Aww Wickid, thank you! (((((DrDJW)))))

Many happy returns!!

No, it's not!

Yeah, I agree. As hard as it is, take a deep breath and confess all. People may be teasy initially but they will respect your honesty. Hope you can soon get your work back on track.

I agree, Pea is great!

Don't worry about the low 2:1 in second year, just work like hell to improve your score in the 3rd year! Good luck!

Nice to hear from you DanB!

There is the issue of consent...!

I've bought a couple of text books at around £120 each, so if you are crazy, then I am too!

Also, please arrange some mocks with your supervisors. I was appalling in my first mock viva, I felt more nervous then than I did in the real thing (I'm always far more confident with strangers than with my supervisors!). Although the mocks are stressful, they give you a chance to work through any nasty questions before the real thing and will ultimately give you confidence that you can answer the tough questions. Practice really does help.

Lastly, please remember that most examiners are nice people, they will understand that the student is probably terrified and will do their best to put you at ease. After all, they've all been on the other side of the fence too! If you did find yourself getting panicked, you could always ask for a 5 min break to have a glass of water and to compose yourself, it's an acceptable thing to do. Take care.

Hello

Beta-blockers will not dull your thinking, they simply take away some of the physical symptoms of fear/stress. So, if you are bothered by racing heart, sweating, trembling etc then beta-blockers could really help. You will still feel as apprehensive BUT when the physical symptoms of stress are no longer apparent, you will feel much more relaxed and in control.

If you have other symptoms (such as inability to sleep), your GP may think a benzodiazepine drug (e.g diazepam) more suitable. However, these do have sedating effects.

You are wise to consult your GP, they are usually very sympathetic (having done higher degrees themselves!). There is no shame to taking something that can help you to control your nerves and allow you to do yourself justice in the viva.

Huge congrats Wickid, welcome to the world of the post-doc! Have a great time partying xxx

I can't stand the suspense...

It is up to you to decide whether or not a person knows you well enough to comment on your academic ability and/or work ethic, and up to the person you ask to decide whether they feel able to help. Remember that you should always ask somebody if they are willing to give you a reference before you name them as a referee on an application.

It would be a good idea to give your referee a copy of your proposal so they can comment on your ability to take on the proposed work. Also, if you have been out of contact with the referee for a while, you could also send them a CV so that they know what you have been up to. Good luck with your application.

If you do decide to have a supervisor present, you will probably find that you completely forget that they are there as you'll be focussed on the examiners. Good luck for the viva!