your viva? You may also want to take a look at some of the other PhD viva content I’ve written:

How to Defend a Thesis: An Introduction to the PhD Viva

Common phd viva questions.

Note: Every viva is different, in this post I’m focussing on my viva which took place in the UK. Two PhD graduates in Spain and the US also share their experiences.

What is a PhD viva?

For those who aren’t already familiar with what a PhD viva is, I’d highly recommend reading my full post on How to Defend a Thesis: An Introduction to the PhD Viva . This delves into how a PhD viva is assessed, who is present, the potential outcomes and what follows after.

As a quick recap, a PhD viva (also called a defense in some countries) is the final assessment a PhD student undertakes in order to pass their PhD. The format the viva can take varies from country to country and even institution to institution, but it typically involves discussing and defending your PhD thesis with experts in your field.

In this post you’ll hear about the viva experiences of three PhD graduates, each with a slightly different format.

To get the best understanding of how PhD vivas take place at your university I’d recommend:

Checking out any webpages your university have which formally outline the viva process
Speaking to your PhD supervisor
Chatting to colleagues such as postdocs who’ve been through it

Viva Experiences from PhD Grads

Prof elizabeth bondi-kelly , phd from harvard university, usa. assistant professor in computer science at university of michigan.

What was your PhD viva like? At my (virtual) defense, I had my committee, adviser, labmates, and family/friends. I was fortunate to give my job talk presentation again for my defense, so I had already had a lot of practice with presenting it and being asked questions about it.

How do you suggest people prepare for their PhD viva? For anyone who hasn’t had that opportunity, I highly recommend practicing to get a polished talk and practice answering questions about it.

Prof Raúl Santos-Rodríguez , PhD from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain. Full Professor in AI at University of Bristol.

What are PhD vivas like in Spain? The viva process in Spain varies from university to university. In most cases there are a few previous filters (internal/external reports) that make it such that, once you are through those, most of the pressure is off for the actual defence. The viva consists of a public presentation (usually with colleagues, friends and family in the audience) followed by questions from a panel, with each member asking their questions in turns. Both presentation and Q&A tend to be time limited (around 45 minutes each).

What was your PhD viva like? My viva experience was nerve-wracking but rewarding too. I remember how the exercise of putting together the presentation with the panel in mind actually gave me quite a different perspective on how to tell the story of my thesis. The event took place in a rather formal lecture room in our faculty. The panel consisted of five examiners (three externals including one from abroad, and two internals), all of whom were experts in my field of study. The panel asked me a wide range of questions, covering both very specific details and very high level matters. Once I answered their questions to their satisfaction, and after a short deliberation, I was given the good news. Overall, I found the viva to be a challenging but stimulating experience — and a good memory.

How do you suggest people prepare for their PhD viva? In terms of advice, I would suggest to:

Expect to be surprised by unexpected questions about your research
Be clear and concise, allowing examiners to ask for more details if needed
Practice your presentation without being constrained to say the same things every time
Not be afraid to ask for clarification if you don’t understand and take your time to respond
Enjoy the interaction with the examiners as they are experts that have a lot to add to your work

Portrait of PhD grad Prof Raul Santos-Rodriguez

Me! PhD from Imperial College London, UK. Research Fellow in AI at Bristol.

What was your PhD viva like? My viva, which took place over Microsoft Teams, included just an internal examiner, external examiner and myself. I gave a short presentation giving a summary of my PhD then about five hours were spent giving suggestions to improve content I was preparing to submit to journals. It was much less intimidating than I was expecting.

How do you suggest people prepare for their PhD viva? I mainly suggest to not over prepare! Sure, reread your thesis and swot up on any content you don’t feel comfortable describing (for instance certain techniques you’ve used), but I would caution against rehearsing too much: come to terms with the fact that you won’t be able to predict all the questions you’ll get asked.

I’ll be sharing more details on my viva experience in the rest of the post.

How To Prepare For a PhD Viva: The Advice I Was Given

Ahead of my own viva I typically got told to:

Relax and take your time in replying . This is somewhat sensible advice but a bit like telling someone to calm down: it doesn’t always work. Furthermore, relaxing can be hard to do when you also get told to…

Be prepared to answer questions about every part of your work . At face value this can seem reasonable: if you did the work, and deserve a PhD, you should be able to explain your work. Like many of us I heard the horror stories of examiners asking students to provide an explanation of fundamental techniques from first principles such as: “derive energy”!

However, I don’t think any rational examiner can expect a student to be able to answer every possible question about their PhD work. Not least because many students aren’t relaxed during the viva and instead are filled with nerves.

Thankfully, the reality is that examiners simply need to check that you’ve done the work and understand it. Therefore, yes you should be able to give a broad explanation of the techniques you’ve used but you can’t be expected to know everything about every technique.

Once it strays from your work to underlying principles I suggest that you explain as much as you feel comfortable then push back – the internal examiner (who acts as a moderator) should also step in if unreasonable questions are being asked. For more details on what PhD examiners are looking for, read this section of another post I’ve written .

How I Prepared for My PhD Viva

The time between submitting my thesis (14th February) and viva (25th March) was shorter than for most people. On top of that I didn’t spend long writing my thesis, meaning that the time between finishing my actual research and my viva was pretty short (around two months). Therefore I didn’t feel the need to “revise” for my viva. As in, sometimes you’ll hear of people reminding themselves of how certain experimental or analytic techniques work, but it was pretty fresh in my memory.

Instead, about 48 hours before my viva I started to read through my thesis. This is going to sound really bad but this was actually my first (and only) time properly reading through my thesis. No, I didn’t outsource or use ChatGPT to write my thesis!

When I submitted my thesis I had of course assembled all the chapters but had never given it a proper cohesive read all the way through. I read through the thesis over the course of 4-5 sittings. Reading fiction is definitely more fun .

I personally didn’t prepare by trying to come up with answers for lots of potential questions. But if you’re keen to have those to hand, read my Common PhD Viva Questions .

Preparing for your own viva? I’ve created a set of viva preparation worksheets which are available for free in the resource library. Click the image below for access!

Image showing free viva preparation worksheets which can be downloaded from the resource library

Why didn’t I prepare more?

I felt pretty relaxed about my viva. This isn’t because I am crazy clever or knowledgable. In fact, like many of us I’ve felt imposter syndrome, waiting for the moment that my lack of knowledge gets discovered: and if there ever a moment you’d expect this to happen it would be at your viva.

These three things relaxed me for the viva:

The external examiner seemed nice from the time I’d met him in the past at a conference. Certainly not a sure-fire sign that he wouldn’t turn into a scary beast during a viva but it seemed like a good starting point.
It was virtual. My viva took place right at the start of COVID and as such took place over Teams. For some reason this felt reassuring, as if I could get away with just unplugging my internet connection if they asked anything particularly scary. Thankfully I didn’t ever feel the need to try this out!
I had published PhD work in a well-ranked respected peer-reviewed journal. This was far and away the most reassuring thing. As mentioned in another post, examiners have to be confident in all of the following things to let you pass your PhD viva. If you have published some of your work somewhere respectable you tick many of the boxes immediately:

Oh, and I also didn’t prepare much because I was preoccupied with moving from London the week before my viva because of COVID and the start of lockdowns. Unexpectedly I ended up moving in with my girlfriend’s parents. It was rather chaotic but probably a useful distraction too.

Photo of the cluttered spare bedroom where I had my PhD viva: a tiny desk with laptop near a bed and lots of belongings

My PhD Viva Experience

Who was at my viva.

Unlike vivas in other countries, such as the two international experiences shared above, a viva in the UK usually only involves:

PhD student – me in this case!
Internal examiner – an academic working in the same research area from the host university. They’re there to moderate the discussion and check that the university’s viva regulations are followed.
External examiner – another academic working in the research area from a different university. In my case this was someone who was a leader in the field who came from another UK university.

Optionally the PhD student may ask their supervisor to attend. I’ve known of a few people who’ve had their supervisor there too, though it’s pretty rare and unnecessary in my opinion.

How long did my PhD viva last?

All in all it was about five and a half hours.

This was much longer than I anticipated. When we scheduled the viva to start at 10am I naively expected us to be finished by lunch. Admittedly the examiners did suggest stopping for a break at lunch time but again I naively thought we’d be done shortly afterwards, so declined the opportunity for more than a 5 minute comfort break. In the end we finished up around 3:30pm.

How was my PhD viva structured?

Pie chart showing the four sections of my PhD viva: as described below

Introductions (2 minutes) . I’d actually never met my internal examiner (who should act as a moderator) so introductions were necessary.
Presentation (10 minutes) . A few weeks in advance of the viva I asked whether or not the examiners would like a presentation, and if so of what length. They said yes, 10-12 minutes. My supervisor strongly suggested making it on the shorter side: short and snappy is good and you’re about to have hours to discuss the details.
Discussion (5 hours, yes, really!) . More on this in a moment.
Decision and final comments (10 minutes) . I was asked to leave the metaphorical room (Teams call, remember!) and after a few minutes was invited back in after which they told me I’d passed with minor corrections. They gave a summary of the next steps, which were mostly administrative with paperwork, and briefly went over what changes/corrections they were expecting to the thesis.

What did we discuss for five hours?

Before my viva I had visions of it being like a job interview that lasts for hours and hours. They ask a slightly tough or awkward question, you try and answer, rinse and repeat x 100. The reality was really different.

The experience was much less intense than I was expecting. The examiners said from the outset that they were happy with the quality of the work and just aimed to give feedback to improve both the thesis and publications.

The vast majority of the viva was spent going page by page through the thesis covering points that the examiners had written down: not questions, merely suggestions. Very little of the viva involved me getting questioned: most of what I said was probably along the lines of “I agree, that’s a great idea”.

The examiners commented that they liked the [short] length of the thesis (140 pages before references) which may have helped. I was expecting at least a few dodgy questions such as explaining the content of a particular reference or deriving something from first principles. In all honestly I’m not sure I’d have been prepared for some of this, so was fine with not getting a hard time of it.

There were very few questions in general which was somewhat of a relief, though I was kind of looking forward to more of a discussion around the project. There were only two actual questions I think I got asked: one explaining why a particular technique wasn’t representative, and secondly a much more fluffy question of what would I do differently if I was starting again. That was it. I was really expecting more questions.

Every viva is unique so I can’t claim that my experience is representative but I will say that it was a relief to get through it unscathed.

What I wish I’d done differently

Asked more questions myself . The viva is one of the few times you’re likely to have hours of access to academic experts with such a keen interest in your work.

Was it tiring?

A little, just as any meeting which lasts over five hours would be. But because I didn’t feel like I was actually getting quizzed the whole time it was nowhere near as tiring as it could have been. Mostly I was tired just from having to pay attention for that long: I usually don’t sit still for more than 20 minutes!

What happened afterwards?

My viva was in March 2020, at the start of lockdown. I’d moved from London just the week prior and had to cancel the scheduled celebratory drinks with colleagues. So instead I had a glass of champagne with my girlfriend and her parents (who I was staying with).

Photo of me smiling with a glass of champagne after my viva

After that, I got cracking right away the next morning on making the examiners’ suggested changes to my thesis.

My Advice If You’re Preparing For Your Own PhD Viva

Download my free viva preparation guide .
Read your thesis!
Look up likely questions (if you want), here are some Common PhD Viva Questions
Don’t over prepare
Be honest. If you’re not sure about something, make this clear. Feel free to say you’re not sure.
Ask questions
Enjoy it! Channel those nerves as excitement and make the most of having experts show such an interest in your work.

Do you have any other questions about the PhD viva experience? Let me know in the comments and I’ll answer them as best I can!

If you’d like personalised help with preparing for your PhD viva I am now starting to offer a small number of one-to-one sessions. Please contact me to find out more or click here to book a call.

If you’re currently preparing for your own PhD viva, best of luck and remember to enjoy it! Be sure to check out the couple of other viva-related posts I’ve written .

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5 Tips for Preparing for Your PhD Viva

By Zebastian D.
December 13, 2019

You’ve just passed a massive milestone: writing and submitting your PhD thesis. This has been the culmination of at least three years of work and is definitely a cause for celebration. But the journey’s not fully over just yet – you still have the viva to pass. In the UK the viva usually lasts a few hours and involves a detailed discussion of your thesis with two expert examiners; your primary supervisor may or may not sit in this. Expect the viva to be tough – you’ll need to be able to defend your PhD thesis and respond to questions designed to probe your understanding of your subject. But if you prepare for it well, you’re likely to come out of it having had an enjoyable experience discussing your work with people genuinely interested in your project.

Here are some tips to help you prepare for the day.

1. Know Your Thesis

You should expect your examiners to have spent a considerable about of time going through your PhD thesis and the content of it will be fresh in their mind; make sure it’s fresh in yours too. Yes, you’re the one that’s written it but, if you’ve planned well , you may have written some of your chapter content quite a while ago. Equally, I would definitely recommend checking to see if any new papers in your field have been published since writing your chapters and submitting your thesis.

2. Know Your Examiners

Your examiners will be experts in their fields, and at least one (if not both) will be experts in the same field of your research. Make sure you look up papers they’ve published and think about how they fit in with your work. It’s likely that some of their line of questioning in the viva will be based around their contributions to the research area.

3. Think of Possible Questions

It’s a good idea to spend time with your supervisor to think of possible questions the examiners may ask you. In particular, can you predict the tough questions that might come your way and how you might best answer them? Are there any areas within your work that you would consider as limitations for your studies and that you should be prepared to acknowledge? Some preparation here and even a mock interview will go a long way in making the actual thing feel easier.

4. Bring a Copy of Your Thesis

Make sure you have your own printed copy of your PhD thesis that you bring along with you to the viva. Make notes and highlight pages and sections within it that you especially want to bring attention to. You might also find it useful to print separate larger copies of key results (e.g. graphs or figures) that you think would be useful to discuss. Some props that help explain concepts (if relevant) can also be a brilliant way to guide the discussions to areas you’re most comfortable with.

5. Focus on Your Strengths

Try to view the viva as an opportunity to showcase the new knowledge you have added to your field of research. Focus on the positives that have come out of your work; all projects will have some areas of weakness but there’s no need to highlight these to your examiners unless directly asked about them. Coming into your viva with one or two papers published (if possible) is a great positive – it’ll give you confidence that your work has already stood up to peer-review and is a very good way to present your contributions to research.

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Impressing the Examiners: How to Prepare for Your PhD Viva

May 27, 2020

So you’ve come to the end of your PhD studies and have submitted your thesis.

Now it is time to prepare for your PhD viva.

You might feel like everything you’ve worked for is riding on it, and in some ways, it is. But as long as you’re prepared, you should have no problem on the day.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to prepare for your PhD viva, as well as some PhD viva tips for how to handle it on the day.

Read on for more information.

Framing the Way You Think About Your PhD Viva

There aren’t many people with PhDs. While the number is certainly growing , you’ll be entering into an elite group.

You may think that your PhD viva is an exam where internal and external experts in your field will be waiting to trip you up and look for ways to sabotage you. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Everyone there is rooting for you to succeed. They want to add another expert to their ranks, especially one who has something important and interesting to add to that field’s conversation.

Very rarely will you have someone on your panel who is trying to make you deliberately fail.

Think of it as a chance to talk about your work with fellow experts in your field. Often, they’re excited for the conversation they’ll be having with you about your work.

You can also think of it as an opportunity to show off what you’ve done to people who are where you might aspire to be.

Preparing for a Viva

After you’ve written and submitted your thesis , it’s a good idea to take a break from it for a while. Focus on a hobby, read a few books not related to your thesis, or start a new project.

This clears your mind and allows you to look at your thesis with fresh eyes when you prepare for your viva.

Re-read your thesis before you go to your viva. It may sound silly, but you’ve been working on it for several years. Some of the arguments you’ve made may now seem a bit fuzzy to you, as you’ve been working on the minutiae of the chapters.

You need to make sure you remember the overarching theme of your thesis, as well as the arguments you’ve made in each chapter. Most examiners will allow you to bring in notes, and there will be a copy of your thesis for your referral. Don’t be afraid to make notes for yourself.

If you want to book a mock-viva with a real thesis examiner then get in touch. We run regular mock-vivas.

Overall: familiarise yourself with the major themes in both the thesis as a whole but also in individual chapters.

Practise, Practise, Practise

Practise summing up the main points of your thesis. You’ll be asked about your major argument, as well as some of the minor arguments you’ve made within the thesis.

By now, you’ve likely already presented your thesis (or parts of it) at conferences, or discussed it at length with your advisor. If you’re worried about how well you’ll be able to do this, remember that you have done this previously.

You may even want to hold a practice viva where some of your friends or family members ask you about your research. You should be able to explain it in a way that is understandable to them, on some level. Obviously, they’re not experts in your field, but they should be able to have some grasp of what your thesis is about after explaining it to them.

Your PhD Thesis. On one page.

Anticipate the questions.

Speak to your advisor before you have your viva. Discuss with him or her some of the questions that may be asked beforehand. Or, you can ask your department, who may have a guide for PhD or MA students defending their theses. Or, you can look at the guide we’ve published .

If you can anticipate the questions beforehand, you won’t feel as nervous when they’re asked. While they may ask you a few questions you won’t anticipate to ensure you’ve written the thesis yourself, you will still likely be able to rehearse the answers to the majority of their questions.

On the Day of the Viva

On the day of the viva, arrive early with plenty of time to spare. You may consider spending the night nearby if you live far away. Make sure you know where to go, and are properly fed and hydrated. You may wish to bring water with you to the viva itself. Re-read your notes and try to focus on relaxing. Don’t overthink it.

Manage Your Expectations

Don’t expect to pass with zero corrections. This does happen but is usually very rare. You may hear of your colleagues doing this, and feel disappointed if you don’t.

Most people pass with minor or major corrections. Some people will be required to resubmit following very major revisions. This may seem like a huge blow, but remember that most people go on to resubmit their thesis successfully.

Very rarely do people not pass, or are awarded a lower degree because their thesis was not “good enough.” Your advisor has likely done a great job of helping shape your PhD, and you should expect that you will pass if you’re prepared, but likely with some form of corrections.

How to Prepare for Your PhD Viva

We hope this article answered your question of how to prepare for a PhD viva. Preparing for a viva can be nerve wracking, as it may feel as though the culmination of the past few years are all riding on this one moment. Remember, everyone is rooting for you to pass, even your examiners.

Not quite ready to submit your thesis? Have a look at our PhD thesis writing course , where we can help you become a better writer and be ready to take your PhD with confidence.

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How to pass your PhD viva in a pandemic

Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Covid-19 , PhD , Social responsibility

Karen Nokes was recently one of the first PhD researchers to complete her viva online during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her PhD journey was not a typical one. Karen started her PhD as a mature student with over 20 years’ experience in the legal profession. She then transferred to Manchester part-way through her PhD and completed her thesis part-time in order to balance caring responsibilities with her studies. In this article, Karen shares her PhD journey and her top tips for preparing for an online oral examination.

Before entering academia, Karen qualified as a solicitor in 1993 and spent a short time in private practice doing criminal defence work. She then worked for the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority for almost 20 years investigating professional misconduct. This sparked an interest that would eventually become the question for her research.

Karen’s research explores ethical decision making in the professions. Her thesis proposes a theoretical model focusing on how individual factors interact with environmental factors to influence the ethicality of decisions. The model was tested empirically in the legal profession, with over 100 solicitors from across England & Wales answering ethical scenarios. The study yielded interesting results that demonstrate the influence of individual factors on ethical decision making. “It’s not a case of looking at a profession like the legal profession and saying that as a group they are likely to be more ethical or not when faced with a certain ethical dilemma,” explains Karen. “Individual differences like thinking style and experience matter, and have a significant impact on the decision outcome.”

Moving to Manchester

Karen is based in Worcestershire and started her PhD at a different institution. After three years, she followed her supervisor Professor Gerard Hodgkinson (Vice Dean for Research of the Faculty of Humanities) to Manchester. At this stage, she also transitioned to part-time study in order to balance caring responsibilities with her research.

Despite living 100 miles from Manchester, the move paid off. She found that AMBS was a very good ideological fit because of the prominence that's given to applying theory in the real world. “My research was not only about concentrating on a theoretical contribution, but actually taking it into the real world and saying what are the implications for practice? And what can we learn about the behaviour of those in the professions to try and prevent professional misconduct?” explains Karen. “I am actually really pleased that I ended up at AMBS, because for me it was very much about applying the theory and working out how we then might use the research findings. My supervisors – Professor Gerard Hodgkinson and Professor Mark Healy – have also been extremely supportive throughout the whole process.”

A virtual viva

Covid-19 didn’t impact Karen’s research because she had submitted her thesis at the end of last year. However, her viva was imminent when lockdown struck. “The business school had written some guidelines on having a viva online so I realised that if my viva was going to take place in the near future, it was probably going to be online. My initial reaction was quite a bit of anxiety and panic. I’d used Skype and Facetime with friends, but I’d never done anything like this online."

Despite being a different ending to what she had anticipated, the experience was very positive. The administration was taken care of, she was well-briefed in advance as to how the viva would be run and felt at ease. “It isn't how you think it's going to end. You envisage being in a room in the business school having travelled up to the business school, staying overnight before the viva and prepping in the hotel. It was so different to how I thought it was going to be but it was such a positive experience. There were some benefits too, I actually felt more relaxed as I was in my own home and I didn’t have the travelling to contend with.”

With the viva behind her, Karen would like to stay in academia and build on her research project, taking the theoretical model and testing it in other domains such as accountancy or medicine, and also looking at other psychological foundations of ethical behaviour that we could learn from. “When you look at the impact of people acting unethically in professions like accountancy, law or medicine, it's huge. The impact goes beyond the individual people that they represent or care for; it has a wider impact on society as a whole.”

Overcoming online examinations

So, having gone through this experience, what tips would Karen give to somebody preparing for an online examination? Here are her five top tips:

Leverage the benefits of being in your own home: get out in the fresh air for a walk, have a good meal beforehand and get yourself as relaxed as possible.
Do lots of different types of preparation: research stock questions online, consider a mock viva and hold practice sessions online with friends
Familiarise yourself with the conferencing software and check how you and your background will look on camera to increase your confidence on the day
Prepare your room: make sure you've got your notes, your thesis and some refreshments.
Clear distractions: send family (and dogs!) out of the house to exercise and ban teenagers (if you have them) from the internet to conserve bandwidth!

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How to pass your PhD viva

By Rachel Brazil 2018-07-17T15:00:00+01:00

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Five tips to a less painful thesis defence

In most of Europe, the PhD viva is a formality. In Finland, you get a ceremonial sword. In Australia, it doesn’t exist at all. But in the UK, the oral viva (or, in the US, the thesis defence) is an integral part of achieving a doctorate. In a gruelling two-hour (or more) face-off with internal and external examiners, the candidate must prove they can support their thesis and are ready to become an independent researcher.

A photograph of a panel interviewing a PhD candidate

Vivas: because who doesn’t want to be grilled for two hours about a subject they are thoroughly sick of thinking about?

The viva is not universally popular. With little regulation or standardisation, many academics feel it is no longer fit for purpose. And while there are few outright failures, the level of fear and anxiety around vivas is high. University of Bath, UK, chemist Oli Weber, who successfully completed his viva in May, had heard these stories too: ‘that was very much in my mind beforehand, because you just don’t know until its actually underway how it’s going to pan out.’

It was after a bad experience as an examiner that Pat Sikes, a sociology professor at the University of Sheffield decided to look into these stories. She collected accounts from a group of around 20 examiners. 1 The horror stories recounted to her mostly related to examiners with grudges or long-running issues between candidates and their supervisors. However, Sikes herself is not against the practice: ‘I’ve been in a number of vivas where the outcome that the examiner thought was going to be didn’t happen, and often for the good of the candidate,’ she explains. Of her involvement with 160 odd vivas, she says only five stand out as being horrendous.

‘It is very rare for people to have a viva which is a totally negative experience,’ adds postgraduate skills trainer Nathan Ryder. Using his own experience completing a PhD in mathematics, he has created a ‘viva survivor’ workshop designed to help postgraduates prepare. He has also recorded viva experiences in a podcast and created a free downloadable advice booklet.

So how should you prepare for you viva?

Present your thesis well

Make it easy for the examiners! ‘I’ve never come across an examiner who sets out to be unpleasant, but I’ve come across examiners who get irritated by the work they have been asked to examine,’ says Sikes. ‘That’s often because the work is badly presented, and takes far too much energy on the part of the reader and this feel disrespectful.’

Weber adds: ‘Make sure that there aren’t too many leaps in thinking and arguments that you can’t defend.’

Read your thesis from cover to cover

Ryder says the most important task is to read your thesis. ‘Line by line. Don’t skim it, don’t just focus on the good bits or the bad bits, where people’s preferences lead, but really read it.’ He also suggests annotating and highlighting the text or using post-it notes to help find each chapter or important results – this will prevent that feeling of panic when you can’t find what you are looking for in the viva.

Revise the wider field

You may be asked questions around the wider topic of your work, so make sure you are well read in the area, including reading your references. Weber did this for his PhD on thin-film perovskite solar cells. ‘It was really helpful to read through the thesis and the research that we had published, but also to review all the basic theory to make sure that it was really fresh in my mind … I was doing some of this work three and a half years ago.’ Another top tip is to read up on your examiners’ work: they’ll probably want to talk about it!

Practice talking about your work

Some supervisors create a mock viva for their students. ‘I’m not convinced they are useful but a lot of my colleagues do them,’ says Sikes. ‘You are not going to have the same degree of stress and anxiety.’ However, Ryder says it is useful to talk about you work as much as possible and prepare summaries as you may be asked to introduce your project. He also suggests coming up with answers to some general questions, such as why this research interested you and what the results have contributed to your field.

Be confident

Ryder says the most important thing he does at his workshops is try and instil confidence in candidates. Sikes agrees that most people should be justifiably confident: ‘If failure was looking to be on the cards, people will generally have exited before they get to the viva.’ For most, she says, it turns into a positive experience. ‘These people have read your work more carefully than anyone else ever will and so you can have a really good discussion and at the end of the day most students come away and say there were challenges, but I really enjoyed it.’

‘There were definitely some difficult questions but nothing unfair, everything was very relevant,’ recalls Weber. ‘[The examiners] were clearly very engaged with it and quite positive.’ But, he says, ‘I think it’s hard for me to say that I actually enjoyed the process…’

1 P Sikes, Qualit. Res. J. , 2017, 17 , 230 (DOI: ">10.1108/QRJ-12-2016-0074 )

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Passing Your Viva with No Corrections: Towards an Outstanding PhD | Lex Academic Blog

4 December 2022

The meaning we associate most immediately with ‘outstanding’ is perhaps that of ‘excellent’ or ‘first-rate’: an outstanding PhD is one that ranks high on some sort of classificatory scheme. But this meaning, I suspect, is derived from its more literal meaning, that of standing out from the crowd. Those PhDs that do this will indeed be the few that make it into the top tier of PhDs that are passed with ‘no corrections’ ( cum laude or summa cum laude in other systems such as in Germany or the Netherlands) – but this quantitative feature is only a result of their qualitative merit: a truly outstanding PhD is one that stands out because of its original insight. It speaks for itself that such insight is firmly supported by thorough and sound research. But thorough and sound research alone are not enough. An outstanding PhD is one that pushes boundaries, posits new challenges, and possibly even presents a view that turns things upside down.

Does this sound too daunting, too ambitious? I never set out to write a PhD with this particular goal in mind, but I’ve always had strong academic instincts and I’ve learned to trust them. I would never dream of telling anyone how to conduct their PhD research, but I was asked (for this blog) to outline how I ended up with ‘no corrections’ after my viva , and the best advice I can come up with is this: develop a nose for sniffing out a new point of view – one that will fascinate, stimulate, or otherwise make your reader sit up. But perhaps this now sounds too mundane? Isn’t the general criterion for being awarded a doctorate the requirement that your work needs to make an ‘original contribution to the scholarship’? And how useful is this advice of being original when it comes down to the practicalities of writing a thesis of 60,000–80,000 words? What follows is more a chronicle of my own journey, but hopefully it contains some tips that will work for others as well.

When facing that formidable blank page on which we’re supposed to make our new contribution to the field, most of us are very much aware of the freedom bestowed upon us. It’s easy, however, to underestimate the discipline that this freedom demands. Before anything else, I used to get down to doing the donkey work: getting to know the field inside out, spending hour upon hour, week upon week, reading through all material relevant to a particular topic. In my case (I work in ancient philosophy with a body of literature dating back over 2000 years), this sometimes took a couple of months. While it’s useful to be able to skim through texts, if you want to be aware of all nuances of a debate, nothing but very precise reading will do. While at it, making a map that sets out the lay of the land in detail is something that I found indispensable. In so doing, you usually begin to get a sense of where others have cut corners and which avenues remain unexplored. One shouldn’t be conceited and be too easily dismissive of very experienced scholars: read with charity and respect, take your predecessors seriously, and leave no stone unturned in following up references. On the other hand, I think it’s precisely this painstaking work that reveals the areas where rewarding progress can be made.

After all the detailed sifting through and mapping of the literature, I needed time to zoom out, to create thinking space, to mentally digest all the material taken in. Making an original contribution to an established and well-researched field of study is not always straightforward. Ideally, you don’t merely come up with incremental adjustments to pre-existing views. A valuable original contribution is one that is of sufficient depth that it puts a genuinely interesting alternative on the table. While it’s easy to say, ‘sit back, close your eyes, and think’, this is actually not so very easy to do. For a start, you might feel rather indulgent, folding your hands and withdrawing into thought. And how do you ensure that such thought is productive? While I don’t think that you can force innovative thought, I do think that you can create the right conditions for it: set time apart for reflection, find a quiet space to let your thoughts roam free and let your intellectual intuitions take over. Use your academic nose to sniff out that whiff of an idea, revelation, or inspiration. Anyone who’s had a PhD proposal accepted has convinced other academics of the potential of some exciting new idea. So trust yourself to develop and bring your own, original ideas into sharper focus.

Once I had found some new avenue or perspective that I thought promising, the real work began. Could I solve the puzzle that I now identified, or the difficulties that my particular point of view generated? While you normally have a hunch about the general direction in which the solution lies, don’t expect an immediate resolution of all obstacles that lie in your path. In my case, it often took several rounds of revision to get there – and even in the final version of my PhD not all questions had been answered. Having trained as a musician prior to undertaking a PhD in philosophy, I’ve found it helpful to compare the process of producing a final draft of a thesis chapter to accomplishing a memorable musical performance. In the end, one’s playing needn’t be perfect – but it does need to be gripping and to leave the audience with a sense of having experienced something special. And to achieve that, there will be several rounds of preparation before you’re concert ready (learning the notes, getting to grips with any technical challenges, developing the big emotive gestures, then putting it to rest for a while in order to approach it afresh the next time round). So, don’t insist on perfection straight away. Expect to refine and revise and leave these improvements to later drafts – when first getting your ideas on paper, simply get the main points across as clearly as possible. But at this point you might start to feel the pressure: how do you find the time for all these revisions?

One of the things that doing a PhD has taught me is to write fast . A first draft is just that, a first draft. You don’t need to write beautiful, sophisticated sentences; just get your ideas on paper swiftly and precisely. I found that settling into a particular writing routine helped me: first, I’d write out the entire chapter by hand on paper. This would, of course, not be a fully written up story; it was rather just the main steps in the argument in rough and ready sentences. Somehow, writing by hand seemed to come to me more easily: on screen I’d want fully fledged sentences consisting of at least subject, object, and predicate. But writing by hand, I found it much easier to allow myself to write less than fully articulated sentences that would merely convey the general gist of what I wished to say. Having done all the preparatory laborious mapping beforehand, the relevant points from the literature were ready to be plugged in where needed and the writing of the chapter by hand usually took only about one full day, resulting in eight to ten scribbled pages. Having achieved this first step would bring immense relief: the whole story was now out there, ink on paper. It might be rough and ready, but all the pieces of the puzzle had been connected up in writing (even if some loose ends could not be avoided). Then, feeling buoyant about having my ideas organised in some sort of coherent manner, I’d set myself a week to type up my handwritten version. Again, I didn’t insist on the perfect sentence or the perfect paragraph: all that could wait until a later stage. But as I wrote out my handwritten sheets, the work would bulk up automatically and before I knew it, I’d hit 10,000 words, ready to be discussed with my supervisor. I’d be able to discuss the debate in detail and present my own take on it in general outline and with at least all the steps of my argument laid out. This provided plenty of material for a fruitful discussion with my supervisor and an assessment of whether she thought that I was heading in the right direction or down a rabbit hole.

I was absolutely blessed with my supervisor: she was highly supportive of my explorations of new perspectives on age-old material, but she also didn’t shy away from pulling the reins tight when she thought I was heading for a dead end. More than once, I had to rewrite an entire chapter from an entirely new point of view – which meant facing that blank page again and writing it from scratch! As my supervisor used to say: ‘the wastepaper basket is your greatest friend’. That might sound dreadful – and I thought so too at first – but in the end it wasn’t. Having done the mapping of previous scholarship, this material remained at hand for a reshuffle and, having built up some routine in speedy writing, I found that the chapter could swiftly be rewritten by following the same procedure as before: writing by hand for a day, typing it up in a week. Of the seven chapters that I wrote for my thesis, two chapters were ditched entirely (hopefully to be revisited at some point in the near future), one was rewritten from scratch no less than four times, another twice, one received three rounds of extensive revisions, one had a single round of major revisions, and one (which ended up being the weakest part of the thesis) was revised only superficially.

One of the most important lessons all this rewriting taught me is that, while it might come in bursts, creative insight isn’t so very precious. There was no need to be overly attached to my initial ideas. If you create the right conditions (i.e. knowing the scholarship, allowing yourself to explore any hunches and research gaps that occur to you), ideas come regularly. All musicians know that ‘practice makes perfect’ – or rather, nearly perfect. Similarly, I’d say, regular practice works in relation to something seemingly so uncontrollable as creative insight.

I could not have written the PhD that I eventually did at the start of this journey. There’s no getting round the fact that, occasionally, the rewriting was tough, but the progress I could see in my work was also a great source of joy. The final polishing of each chapter took time and required meticulous precision in my articulation of ideas and referencing of work that I built upon. At this stage, the devil really is in the detail. If something is nagging you about a piece of the puzzle that doesn’t entirely fit, it is probably worth taking a closer look – and rewriting, yet again, that particular section. Even so, by this stage, the principal work has been done, and it can be intensely satisfying to see the overall narrative come together. For me personally, while the final months of my PhD were marked by great sadness as my supervisor unexpectedly passed away, it was strangely also a deeply fulfilling time as, in honour of her memory and encouraged by a wonderful second supervisor, the various parts finally fell into place.

So, in sum, for me the following strategy worked: putting in the hours to do detailed work on mapping existing scholarship, then creating some distance and taking the time to reflect, letting the creative juices flow. I’d sketch out my arguments without requiring perfection, writing fast, and writing and rewriting a lot. Practice helped: the more I wrote and the more I had to think over what I had written, the easier it became to rethink and rewrite material. Finally, once a chapter’s definitive take on a matter had been developed, I had to switch back into precision mode and be meticulous in the presentation of my thoughts. For what it’s worth, that was my recipe for a PhD that in the end was classified as outstanding.

But now some of you might be sceptical: didn’t I point to the nature of something ‘outstanding’ as being something that by definition is applicable to only a limited number? But just as I believe that every technically and musically gifted player can touch the listener with an individual performance full of expression, so I believe that every dedicated and creative doctoral candidate can write a thought-provoking and captivating PhD. To stand out from the crowd does not necessarily mean being a cut above the rest. It means contributing something that you have truly made your own and that draws in your audience.

Dr Hannah Laurens is a Postdoctoral Fellow of the British Society for the History of Philosophy (BSHP) and Lecturer at Pembroke College, University of Oxford. Her research covers a broad range of topics in the History of Philosophy, from ‘nous’ (the intellect) and nature in Aristotle to salvation and ‘acquiescentia’ (contentment) in Spinoza. In 2018 she was awarded the BSHP Graduate Essay Prize for her paper on Aristotle’s Posterior Analytics II.19 and from 2018 to 2021 she led a large-scale outreach project in the Netherlands on the radical Spinozist philosopher Adriaan Koerbagh (1633–1669). She received her PhD from the University of St Andrews.

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Preparing for your Viva

Before your Viva takes places there are some steps you can take in preparing yourself for the examination:

Anticipate questions that will be asked

Test yourself by doing some practice questions. Ask your supervisor to provide you with a list of questions that they would anticipate may be asked. Identify areas that you are uncertain about and discuss further with your supervisor if you have concerns about what you could be questioned on.

You may find your supervisor or department will automatically organise a mock viva. If not, ask your supervisor if they will conduct a mock viva with you, perhaps including another member of the research team who is familiar with your research work and could ask you relevant questions.

Review your material

Review your knowledge as you go along. Make sure you have not missed anything along the way. If there is anything you are unsure of, make time to focus on that area again. Mark up key parts of your thesis. Remember you are allowed to take a copy of your thesis into the examination. You can refer to it if needed, such as when discussing key figures and tables in relation to the data that you have generated.

Some time may have passed since you submitted your thesis, so make sure you are up to date with relevant publications published after your thesis submission. If you don't you may find that your examiners are more up to date on relevant published research findings than you.

Keep calm, relax, sleep well and eat well

When re-reading your thesis and revising for your viva do not let yourself get too stressed. Allow yourself plenty of time to prepare for the examination. Do not leave things until the last minute - especially not the night before the viva.

Allow yourself time to relax, eat properly, and sleep. You will function better in your viva if you are not tired, hungry and grumpy - and you'll make a better impression on your examiners.

You can review the useful videos and resources put together by a group of UK universities demystifying and giving advice to students who are preparing for their viva.

You may also consider attending some workshops to further develop your communicating research skills .

During your Viva

Just as when delivering any other presentation, remember to breathe, pause between sentences and engage with your examiners. Regular eye contact is key.

If you do not understand the question, ask the examiner to repeat it. If you do not know the answer to a question, just be honest and say so.

When answering questions, take a moment to think before you speak. That way you will ensure you give a detailed but concise answer and will avoid waffling in an unfocused manner.

IMAGES

How to pass your PhD viva
10 How to Pass PhD ViVa Presentation ideas
10 How to Pass PhD ViVa Presentation ideas
How do you prepare PhD comprehensive viva Examination? PhD Comprehensive viva exam tips viva ppt VTU
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10 How to Pass PhD ViVa Presentation ideas

COMMENTS

PhD Viva Voces
There are six outcomes of a PhD viva: (1) pass without corrections (2) pass subject to minor corrections, (3) pass subject to major corrections, (4) downgrade to MPhil with no amendments, (5) downgrade to MPhil subject to amendments, (6) immediate fail. Almost all students who sit their viva pass it, with the most common outcome being ' (2 ...
Six top tips to pass your PhD viva
There are different outcomes for a PhD viva, which vary from one university to the next. However, it's likely to be some variation of: pass with no corrections; pass with minors; pass with majors; resubmit, or fail. Don't fixate on the outcome. The only one you DON'T want is a fail, but that's very rare.
5 tips for passing your PhD viva
5. Plan towards the viva exam. From the moment you know the date of your viva voce, work backwards and plan the steps you'll need to take before the day itself. Allow enough time to assess and review your work so that as the day approaches, you can focus on the practicalities.
14 top tips to help you prepare for the PhD viva
You know your research better than anyone; be ready to defend it. 9) Mock it up. Arrange a mock viva with your supervisors or ask a colleague to ask you questions. Practise giving concise and confident answers in an examination situation. 10) Look at the examiners' work.
PhD Viva Exam
The viva voce is the final assessment for a PhD. It is an oral examination where the student defends their research to two academic examiners. This involves answering questions about your work, typically related to the literature, methodology, your findings and the significance of your conclusions. In some countries (like the USA) the viva is ...
Five top tips to pass your PhD viva
1). Make your own learning space. "It's important on the lead up to the viva voce to have a space that's designated for your preparations. This could be at your university, in a coffee shop or at home. "For instance, I took over my dining room table for a good two months. I had all of my resources there - my books, my thesis and lots of post-it ...
18 tips to pass your Viva presentation
Viva Voce defense could be a failure if you don't present properly. Learn tips on how to do PhD viva dissertation defense that makes you pass in doctoral viva. Face Viva exam confidently with an impressive opening speech. Keep some sample PhD viva questions and answers readily. Adjust voice as per the room size during the presentation of PhD ...
How to pass your PhD viva
The PhD viva is the final part of doctorate study, where you present and defend your findings to a panel of experts. Dr Kirsty Devaney provides some valuable...
PDF A Guide for Viva Preparation
The viva voce, shortened to viva, is an oral examination where you are expected to 'defend' your thesis, and the quality of your research will be assessed. The viva will take place usually within 3 months of submitting your thesis; it is a required examination in order to achieve a postgraduate research degree.
What is a viva? PhD viva, viva voce, viva process and more
A PhD viva or viva voce is an oral examination where you defend your thesis in front of internal examiner(s) from your institution and/or external examiner(s) from another institution specializing in your subject area. ... Remember, most PhD students pass their viva, so focus on preparing and confidently discussing your research. Things to keep ...
Defending your doctoral thesis: the PhD viva
Once you have submitted your thesis you will be invited to defend your doctorate at a 'viva voce' (Latin for 'by live voice') or oral examination. The thesis defence can be a daunting prospect, but many people really enjoy this experience of discussing their PhD research with genuinely interested experts. It can also be a useful networking ...
How to prepare for PhD viva? Get advice from researchers around the
Personally, I believe that the preparation for the viva starts from choosing your examiners. Choosing examiners with a research profile close to what you are doing in your PhD might help to have a smooth viva what we could call a discussion session. To prepare for PhD viva, first read carefully the thesis from the start to the end.
Top 10 Ph.D. Viva Questions and How to Answer Them
1. Tell us about your study. Usually the first question is an opener and is asked with the goal of breaking the ice and getting you talking about your thesis. The items the panel presents to you will start broad and get more specific and involved as your viva progresses.
How to Excel in Your Doctoral Viva
How to excel in your doctoral viva offers an accessible guide to approaching and preparing for a PhD viva examination. The book explains what the viva is, how the process works, and what the purpose of the viva is. It guides the reader through the course of preparing for their viva examination, with chapters focusing on organisation to dealing with viva concerns.
What is a PhD Viva Like? Sharing Graduates' Experiences
This delves into how a PhD viva is assessed, who is present, the potential outcomes and what follows after. As a quick recap, a PhD viva (also called a defense in some countries) is the final assessment a PhD student undertakes in order to pass their PhD. The format the viva can take varies from country to country and even institution to ...
5 Tips for Preparing for Your PhD Viva
5. Focus on Your Strengths. Try to view the viva as an opportunity to showcase the new knowledge you have added to your field of research. Focus on the positives that have come out of your work; all projects will have some areas of weakness but there's no need to highlight these to your examiners unless directly asked about them.
Impressing the Examiners: How to Prepare for Your PhD Viva
On the day of the viva, arrive early with plenty of time to spare. You may consider spending the night nearby if you live far away. Make sure you know where to go, and are properly fed and hydrated. You may wish to bring water with you to the viva itself. Re-read your notes and try to focus on relaxing.
PhD Viva: What it is and How to Prepare
The official name for a PhD Viva is Viva Voce, which is Latin for living voice. It is an oral examination, comprising 20% towards the evaluation of a doctoral degree. The other 80% of the doctoral degree is allocated to the research work. Both are compulsory components of any Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme.
How to pass your PhD viva in a pandemic
Here are her five top tips: Leverage the benefits of being in your own home: get out in the fresh air for a walk, have a good meal beforehand and get yourself as relaxed as possible. Do lots of different types of preparation: research stock questions online, consider a mock viva and hold practice sessions online with friends.
How to pass your PhD viva
Be confident. Ryder says the most important thing he does at his workshops is try and instil confidence in candidates. Sikes agrees that most people should be justifiably confident: 'If failure ...
Passing Your Viva with No Corrections: Towards an Outstanding PhD
The meaning we associate most immediately with 'outstanding' is perhaps that of 'excellent' or 'first-rate': an outstanding PhD is one that ranks high on some sort of classificatory scheme. But this meaning, I suspect, is derived from its more literal meaning, that of standing out from the crowd.
The Viva
The Graduate School has put together a complete online resource Passing your Viva, including information on the processes involved, and videos on both a student perspective and an examiner's perspective. If you want to request a remote Viva, you should read the Guidance for Students on the Modality of Final Thesis Research Degree Vivas .
I had a brutal PhD viva followed by two years of corrections
I have painted a picture of a viva as a moment where the university's understanding of a PhD as a training exercise clashes with the student's profoundly personal investment in their work.