1. Dr Kate Mahoney Preparing for your Viva What is it? What can you expect? kate.mahoney@communicationandme.com www.communicationandme.com

2. What is the purpose of a viva? This an opportunity for the examiners to check: whether it is your own work whether you understand what you did whether it is worth a PhD (i.e. is a contribution to knowledge)

3. What makes a successful viva? Rationale Explain and justify Knowing the types of questions Knowing your own thesis thoroughly

4. Preparation: before your viva Put your thesis away for a week or two after submission

5. Preparation: before your viva After your mini break… Re-read your thesis Summarise Be familiar with references Think about viva questions

6. Anticipated questions...... You could be asked about your: methods of data collection and analysis justifications for choosing such methods and data analysis central research question approach to the research – underlying philosophy field of study more generally

7. More anticipated questions…. You could be asked about the: data findings/conclusions contribution to the field limitations and where next literature

8. Exercise one What has your thesis contributed to our knowledge in this field? Working in groups of 2 or 3 each answer this question in 3 minutes

9. Preparation: on the day Bring in your thesis List of your anticipated questions and how you might respond to them Any notes you made in revision Room number and time of your viva.

10. Who will be there (normally): 2 examiners – an internal and an external. Your supervisor (main in the case of 2 or this can be negotiated) Depending on your department you may have an independent ‘Chair’ or ‘Examinations Advisor’

11. The viva process Usually between 2 and 3 hours Examiners will ask you questions (similar to a job interview) You will do all the answering of questions and defending your thesis

12. Think of your viva as a conversation where... You explain (and defend) what you’ve done You can ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question

13. Some things to remember about competent researchers They recognise, anticipate, acknowledge and overcome weaknesses They know how to sell their research and are positive about the work they have carried out

14. Exercise two A mock viva

15. Outcomes Award degree in question Pass with minor corrections Resubmission of thesis Award lower qualification (the degrees of MPhil or the appropriate Masters degree by Research may be awarded) Failing the candidate

16. The Viva https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= S7ihcJk2sKY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= S7ihcJk2sKY

17. 5 Top Tips

18. Number One Your examiners want you to do well, they will be fair but rigorous

19. Number Two You are the expert in this field

20. Number Three Preparation, preparation, preparation.

21. Number Four If you don’t know your thesis the night before your viva you never will

22. Number Five Expect the unexpected

23. And finally.... Good Luck

24. Dr Kate Mahoney Preparing for your Viva What is it? What can you expect? kate.mahoney@communicationandme.com www.communicationandme.com