Category Archives: viva

after the viva/defence – then what?

There is no return to normal. There is no going back to what there was before. You have to find new ways of going on. I could be talking about the pandemic here. Yes indeed. But I’m not. I’m actually … Continue reading

Posted in after-care, identity, post-PhD slump, scholarly identity, viva | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

ten playful viva preparation activities

Finished the thesis? Loud cheers. Now to get ready for the viva, or defence as it is called in some places. There’s a lot of great advice about how to prepare for the viva – check out Nathan Ryder’s Viva … Continue reading

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oh no, it’s thesis hand-in limbo

It’s time to talk about the phenomenon of thesis limbo-land. That’s the unknown number of days between handing in and the examination. Handing in the thesis is both a triumph and exhausting. It’s no surprise that many people think of … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, hand-in limbo, handing in, phd defence, thesis, viva, wellbeing | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

PhD by publication

I’ve been asked a few times recently about the text that accompanies published papers for the PhD by publication. So who am I to refuse? This is a slide show that I use to raise some key questions that people … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, examiner, journal article, journal publication, PhD by publication, viva | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

the viva and the supervisor

Last week I reached thirty two. Thirty two doctoral researchers who successfully defended their research. Thirty two Doctors let loose on the world. And two things are now on my mind. Not thirty two. Just two. The first thing I’m … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, PhD, phd defence, supervision, supervisor, viva | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

viva? conference presentation? it’s all about the ‘improv’

So it’s one of those academic occasions when you have to present yourself and your work  – to people who are there to judge you. Think the viva. The interview panel. The first encounter with a new class. The conference … Continue reading

Posted in conference, conference presentation, conference questions, conference survival tips, improvisation, rehearsal, Uncategorized, viva | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

preparing for – then surviving – the viva

This is a guest post from Dr Jill Berry who has just passed her viva. Jill tweets as @jillberry102 and writes for a range of publications including the TES and the Guardian.  Following thirty years as a teacher/school leader, I … Continue reading

Posted in Jill Berry, viva | Tagged , | 17 Comments

after the viva is over…

Jonathan Downie is a conference interpreter, researcher and writer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. His PhD was at Herriot Watt University and examined stakeholder expectations of interpreters. He recently passed his viva. He tweets as @jonathanddownie. It’s Friday morning and I should be … Continue reading

Posted in PhD, phd defence, viva | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

reflecting on PhD learning

Some supervisors ask the doctoral researchers they work with to formally reflect on their learning. A what-am-I-learning conversation might be a regular part of supervision. Reflection is also often self initiated – ongoing thoughts are recorded in a doctoral researcher journal … Continue reading

Posted in doctoral research, text work/identity work, thesis, viva | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

preparing for the PhD oral exam

As a supervisor it is part of my job to help doctoral researchers prepare for their viva. I’ve not done one myself, as Australian PhDs are typically examined by means of a long report from two or three examiners. However, … Continue reading

Posted in contribution, viva | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments