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The Viva: before, during and after
Professor Derek Colquhoun,
Centre for Educational Studies, Faculty of Education
The Viva: nuts ‘n bolts
•What actually happens...?
•Composition –
2 Examiners 1 internal, 1 external, Independent chair (for due process),
Supervisors (nb stay quiet)
•Lunch, meet and greet
•Hold the viva... You are asked to leave after all questions...asked back in and told decision
Before the Viva
• Have input into the decision about your examiners (don’t be passive)
• Know your examiners’ work – do your homework (internal and external)
• Use the gap between submission and the viva (have time off and then re-acquaint yourself with your thesis)
• Talk with others about their experiences
• Have a ‘mock’ viva with peers and/or supervisor in the week prior to the real thing
During the Viva
•‘normally’ temporal in process – starts at the start and ends at the end!
•take in notes/thesis/supervisor
•Be familiar with the room and the process
•See the viva as a professional conversation between researchers!
•Fight your corner ...on some things...
•Thank the examiners for making the thesis stronger!
•CELEBRATE!
Examiners’ recommendations•that the candidate be awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
•that the candidate be awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
subject to corrections being made to the thesis to the satisfaction of
the internal examiner within three months. The term corrections
refers to typographical errors, occasional stylistic or grammatical
flaws, corrections to references etc.
•that the candidate be awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
subject to amendments. The term amendments refers to certain
changes of substance in a specific element or elements of the thesis
specified by the examiners. These shall not involve a revision of the
whole thesis or of a major proportion of it. The changes must be
made to the thesis to the satisfaction of the internal examiner within
six months of the date of being informed of the decision of the
examiners.
After the Viva
•Wait for joint report...then...
•When you get this report meet with your supervisor/s to discuss the report
•Systematically address every issue in the examiners’ report
•Produce a memo to the internal examiner outlining very clearly how you addressed every single issue
•CELEBRATE! And use ‘Dr’ when booking hotels and flights!
•Publish if appropriate
•Be aware of ‘post PhD blues’
•Book your slot at Graduation and CELEBRATE!
