Worried about your PhD Viva? Here are 6 tips to ease your mind
Apart from PhD thesis writing, the most dreaded task for graduates is surviving their PhDviva. A PhD is quite different from any Bachelors and master’s degree and your viva plays an important role in measuring your overall performance and the strength of your research.
Since it is the final hurdle for gaining a PhD, the viva is often surrounded by horrendous stories based on different experiences. If these stories still haunt you and make you worried about your viva, then relax as we answer all your viva worries in our post below. Apart from answering your worries, our tips will also help you in preparing and performing well on your viva day.
Myth: Viva lasts for about nine hours
Fact: Viva lasts no longer than two hours
While stories of PhD vivas lasting for nine hours are common, generally a viva lasts anywhere between one to two hours and doesn’t last longer than two hours. To make the most out of your time, make sure all your statistics, drawings and equations are in place. It is also good to be prepared to answer any questions based on your research.
Myth: The examiners will break you
Fact: The examiners are only evaluating your knowledge
Students often believe that the examiners will sabotage the viva, so students are unable to score higher points for their answers. However, like any other examination, the examiner’s job during the viva is to check the student’s subject knowledge. So, be prepared to gather all the knowledge covering your research in different ways. Calmly answer every question asked by the examiner to give a better understanding of your PhD thesis ideas, findings and conclusions.
Myth: Students go blank during the viva
Fact: Tricky questions might confuse you
Although you might forget your answers and get confused during the viva, you will never go blank. Especially if you prepare well in advance. Go through different subjects of your PhD dissertation and practise answering predictable questions. Practising how to answer different types of questions, such as open, closed, applied, probing, and specific questions, will help you be prepared.
Myth: The examiner might misinterpret your answers
Fact: The Examiner will give you a chance to defend your work
Examiners are often disappointed when students don’t do justice to themselves and come with no strategies to defend their work during the viva. Experts advise you to prepare short summaries of important topics of your thesis and make different strategies to present your key findings, arguments, methodology and conclusions. Also, know your strengths and weaknesses beforehand and do not hesitate to accept your weaknesses.
Myth: You should be over-prepared
Fact: Over-preparing might not help
As a viva is an important examination, you might think of spending a longer time going through your complete dissertation and memorising the key points. However, this is not required as you have already spent a lot more time researching your topic and presenting your ideas in the dissertation. You have already completed the groundwork and need to be confident to present your ideas in front of the examiner.
Myth: Viva is like a confrontational contest
Fact: Viva is like any other two-way communication event
Instead of assuming a PhD viva will be a terrible ordeal, consider it as an opportunity to discuss your research with your peers who are specialists in your field. Remain calm and remember that you have presented valuable research. Showcase your skills, make eye contact, use gestures and use a clear voice to present your ideas and arguments.
If you’re unsure of the questions you might be asked during your PhD viva or are feeling entirely unprepared, Original PhD’s experts can help. Whether you’d like some example Q&As or a presentation made for you, getting help from a professional PhD thesis writing service can ease your worries. Contact us today.
