Livin’ la viva loca! Tips and tricks for successfully defending your thesis

The viva – the thing that stands between you and the ​‘Dr’ title you’ve been working years to achieve. For many doctoral students, the viva might send you into the ​“crazy life” (that is what Ricky Martin meant, right?) but, as someone who successfully defended their thesis and passed with no corrections (though that should not be the goal!), the experience does not need to be as anxiety-inducing as it seems.

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many postgraduate research (PGR) students and seeing just how varied viva experiences can be – be it disciplinary differences or an examiner’s approach to assessing your work. Whilst these may be factors out of your control, understanding what you can do at each stage is the first step in successfully defending your thesis. 

In this blog, I’m sharing the viva tips and tricks that I’ve decided not to gatekeep any longer! I’m especially grateful to my brilliant supervisors, Professor Robert Beckford and Dr Simon Boxley, whose coaching deeply influenced how I prepared for and approached the viva. 

This blog post is written for general advice and guidance from a recent UK-based post-doctoral perspective and should not replace institutional or supervisory guidance you have received. The advice provided may be more applicable to PGRs based in Education, Sociology and other social science and humanities disciplines. 

Seeing the viva as three distinct stages primes your mindset to tackle the process one step at a time. These stages include:

• Pre-viva: Preparation before the viva takes place.
• In-viva: Approach to answering questions and general conduct.
• Post-viva: Understanding the outcomes you may receive, and the steps required after your formal examination.

Before continuing with the blog, take a moment to take stock of how you currently feel about the viva process. You can use the following prompts:

1. What emotions come up when you think about your viva?

2. Which aspects of the viva feel most uncertain or unclear to you right now?

3. What do you hope to gain from the viva beyond ​“passing”?

Taking the time and space to work through your thoughts and feelings can help identify any concerns early on and support you in feeling more prepared for the viva ahead.

Before your viva even takes place, there is quite a bit of administrative work to undertake (since we all love bureaucracy!). Whilst your supervisors should be able to guide you, do not rely solely on their understanding. Getting familiar with your university’s processes and procedures empowers you with the knowledge of what paperwork is required and by certain deadlines. If you have a disability or learning difference, it will be especially important to communicate and/​or understand what reasonable adjustments you are entitled to ensure an equitable approach to assessing your thesis.

Arguably, the most important element to the viva are your examiners. As a doctoral student, I was so certain of who I wanted to critically engage with my work. Therefore, if possible, be active in the examiner selection process, and ensure you have a general awareness of their work and current projects. If possible, try and scope out what their examining style is like – having a rigorous but fair examiner can make all the difference to your viva experience!

A month or so prior to your viva, undertake a mock viva with your supervisor(s). They may overly-grill you but know that this is just to prepare you. Additionally, treat the mock as if it were the real thing as it gives your supervisors a clearer sense of your performance and supports them to give you useful, personalised feedback.

After a mock viva, preparation for the real deal can reasonably take place at least two weeks prior. Preparations should include reading and re-reading your thesis – but doing so kindly. Do not focus on grammatical or formatting errors (though make a note of them as your post‑viva self will thank you!). At this stage, you want to read to absorb, not to admonish. For example, after reading and re-reading, I created one-paragraph summaries of each chapter to know what I covered and what themes came to the fore.

I also learnt a lot by looking at other doctoral thesis’ in my field of study. You can access any UK doctoral thesis via the British Library, or feel free to look at my own here (shameless plug…). I found that clearly labelling each section and subsection made it much easier for my examiners to direct my attention when asking questions during the viva.

Finally, as your examiners will likely refer to page numbers and/​or chapter numbers, make sure you have a printed and properly bound (not loose-leaf) copy of your thesis in front of you – the last thing you want to happen in your viva is your thesis flying across the room as soon as you enter! Adding index tabs to key sections, especially where you discuss core concepts or your main contributions, can also make it much easier to navigate quickly under pressure.

The big day has arrived! Whether your viva is online or in person, here are some practical tips that go a long way. 

Firstly, alongside your printed bound thesis copy, come prepared with a notepad, pen and water bottle to hand. Wear a smart-casual outfit that you feel most comfortable in (also ensuring you’re ready for your quintessential post-viva pic!). Finally, although most vivas will include a Chair to ensure appropriate conduct, do not feel pressured to ask for small breaks if needed.

Next, let’s talk about language and how you can answer like a pro! Exercise deportment in your language by being cordial and respectful in your responses and interactions. Remember, your examiners will have spent time to carefully and expertly consider your thesis. Thanking them for their questions or remarking your interest in their line of inquiry will show you to be an engaged and professional researcher.

When answering questions, the goal is also to present yourself as a confident researcher. But because you can’t predict exactly what you’ll be asked in the viva, it’s easy to slip into over‑explaining mode which can then negate that perception. One of the best tips I received from my supervisors was following the below structure:

1. Write your answer down: This gives you a moment to gather your thoughts and think clearly about how to answer. This is not to say you write an essay and leave your examiners in a lengthy, awkward silence. Rather, jot down core points to help you stay focused and structured in your response.
2. Mentally count yourself in: It’s normal to feel pressured to answer quickly, but by giving yourself a moment to pause, you can regulate feelings of anxiety and project a stronger sense of control as a researcher.
3. Go point-by-point: Once you know what you have to say, you can clearly assert yourself in how you will answer.

Example response – ​“Thank you for your question about my methodological approach and the challenges of ​‘insider’ research. There are three points I want to expand upon. First…”

On the topic of insider research, I learned an important lesson during my mock viva. I used a personal anecdote to reinforce one of my arguments, but I was advised that relying on established scholarship is often the path of least resistance. Essentially, phrasing your points with statements such as ​“the research clearly demonstrates…” or ​“these scholars argue…” leaves less room for critique because your claims are grounded in recognised scholarly discourse.

However, experiential evidence used in your thesis (e.g. participant quotes) can still be powerful if it aligns with your methodological approach whereby it is seen as a criterion for knowledge e.g., Critical Race Theory, Indigenous and decolonial knowledges.

There may be areas where your examiners pick up on a ​‘gap’ in your thinking or writing. As the expert, only you can decide whether the critique is legitimate and if you need to stick to your position. Remember however, it is entirely reasonable to concede to a critique as it can demonstrate a mature and intellectually aware scholar.

Finally, make clear to your examiners what your theoretical, methodological and/​or empirical contributions are. This is the basic criteria for being awarded a doctoral degree i.e., the Level 8 academic standard in the UK. 

Before you breath a sigh of relief when the Chair calls time on your viva, you will most likely have the opportunity to ask your examiners questions. This is your opportunity to build upon (what should hopefully be) a stimulating and thorough discussion of your work with experts who can inform your future thinking. 

Consider networking with your examiners after the viva to build your professional network. Nevertheless, it’s also completely fine to take time to reflect on the viva experience and/​or celebrate the huge accomplishment with family and friends.

The most common outcome for doctoral vivas is to pass with minor corrections. Depending on your outcome, do not feel compelled to address them immediately – take time away to debrief from the experience and speak to supervisors (if they were in attendance) about next steps when you are ready.

• Channel any anxiousness into adrenaline – a viva can genuinely be an enjoyable experience which celebrates you and your work!
• Seek further guidance from former doctoral students, trusted colleagues and/​or your supervisors for any and every part of the viva process.
• Don’t stress about anticipating the questions you’ll be asked. The only questions you can reasonably predict are about your thesis motivation and future directions (i.e., the top and tail of a viva).
• It’s highly unlikely that your outcome will be a fail, so don’t fret over the complete worst-case scenario. 
• Lastly, you know more than you will ever give yourself credit for! Give yourself the grace to recognise the expert you have become.