How To Excel In Your Doctoral Viva

Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
List of Tables
1: Introduction
1.1 Welcome
1.2 The Authors
1.3 Why Write a Book on how to Complete a Successful Viva?
1.4 How Does this Book Work?
References
2: What Is the Viva?
2.1 What the Viva Is Not
2.2 Purpose of the Viva
2.3 What Does the Viva Involve?
2.4 Why Is the Viva an Oral Examination Not a Written Exam?
2.5 The Viva as a Dyadic Conversation Not an Interview
2.6 The Viva as an Opportunity to Engage with Academics
2.7 Practical Points
Choosing Examiners
When Do my Examiners Receive my Thesis?
What Do my Examiners Do Prior to my Viva?
When Should I Have my Viva?
Timing of the Viva
Location of the Viva
Who Will Be in the Viva Room?
Taking Notes in the Viva
Communication Etiquette Regarding Viva Examination
2.8 Post Viva
3: Urban Myths about the PhD Viva
3.1 Viva Rumours
3.2 Top 20 Urban Myths about the PhD Viva
3.3 Debunking Common Viva Myths
4: Real Viva Experiences
4.1 General Viva Feelings
4.2 Subject-Specific Viva Experiences
Biosciences
Animal Behaviour
Psychology
Neuroscience
4.3 Anthropology
Mathematics
Multidisciplinary
Medicine
Nursing
Theology
Education
Pharmacy
4.4 Examiner Experiences
5: Making the Most of and Enjoying your Viva
5.1 Making the Most of and Enjoying the Viva
5.2 An Enjoyable Experience
The Build-up to the Viva
Reflect on What you Have Achieved
Reflect on why you Took on this Project
Look at a Wider Perspective
Prepare for Tricky Questions
Own your Work and Ideas
Practice Receiving Constructive Criticism
Practice Explaining your Research
Prepare for the Logistics of the Day
The Viva itself
Take Breaks
Don’t Make it Harder for Yourself
Ask for Clarification
Drink Water
Take your Phone
The Aftermath
5.3 The Value of the Viva
A Chance to Show off
A Chance to Discuss Critically
Gaining Valuable New Perspectives
Practice in Articulating Complex Ideas
Practice in Selling you, your Work, and your Skills
5.4 The Purpose of your Viva
5.5 How the Viva Helps you Post-PhD
Job Interviews
The Workplace
Teaching
Conferences
Meetings and Presentations
5.6 Favourite Parts of the Viva
5.7 Positive Viva Memories
Reference
6: After the Viva
6.1 Outcomes
6.2 Corrections/Revisions
6.3 Post Viva Celebrations
7: Practice Questions
7.1 Common Viva Questions
General Questions
Literature Review/Background Questions
Chapter or Study-Specific Questions
Overall Contribution and Value Questions
Alternative Approaches Questions
Future Research Questions
8: Being Confident in your Thesis
8.1 How to Ensure you Are Confident in your Work
8.2 Your Work Is Valuable
8.3 You Are the Expert
8.4 Imposter Syndrome
8.5 Defending your Thesis
8.6 Saying ‘I’ Not ‘we’
8.7 Honesty and Hindsight
Reference
9: The Viva Preparation Timeline
9.1 Three Months before Oral Examination
9.2 Two Months Prior to your Viva
9.3 One Week to Go
9.4 The Day before
9.5 The Viva Day
9.6 Preparation Timeline
Reference
10: Participating in a Mock Viva
10.1 Why Do a Mock Viva?
10.2 How to Set up a Mock Viva
10.3 How Far in Advance Should the Mock Viva Be?
10.4 Who Should Examine the Mock Viva?
Your Director of Studies/Primary Supervisor
Other Members of your Supervisory Team
Faculty Involved in Previous Steps
Other Experts
Non-experts
10.5 Should Anyone Else Attend your Mock Viva?
Supervisors
Audience
10.6 What to Do after the Mock Viva
10.7 Key Elements and Questions to Include
11: Viva Concerns
References
Appendix
Index