Ady, I found silly mistakes and typos in my thesis while I did my viva prep. It just shows that despite several people reading it they still slip through. We are all under so much pressure prior to submission that these errors are to be expected. It really is a minor typo and I would just admit the error if it is mentioned. If it doesn't come up in the viva then just correct it for the final copy. Importantly, you have spotted it now so keep smiling.

Congratulations Dr Delta! I am so pleased it all went well for you and such a relief to have it all wrapped up before Christmas. I agree that pre-viva get some rest and relaxation as it is a tough nerve-wracking experience. Prep for me was knowing my thesis inside out and putting it into context of other methodologies/future research etc. Nothing could have enlightened me either about the examiners questions! It is such an individual experience.

Enjoy your celebrations  (up)

Thank you so much 404, I have sent you a pm. I am obviously not the only one working tonight!

Hi all, I am trying to write up part of my thesis into a journal article and need access to another article. Unfortunately my uni online access is undergoing upgrade now until next week so wondered if anyone could access it for me please.

Impact of Hemoglobin Concentration and Affinity for Oxygen on Tissue Oxygenation: The Case of Hemoglobin-based Oxygen Carriers.
Samaja M, Terraneo L.
Artif Organs. 2011 Aug 16.

Thank you.

Congratulations Dr! I know I felt numb for about a week post viva. I desperately wanted to just get the corrections done and move on, and you can do the same. Take a break while awaiting the examiners recommendations and then get stuck in. It really does seem daunting to go back to your thesis but break them down and tick them off. You have passed so well done :p

Congratulations Dr Alexandra! Glad it went so well for you, I was checking the forum to see how it went! Enjoy the post viva celebrations :-)

I don't think it is normal to travel to the external examiner unless extenuating circumstances. That said I would rather get it done than wait for another examiner to be appointed or a later viva date. I moved away from my uni during the write-up phase so had to travel back. My drive was over three hours so I made the most of it by booking a nice spa hotel nearby for the afternoon/evening prior to my viva. Have to say it was very relaxing and worthwhile  :p

Would you be going into uni the following day for bubbly? In some ways it may be nicer to go in the day after for a celebratory drink/lunch rather than a rushed glass of bubbly afterwards. I have to say I was exhausted post viva so once I had driven home I collapsed on the sofa with my hubby, the telephone, laptop and a glass of wine! In fact I felt pretty numb for about a week :$

Excellent news of viva dates for Ady, Sneaks and Catalinbond. This is the start of your final PhD journey so good luck with your prep (up)

Hi Alexandra, it is extremely normal to be feeling this way before your viva. You have spent several years researching an area which results in the viva. Naturally, we all put the viva up on a pedestal as this is the gateway to passing our doctorate. As the viva is shrouded in a little secrecy, some say a rite of passage, we therefore read all about other viva experiences both good and bad. The whole viva appears to be influenced by many things, your thesis, your performance on the day, politics of the examiners etc but in reality most viva are about your work. This is a topic that you have studied in detail for a lengthy time so really you need faith in your research. Likewise, your supervisors would be irresponsible to allow submission of poor quality work as this also reflects on themselves too.

My advice to you based on my own experience is this. Today and pre-viva, don't focus on your viva or work on your thesis. Rather than thinking about the viva, re-focus your attention to what is happening after the viva. I focussed on what shops I was going to pop in on my way home and the three hour drive home. This basically desensitizes the viva and removes its pedestal. Have everything you need for your viva packed and ready to go, then relax. Watch a mind-numbing movie, eat well and get some sleep! Nothing you cram in last-minute will make a difference. Dress in comfy but smart attire as you don't want to be worrying about your killer heels, over tight collar (insert your own here lol). Tomorrow, get there early so you don't worry about being late/lost/flustered etc and then sit somewhere nearby and have a coffee with a newspaper. Greet your examiners with a smile as this lifts your mindset. Take some drink in with you so you can pause between questions for a sip/quick think. If you do not understand what they are asking just say so, they are human aswell! If they seem to be pushing a point that you are arguing, just re-think incase you have overlooked a compromise. Just because you agree with them doesn't mean revising your thesis for resubmission, where an minor explanatory paragraph will suffice. If you feel flustered (I did in mine at one point), just say - sorry I just need a moment to compose myself, then re-clarify the question and continue. They are not there to make you into a blubbering wreck and the chair should certainly ensure you are ok. Lastly, what will be -will be. Your examiners have read your thesis and have already made up their minds on which way the decision will go before you walk in the door.

So good luck for tomorrow, you CAN get through this and let us know how you get on. (up)

Well done Fm on getting your final draft in. I really hope the news is all good from your supervisors and that you can submit asap. I am very envious of you not having a viva though!! Thank you for updating us on your excellent progress and good luck with your submission (up)

Hello to all of the summer submitters! I was wondering how we all did? So I had a little peek back through the threads and this is what I found, in no particular order:

Dunni73 (me)- submitted and viva passed
Pink Numbers - submitted and viva passed
Ady - submitted and awaiting viva
Keenbean - submitted and viva passed
Slowmo - submitted and viva passed
DrCorinne - submitted and viva passed
Determined Daisy - submitted and ?awaiting viva
Catalinbond and Fm - where are you and how is it going???

I hope I haven't left anyone out. So well done to everyone for submitting! Thank you all for your help, inspiration and support which was truly brilliant. Good luck to those awaiting their viva, it is a stressful time still but you are so near to completion. It would be lovely to hear good news from the final few very soon.

In my experience, I felt very emotional after being awarded minor corrections! I was elated at getting minors rather than majors or a resubmit but the last few months had been stressful and this was finally let out post viva (blub). I felt completely rung out and the list of minors appeared quite a lot for the time span (3 months shortened to 2 months for graduation).  I was upset about one or two of my minor corrections as I felt that the examiner hadn't quite grasped the idea. I didn't agree with one of the suggested changes as it contradicted my data (including significant stats) in a later chapter so had to 'correct' the lit review in a slightly different way! The corrections list took a week or two to arrive and most were easy changes done within a day, but a couple were vaguely described. This took me another few days to consider the most appropriate changes to fulfil their requirements. I was concerned that my interpretation of these may not be accepted and I would fail. The internal examiner was very good in communicating with me about finding some of the corrections (as the pagination changed with extra inserted text lol) however, it took a while to get them signed off. This was quite a stressful time of waiting but as Bilbobaggins said 'you have passed so they will not want to fail your corrections'.

Dr Pink Numbers - I am so pleased you have passed your viva! Well done and many congratulations. I was wondering how our summer submitters were going and I might have to dig out the thread :-)

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My PhD was part-time so took 6 years with ample opportunity for circumstances to change! I started as miss dunni and after 3 years I was married. I could have changed my name with the uni to mrs smith but as I had a few publications under miss dunni the link to those would have been lost. I therefore remained as mrs dunni throughout my PhD for continuity, although in every other part of my life I was mrs smith. Now I have completed my PhD I am dr smith with my certificate in my maiden name dr dunni. I find it easy to provide my marriage certificate as evidence of my name change, if necessary, and just carry the title with me. It is afterall the title that is awarded which is not specific to any surname you legally have ie maiden, married or deedpoll change. If I were now presenting or publishing I would revert back to my maiden name just for the occasion. Everyone confused?!?!:$

Wow, well done Delta, Skig and Ady on your submissions! It is a huge mountainous task to write a thesis so make sure you enjoy the moment and treat yourself after all this hard work. There will be many feelings following submission but you have all done your best and have worked hard on your theses, so take some time out to relax (up)

I think this really depends on what stage you are at. In the earlier setting up phase they were very willing to discuss other methods and hypotheses as these related to the literature searching and subsequent justification of my approach. Later on in the PhD journey, I found that much more was down to me to direct and specify the final approach as this is the time that you are becoming an independent researcher. Our discussions at that point were more about what I had found and how I had interpreted this way, along with my follow-up direction. Obviously, they would add advice/comment as necessary!

My uni regs didn't allow student contact with the examiners prior to the viva, this I can appreciate is difficult when you all know each other and work in the institution. Once the examiners are actually appointed for your viva, I would refrain from discussing your PhD with them or the viva itself, just in case this compromises your examination. If they wish to discuss your PhD prior to the viva (knowing that they are examining your thesis), then you could light-heartedly ask if this is conversation is allowed! Last thing you need is another examiner having to be appointed which may delay your viva.

Otherwise, take comfort in the knowledge that your opinions of the potential internal examiner are positive ones so hopefully a nice viva will follow (up)