Two Months On: Reflections on My Viva Experience

It’s been two months since I successfully defended my thesis (with minor corrections), and I feel it’s the right time to share some reflections on this significant milestone. I hope these thoughts resonate with fellow PhD candidates and offer some reassurance or guidance to those preparing for their own vivas.

I submitted my thesis just after the New Year—a decision that meant spending most of the holiday season working on it (very exciting, I know). After a few rounds of email coordination, my viva was scheduled for 12th March. This gave me a two-month window between submission and the big day.

January, however, was not spent in preparation. I intentionally took a break from anything PhD-related. Knowing that starting too early might lead to a loss of momentum, I embraced the opportunity to rest and recharge through some much-needed travel. My main supervisor, Richard, reassured me that beginning preparations in February would give me ample time.

When February arrived, I felt re-energised and ready to begin. I started by presenting my methodology, findings, and contributions to my fellow LANTERNers. Their insightful feedback and thoughtful questions helped sharpen my thinking and anticipate potential lines of enquiry. Alongside these sessions, I also did three mock vivas with Richard, who kindly guided me through the process and the types of questions I might be asked. Both the LANTERN meetings and the mock vivas provided a safe and supportive environment that encouraged me to think more critically and deeply about my work.

During these sessions, I took note of questions that caught me off guard or that I didn’t answer as clearly as I would have liked. I revisited these areas later, working to develop stronger, more structured responses. This strategy proved very useful—I did encounter a few of those questions during my actual viva, and I was much more confident in addressing them.

In addition to these collaborative efforts, I also prepared independently. After a break from my thesis, I returned to it with fresh eyes, reading through it chapter by chapter. I printed it out so I could highlight key points and make annotations directly on the pages. For each chapter, I summarised the main arguments in bullet points and considered what kinds of questions might arise. I only read through my thesis once, but I did so thoroughly. This allowed me to draw on many of my participants’ narratives during the viva to support my responses—an approach that was well received by my examiners.

In the final few days before the viva, I borrowed a set of viva cards from the Doctoral Academy to help prepare for more general questions. The night before, I quickly reviewed the cards and rehearsed potential responses to get myself into ‘viva mode’.

The Big Day

The 12th of March arrived—a sunny and pleasant day, which helped to lift my spirits and keep me calm. I followed my usual routine and went to the office at my normal time, which helped distract me and ease any building anxiety. I spent the morning reviewing notes and practising responses. About half an hour before the viva, I met Richard at his office so we could walk to the viva room together. Min joined us shortly after, and the three of us made our way there. It was at that point that the nerves really set in—it was suddenly very real.

In the viva room, my supervisors sat at the back, out of my line of sight. I was seated across from my two examiners, Jane and Leonie, and the independent chair, Diane. The viva lasted about 90 minutes, covering five broad areas such as ethics, methodology, and findings. The examiners took turns asking questions from each category.

At first, it felt very much like a formal examination, and I was acutely aware of every word I said. But as time went on, the tone shifted and it began to feel more like a scholarly discussion. I believe my note-taking helped me stay focused. One issue that came up during my mock vivas was my tendency to jump into answers too quickly, sometimes without fully organising my thoughts, which made my responses less structured. To counter this, I brought a notebook and pen with me. For each question, I jotted down the key points I wanted to cover and numbered them. This simple strategy helped me stay on track and regain my train of thought if I ever got lost mid-answer.

The discussion flowed smoothly, and once all the questions had been asked, I was asked to leave the room with my supervisors so the panel could deliberate. The wait felt long—as anyone who’s gone through it will understand. When we were finally called back in, I was relieved to hear that I had received an Aii. It was a result I was happy with, and a fitting conclusion to a four-year journey.

So, here I am, reflecting on the experience and looking ahead to the next chapter.