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 (dont 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!