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The PhD Viva What Happens

Heather Dalgleish

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Programme

What are your concerns about the viva? What do the regulations say? Video and discussion of viva process

Examiners meeting The viva Post-viva discussion

The Outcome Examiners thoughts tudents thoughts

ummary

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What is the viva?

What you understand about the viva process?

!o you "no# #hat happens on the day?

!o you "no# #hat the examiners loo" for?

What is a $pass?

!o you have any particular #orries youd li"e

ans#ered?

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Loughborough University Regulations

%urrent &egulations are available from the&O

Provide guidance on expectations relating todi'erent research degree programmes

!etermine the format (layout) of your thesis *uide you through the thesis submission

process

*uide the choice of examiner

!e+ne #hat the possible outcomes of a Ph!examination are

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What is being examined?

The examiners #ant to see, an original contribution to "no#ledge

appreciation of context of #or"

"no#ledge or related areas

evidence of research training and achievement publishable uality #or"

euivalent to . years full-time research e'ort

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Possible Outcomes

Pass With or #ithout corrections

&efer Thesis goes bac" to examiners / re-examination

0ail 1ot of Ph! standard (2Phil or appeal possible)

Possible to register ane# for fresh Ph! study

1ot 3greed

&e-examined by ne# external examiner4 $second opinion5

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Video the Preliminary panel discussions

2ore than one examiner Examiners discuss their impression of the

thesis

3gree an intervie# structure for viva

!iscuss possible outcomes

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The Viva

Viva should not be interrupted hould be explained to candidate

6uestioning ome general

ome detailed4 chec" understanding

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Video the viva section

Watch the next section of video and

consider:

What do you notice about the types ofquestions asked?

How does the student answer?

Are there any examples of defendin!

the thesis?

"s this similar to what you expected?

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Video the viva section: Discussion

What did you notice about the types of

questions asked?

How did the student answer?Were there any examples of defendin!

the thesis?

Was this similar to what you expected?

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Video - Post viva discussion

Examiners discuss the candidatesperformance What #as important?

What things did they notice?

!o you thin" this candidate has $passed?

The candidate is told the outcome What does he have to do no#?

hould he be celebrating?

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Video Examiners Reflections

2inor amendments are common What other outcomes are possible?

Examiners dont al#ays agree

tudents defence Positive4 not aggressive 7f you disagree4 say so8

Prepare in advance for li"ely uestions

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Video - Students reflections

!raining experience / top academicachievement %hance to discuss your research #ith eminent

academic

9ou are the expert8 1o t#o vivas are the same but uestion types

#ill be similarTry to arrange a $moc" viva

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Summary

2a"e sure you understand and ful+l all:niversity regulations

!efend your thesis

2inor corrections are uite usual

3llo# time in your plans to ma"e them 0eel proud of your achievement