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