Well done, DOCTOR!!!!!

I am not a native speaker and I did my PhD in English.
I found that my writing improved by reading! I read a lot and not only related to my research. I think it helps to get a grip of the language. Of course I still make mistakes and I cannot use the language as a native speaker, but I have improved a lot

I think it is normal or at least usual!
When I was preparing fro my viva and I read the introductory chapter I thought it had nothing to do with the rest of the viva! It felt like it was for a different research!
At the viva I was not asked any questions about the introduction and the only questions I got were about research ethics and some clarifications for the national context of the research. I got away with very minor corrections

I had some issues like yours with my thesis. Some were spotted by the examiners and some were not (yippi!!!!).
What I did with the ones they spotted was just to acknowledge them and say that I had missed that spot! At the end, I passed with minor (very minor) corrections and when I received my list of amendments, most of them were not even in (I did correct them, though, for my final submission)!

A big thank you to all!!!!

After a seven-year struggle with a PHD in a language other than my first, a full-time job in a completely different area to my research and almost 4,000 mile between my house and my university, today I had my viva! I passed with very minor corrections!!!!!!


It was supposed to take place at midday, but it was re-arranged to early evening, because my internal had something to do.
I had a mock viva earlier which was very helpful as it helped me relax (a little bit).

The actual viva was nothing near to what I expected. It lasted 1 hour and then the examiners made me and my supervisor wait for 15 minutes and they announced thed result.

I expected to have questions about methodology, further work, research questions, aims. And I got questions about theory (lots of them), about research ethics (I had aa participant who sasid he did something illegal and I was asked whether a researcher should report such things) and about a particular reference, which, luckily, I had re-read this morning!
Then I had some context related questions, as my research involves Greece, a couple of questions about certain quotes in my thesis and a last questyion about my contribution to knowledge, which included 4 sub-questions, that I had to write down in order to remember!

The examiners told me that they enjoyed reading my thesis, commented on how passionate I was about my subject and aftrwards told me that they considered it a very pisditive thing that I was taking my time to think over my answer.


Good luck to all of you out there!!!!
If I made it, so can you!!!!!

I was just informed that my viva is going tyo take place a few hours later than arranged because my internal hgad something come up.

I want to think positively and persuade myself that this is just a small delay and noithing more.
So far I am not doing a very good job in persuading me...... But I keep on trying

I will let you all know of the outcome of the viva!

Thank you all!!!!!!

So, I have my viva on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!
I have spent so mnany years on this PhD that I really want (and need) to be over with it.
I have prepared quite well, I think. I have read and re-read and re-re-read my thesis, I have made notes on post its in it, marked the most important quotes, read the most important references, prepared questions and answers, made a list of typos...... So, I think I am ready.
Tomorrow I am flying to the UK and on Friday morning 4 hours before the actual viva, I will have a mock.

Anxiety is getting the best of me....... And let the party begin!
Wish me luck

Thank you, Moonblue!!!!!

Does anybody have access to this?

Fuller, Kay (2009) Women secondary head teachers.Management in Education, 23(1), pp. 19-31

Thank you!!!!!!

Thank you both!

It is very exciting to be ready to submit but it also drives me crazy! I am based in Greece and with the capital control and the current financial situation I have problems with having my thesis printed. Moreover, I have a full-time job that requires my presence at the office everyday, so I am trying to tie up the lose ends at my limited free time....

The good thing is that I am very stubborn and I WILL MANAGE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a quick question.
As I am ready to submit and I am panicking, I was wondering where to mention the papers I presenetd at various conferences. Should I do it at the beginning of the thesis, maybe before the abstract, as material produced by the reserach? Or should I include them in my text like any other references and mention them in the reference list?
My university does not have any specific rules.

Thank you!

Thank you!!!!!!

Yesterday I had an email from my supervisor informing me that by the ned of the week I will have her last comments on the last section of my PhD.....and then it is submission time!
I panicked! I knew that I would submit by mid-September, but it is different when time comes...
I spend the whole summer being so sure about my research and worrying about other things, like having the thesis printed and how to pay for the print outs since I cannot use my Greek card abroad (I am lucky that I have good friends who are willing to pay for it!!!) or finding where to stay at London now that my friend, with whom I was staying each time I was in London, has now left.....
And then yesterday......
Hopefully I and everything else will be OK

So, last things I have to do:
1. Check thesis for consistency (numbering. chapters etc)
2. Put everything in the correct order (ie ackowledgment, abstract, contents, chapters, references, appendices)
3. Save, save, save!
4. Have my own copy printed and checked
5. Send file to printer

Am I forgeting anything????

Can't you use anything of what he said? Even the fact that he didn't say anything related to youyr subject can be data! Maybe you could use him as an example of how people wanted to participate but did not have anything to offer for this and that reason......