The VivaThe Viva

Former and Current Students’ Perspectives

Former and Current Students’ Perspectives

Barry Orr

Kate Gee

Clair Pond

13/04/1013/04/10

Thoughts before the viva (1)

Thoughts before the viva (1)

•Pressure to succeed •(from where?)

•This is most important day of my career.•(True?)

•How can I discuss 3/4 years work in enough detail in a few hours?

•I’ve found errors in my thesis!

•I hate confrontations

Thoughts before the viva (2)

Thoughts before the viva (2)

•I’ve been living and breathing my thesis for years, I don’t need to practice talking about it•(Thinking and talking as two separate entities)

•Will I look stupid if I ask questions e.g. Could you clarify what you mean?

•I haven’t published all/some of my work yet, will this matter?

•Do I know enough about my topic to really be examined on it?

Thoughts before the viva (3)

Thoughts before the viva (3)

•I need to be assertive, but not aggressive

•Am I going to be as good as my friends/ colleagues?

•What if I let people/Department down with my performance?

Things you shouldn't say at your dissertation defense…   

         

                

         

                

         

                

         

                

         

                

         

                

         

                

         

                

         

                

         

                

         

                

         

                

Thoughts during the viva (1)

Thoughts during the viva (1)

•This isn’t as terrifying as I expected!

•This is more like a chat/discussion about my favourite topic.

•There must be a clear cut answer to these questions, right?

•Is it ok to make notes? Some interesting ideas have come up!

Thoughts during the viva (2)

Thoughts during the viva (2)

I would feel happy to approach these people at a conference now!

They’re querying basic assumptions!

I can’t answer some of these questions, does that mean I’ll fail?

The questioning was shorter/took longer than I’d expected, what does it mean?

This feels like it’s been going on for hours!

Thoughts after the viva (1)Thoughts after the viva (1)

•The examiners weren’t against me!

•Wish I hadn’t wasted so much time worrying beforehand.

•They were really interested in my work, I could have discussed interesting findings with them.

•I’ve made some useful contacts here.

Thoughts after the viva (2)Thoughts after the viva (2)

•The examiners have given me a lot to think about.

•I’m even more motivated by my research now.

•I can finally relax!

•This is a bit of an anticlimax…!

•What’s next?

•Gosh, what now?!

Good Luck!!! Good Luck!!!