I'm going to be in a similar position. I recently completed my part-time PhD, but can't use it for work, or do any work at all due to severely disabling illness. So any future publishing I'm doing is going to be as an independent researcher, and I'm shortly to lose my uni library access.

I've signed up for an OU course next year to give me access to electronic journals then. Which is good. But it is difficult to get access to them if you're not affiliated to a uni as staff or student.

I'd appreciate hearing any good (legal!) workarounds too.

In the meantime I'm working to get two more journal papers out the door before I lose that library access. Well will see what I can do.

Going to a nice coffee shop for a cup of coffee, a cake and a chat with a good friend helps me. Even if all you talk about is totally trivial stuff - might be best too.

I think it varies by discipline though. Single authored papers are very common in the humanities. My first journal paper was written by me alone, I gave a copy to my supervisor to read, but he didn't suggest any changes, and it pretty much went in as I'd originally written it. I've certainly never felt under any pressure that I "must" include my supervisor as a co-author. Nor has he included me, even where I did a substantial part of the work, for example as a research assistant digging out virtually all the referenced source material.

Yes, seconded. My PhD experience was a bit unusual, but I'm still missing it hugely. It also defined who I am for such a long time. Now I'm not a student any more it's very strange!

So however low the lows can be (and they can be very low - mine were!), make the most of this experience folks, cos it's to be cherished.

I'd recommend Dropbox too. I wish I'd found it sooner - I only found it near the end of my PhD - but it was a really big help, allowing me to work on multiple computers at home, and access my work when I was occasionally at the uni. I backed up lots of other ways too, but it was mainly my way of file sharing.

And don't worry too much about the clothes/tummy issue MumPhDStudent. I had to use my wheelchair on the day, so ended up wearing much more casual clothes than I'd planned, just so I could be comfortable when wheeling about. The main thing is you are there, ready to answer the questions.

I found quite a few small typos (not a huge amount, but a fair number). So I typed them up, and took 3 copies into the viva to hand out at the start to my 2 examiners and the chairperson. They were all very grateful, and it wasn't a problem.

I did look at my external examiners' research and thought about likely questions she might ask. But I got it totally wrong. I'd thought of certain areas she'd hone in on, but she didn't at all. I honestly don't think you can predict the questions you'll get in a viva in that way, and you can worry yourself much more by trying to do so.

Best thing is to prepare by rereading your thesis thoroughly, find out about how vivas work to put your mind at rest, and to relax.

And I didn't have a mock viva. I didn't think it would help me, and I only wanted to go through the process once! But a member of staff in my department gave me really good advice about vivas, and I had a chat with my supervisor about them too. But Tinkler & Jackson's book was best.

Put the paragraph on a printout along with your list of typos, and take that into the viva. I had a slightly similar problem, but a paragraph which sort of duplicated a previous one, and then contradicted it! I included that in my list of typos as something that needed to be fixed. The examiners were happy. I fixed it quickly ("DELETE!") afterwards.

Don't worry about your viva too much. You've reread your thesis which is the best preparation you can do. Getting nervous at this stage is understandable, but try to relax if you can, and rest, sleeping well is important.

I've posted some more tips in the other upcoming viva thread, if you want to check those out. But don't worry.

Good luck!

Also have you read any viva preparation books? I bought a copy of Tinkler and Jackson's book, and that was brilliant. It totally demystified the process and put me at ease from the moment I started reading it. I found it much better advice than I got from academics, because it draws on many many different viva experiences, far more than an individual academic would have.

I had my viva nearly 2 months ago, so the memories are still fresh. Don't worry too much. You've reread your thesis, which is the main preparation you can do.

The other main tip I'd give is to think about your answers to 5 key questions: originality of my thesis, contribution to knowledge, methodology, weaknesses/gaps/mistakes, and what would I do differently if starting again. This takes very little time, but covers question you are likely to be asked. I would not recommend looking at long lists of potential viva questions (often very similar to each other) and trying to answer those.

The why you undertook your research is an obvious ice-breaker that examiners often ask. I was asked this. My answer was simple: I found the topic while working half-time for a year as a Research Assistant. Then I found that it was hugely under-researched. Opportuity for me! Why did you start your PhD? Was it advertised, or did you devise your own topic? Be honest.

And above all don't stress too much. Try to rest and relax between now and your viva. Sleep well, as much as you can.

Good luck!

Congratulations! Delighted for you 8-)

I live in Scotland and a bank holiday is just that: a holiday for the banks. Though often they're still working too! My hubby (previously post-doc RA, now research fellow at uni) works on bank holidays. It's just another day for us. Nothing special.

That's cheaper than the photocopies would be. They're low cost, but have to add in postage too.

Good luck tracking down that last paper!

An alternative might be to get a photocopy, since it's a really short paper. Copyright libraries like the National Library of Scotland should be able to help with this. The NLS have sent me low-cost photocopies, and they're fast, and take credit/debit card payments which speeds things further.

The other thing that might help - and it's more a mindset thing rather than anything else - is that the corrections are sort of contract between you and the examiners. They're saying that if you do those corrections, within the time scale agreed, the university will award you a PhD. Until done you're still in sort of limbo. So if you want that award do them. Even making a small start would help. They don't all have to be done at once. Just nibbling away at them slowly will get there too.

Good luck!