Hi

I always feel that I am kind of weak when it comes to negotiative and communicative skills with my supervisors in the normal tutorials and meetings. And I can see it in their eyes that they know I am not a confedent person.

SO I always have the following question in mind:

If I can't handle this, How am I going to survive the VIVA ??????

I know its too early for me to stat worreing about this, but I can't really help it.

what is you advice? Can I practice giving speeches and defending my views? will this improve by time? or are their specialised courses and books for this??

Hi,

Basically *prepare*. Know your PhD inside out. Put yourself in the examiners position and write a list of all possible questions, particularly difficult questions you think they'd ask. Then *know* the answers. Remember a PHD is AN answer, not THE answer...so they will be critical.

Don't put yourself in a position where you can be tripped up i.e., failing to explain an argument or using references that you've not read.

Prepare a 5, 10 & 15 minute presentation. Even if they don't want any presentation you will probably get asked a general question about your thesis, so you'll have a good 10-15 minutes worth of confident prepared material to talk about.

The examiners generally aren't there to catch you out, but they will rigorously assess your knowledge and defense of your thesis. I don't think even the most confident of people cruise through their viva, everyone will have wobbly or waffly bits. However, if you really prepare, you'll probably have 70% of it nailed.

There are specialist viva courses in most unis. However, some do seem to place emphasis on viva horror stories - that rarely happen. Your university should also offer interpersonal skill courses and public speaking courses.

Books? I can't really think of any specific ones. Rowena Murray writes a lot on vivas - see this article and references therein:
http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,5500,1042654,00.html

Hi PhD,

I'm 18 months in, and each month have to present results to a borad of 30+ people (inc. my sponsors). I used to dread these presentations, feeling just the way you do, but I promise that after a while it got easier, and I now see them as discussions, and chances to air difficulties in a friendly environment.

I think everyone feels a bit thick during meetings sometimes, even established researchers

I found the book 'How to survive your Viva' very helpfull indeed.. think I bought it off Amazon...

Maybe worth a look? don't think it was that expensive at all

Many thanks for th replies

They seem really rational and out of experience



I really need to have less panic and more preparation
thanks for the book names, they sound to be essential for a PhD student

i've been told confidence comes from knowledge. knowing what you're talking about, confidence will naturally flow. so the way to prepare is to know and understand your subject. then its just a matter of conveying what is in your head and explaining it to your listener.

i have dale carenegies book about public speaking, i am going to read it before my viva , i might have a quick look at it before my meeting with the dragons ie my sups lol

if i come across any pearls of wisdom, i will let you know!

i just read miss spacey, juno and pc geek, advice. excellent advice guys!!!

i found a free download version of the book. you can download it to pdf

the art of public speaking by dale carnegie

http://manybooks.net/titles/carnegieda16311631716317-8.html

Thanks Lara

The idea that confidence comes from knowledge is veryyy true

Its just that I need to prepare a little extra more since I am a shy person And thanks for the book link I will check it out now