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Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

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Student Learning Development


Viva & Oral Defence Preparation–

An Oral Examination

Dr. Tamara O’Connor


[email protected]



Objectives

• To view viva or oral defence as a performance

event – an oral examination

• To understand the principles of viva

• To understand the purpose of confirmation

• To explore ways to prepare for this type of exam

• To practise writing and answering questions



Concerns? Issues?

Performance Event

• PhD is an examination – a performance event

• How do you prepare for any performance?

– Information gathering

– Preparation and Practice

– Skills development and performance rehearsal



Understand the principles

A PhD is about….

– Knowing your field thoroughly

– Evaluating your subject

– Making a useful contribution

– Mastering appropriate techniques & knowing their

limitation

– Communicating in a professional way



Purpose of viva

• Ascertain it is your own work

• Make sure you understand what you did

• Contribution to knowledge – worthy of PhD

“a deep intellectual conversation between experts

in a particular field (of whom the student, who has

worked on the particular topic for many eyars can

be regarded as the primary expert).”Trinity PhD Viva Guide, p.3



Purpose of confirmation interview

• Clear understanding of project

• Research question or area forms valid subject for

doctoral thesis

• Evidence of research skills and competence

• Appropriate progress to date

• Foundation for PhD – approach, potential results

• Advice on possible directions research might

take



Viva Voce Examination

• See college Calendar Part III and check local

information (school handbook/DTL-PG)

• Chair – Director Teaching & Learning (Postgraduate)

or nominee

• Examiners

– Internal

– External

• Supervisor – if attending only in observatory capacity

• Presentation – some schools have at start

How long does it last?

Length of viva Natural and applied

sciences (%)

Arts, humanities and

social sciences (%)

Up to 1 hour 3% 27%

1-2 hours 40% 56%

2-3 hours 43% 15%

3+ hours 15% 2%

Source: Tinkler and Jackson, The Doctoral Examination Process, SPHE & Open

University Press, Maidenhead: 2004, page 173



How long does it last?

Study of 87 social science PhD graduates from three

Irish HEIs

• 1 hour 30 min (39%)

• 2 hours (29%)

• Few respondents under 1 hour or more than 3

hours

Share (2016)



Results

1. Degree awarded “as it stands”

2. Degree awarded subject to

“minor corrections”

3. Refer the thesis for

“re-examination following major revisions”

_____________________________

4. Lower degree awarded

5. Thesis should be failed

Reframe Event

The Viva/Continuation report . . . An Opportunity

• To discuss your work with experts

• To improve your arguments and

thesis

• To consider where to publish

– get free consultancy!



PORT Videoshttps://port.sas.ac.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=1927

• The viva as an experience -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C__QSSqoor4

• Examiner’s point of view -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg768JIcOMM

https://port.sas.ac.uk/mod/page/view.php?id=1927

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C__QSSqoor4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg768JIcOMM

The Viva ... the Examiners

Adversarial

Some examiners will challenge your

views, in order to hear your argument.

Detailed

Some examiners

inspect every word and phrase.

“On page 32, you say ...

please explain.”

Friendly &

Interested

Examiners will make

you feel at ease. They

will want you to explain

your research.

Twigg (1997)



The Viva ... Stay Calm & Confident

• You are most probably

now the world’s expert on

your thesis topic

• Argue each point with

confidence

• Demonstrate your

depth/breadth of

knowledge



Preparation

• Revision and Summaries

– Re-read critically

– Review each chapter and summarise in points

– Defence of research

• Know limitations

• Emotional preparation



Preparation

• Questions

– Anticipate questions and prepare sample answers

– Easy and hard questions

– Open, closed, probing, applied, general, specific

questions

– Especially ‘Why’ questions

• Develop skills and

techniques



Viva strategies & skills

• Defining

– Define & illustrate

– Define & defend

Question: Why did you not do more detailed analysis of

…?

Defend: I did not do that because . . .

Define-defend: What I did was . . . My reasons for doing

that were…I could have…by… But I decided not to do

that because …

Murray (2003) pp.90-97

Answering strategies

• Defining

• Being specific

• Being explicit

• Elaborating

• Highlights

• Deflecting criticism

Murray (2003) pp.90-97



General answering techniques

“Thank you for that helpful comment…”

“That is a good question.”

“The answer is not straightforward…”

“Let me just clarify, you want to know about …?” or

“Can you please re-phrase that question?”



Practice

• Graduated

• Answering questions

– With different people: students, staff, friends

– Using viva strategies and defence language

– Mental practice

• Discuss research with peers



Key questions

• Why did you choose this topic?

• Spend 1 minute writing why you chose this topic



Practice - Rehearsal

• Mock viva rehearsal with peer or fellow student

• Mock viva rehearsal with supervisor

• Familiarity with room

• Visualise viva



Dealing with nerves!



Pair work• Pick a possible viva question or create a

possible question

• Exchange it with your partner

• Take turns to practise your answer keeping in

mind what has been covered with regard to

effective presentations and tips for surviving

your viva

More sample questionshttp://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/ResearchEssentials/?p=156

http://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/ResearchEssentials/?p=156



On the day

• Be early

• Be careful what you wear

• Bring a drink

• Bring copy of thesis & corrections

• Energy management



Final Advice

• Expect to be nervous

• Practice your answers beforehand

• Don’t agree with everything they say but don’t

be arrogant

• Expect some corrections

• Make sure you are clear about important dates

• Good luck!



I found this workshop helpful.

1. Strongly agree

2. Agree

3. Neither agree or disagree

4. Disagree

5. Strongly disagree



ReferencesMurray, R. (2003). How to survive your viva: Defending a thesis in an

oral examination. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Share, M. (2016). The PhD viva: a space for academic development. International

Journal for Academic Development, 21 (3), 178-193.

Tinkler, P. & Jackson, C. (2004). The Doctoral Examination Process. Maidenhead:

SPHE & Open University Press.

Twigg, D. (1997). Preparing for the PhD Viva. Retrieved from

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Users/dt31/phdviva.html on 21 April 2008.

Trinity PhD viva guide. https://www.tcd.ie/graduatestudies/

PORT (2018). The viva. School of Advanced Study, University of London.

http://port.igrs.sas.ac.uk

https://www.tcd.ie/graduatestudies/

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