PhDiary #10: “Are you good enough?” – Prepping for the Viva

Take a break

The absolute first thing I did after submission was take a break. I had three months until my viva and so took a few weeks off. It wasn’t exactly the most restful as my sister got married and then I went up to four days a week at my job.

Looking back, it would have been nice to have a little more time to myself to recover. I still think I’m carrying some of the weight of the PhD, months later. So, if you’re able, take some time to just be.

Research your examiners

Perhaps the number one tip I got from every PhD graduate was to research my examiners. As passionate people, many academics are in the habit of steering the conversation towards their own interests. Reading up on their research will help you figure out which parts of your thesis they’ll be most interested in.

I didn’t realise that one of my examiners had previously published some work on food history, something which I covered in my second chapter. Unsurprisingly, he focused a lot of his attention there in my exam.

Take long walks

Once you understand who’s going to be examining you, it’s time to contemplate potential questions. Having read through my thesis a couple of times, someone suggested taking long walks to let my mind ponder the ins and outs of my research.

I found this immensely helpful. Walking around felt far less overwhelming than sitting at a desk. My mind also wandered into arguments and angles I hadn’t previously though of before. You will never predict exactly what you’ll get asked in the viva, so instead of stressing over the little details, take the time to really get to know the core of your thesis.

Have a mock viva

Reading and taking notes on your thesis is all well and good but you’ll have to talk during the viva. I quickly realised how much I struggled to string together a coherent and intelligent sentence after my supervisor ran a mock viva with me. He recommended talking through my research with family and friends. While I’m not sure they appreciated being bombarded with dense historical research, it certainly helped me practice my improvised presentation skills.

What will be will be

While you can annotate your thesis, run mock vivas, read about your examiners and ponder every possible question you may be asked, there is only so much you can do to prepare for the viva. You will never know what you’ll be asked, and that’s ok. It’s far more important to go into the exam as relaxed and comfortable as possible. You’ve done the work. You can’t change your thesis now, which is ultimately what you’re being marked on. All you can do is go in and justify your decisions.

Nobody’s viva experience is the same. Some really enjoy it, others don’t. Similarly, nobody will prepare for the viva the same way. If you prefer making notes, then lean into that. If you prefer talking it over with people, do that. Overall, it’s all about doing what’s best for you and what makes you feel more comfortable.