How to Prepare for PhD Viva?

Nov 10, 2022 Image credit: Unsplash. Navya Rajan

Are you going to appear for PhD viva? Are you nervous? Worry not, this story will discuss some tips that help you to do better during PhD viva.

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Be proactive

[{"selector":"#anim-43d4127d-dc05-44ce-925a-bab5fd354a9b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1578ecc4-7053-4f47-ba38-a7b7da2b89f6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a12b22da-f683-4626-a08d-e52dd8658d61","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.23474%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-193eac0c-19b1-4a71-9574-0f780290cb3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0fc1d82f-3cff-4478-9254-f3e89ec7e4db","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 190.64347%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3614d253-d090-4649-943e-eb99392763ae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":750,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Knowing that after your thesis submission, viva voce is not far away, start preparing by reading your thesis thoroughly. Image credit: Unsplash.

Know your examiner

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Know your thesis inside out

[{"selector":"#anim-c13f63f6-b632-4881-9ccf-a3a044ed0f8e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e12de5cf-bee3-4a1d-b7ec-17fe6c6a6d2a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ca55cba-bb6c-44ad-8b8b-ba3388f7b24a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 168.94245%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ddd5f2f-5dd6-49e1-ba55-02549b6134fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca419042-7e3f-4c96-87ab-7b8e15a0f9c9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 190.64347%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50a52623-f245-443e-8ab5-9e27630b0de6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":750,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Be thorough with your thesis and prepare for every figure or result given. Image credit: Unsplash.

Keep practicing

[{"selector":"#anim-fc7a9679-11de-4277-ba7a-2e556fd077f6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1297c334-8926-4482-996a-ee3bca3989a3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c3ca8e1-5885-4e96-a813-697facf61e37","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 146.03170%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-85b324b9-fc83-4c23-b17b-613af0e9b48e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c018f30b-3ba3-48e8-9f8d-a4a3c41acab5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 190.64347%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89cecc64-6dba-4a9e-a9e0-e645585ef499","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":750,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Prepare your presentation and practice giving mock presentations so you have an idea about what to talk about on your D-day. Image credit: Unsplash.

Prepare viva questions

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Meditate

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Have a copy of your thesis in hand

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Dress well

[{"selector":"#anim-49fa5928-fe0d-47f1-b218-567f53496651 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-925aabc7-f619-43fa-8587-35fe76afffdc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08b99405-d3c4-4873-9d59-30d7f5e96d45","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 152.49746%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f407a584-8043-4681-803f-b6c8a8b32158","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28f0c051-c557-44cc-aa93-4c0365a3fb11","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 190.64347%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8e459b9-625d-4096-a53d-a0b464c87a20","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":750,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Wear good, clear and fine clothes, don’t try to do too much with your look. Try to look natural. Image credit: Unsplash.

Viva voce is definitely an integral part of your PhD degree but it is not the end. Stay calm and be positive.

[{"selector":"#anim-31332a11-8d83-48a2-8524-c6d0aaee2f2a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-03995b96-bf40-4951-b680-4596adacc806","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":750,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Related article

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