Ive heard a lot on this forum about 'defending' your PhD with a 'viva'. Im about to start my PhD and dont know much more than this. Could anyone tell me about what it is exactly, procedure etc, and how likely it is to not get a PhD through 'failing' to defend it?

Hi Janet, I have just been through my viva (successfully, thank goodness!). When you finish writing your thesis (after 3 years or so of full time PhD research), it is submitted to a team of examiners (2 or 3 people, experts in your field). They will be allowed a period of time (2-3 months) to read and critique your work. The next stage is for you to meet up with the examining panel to discuss and 'defend' your work. The viva usually takes 2-4 hours.

The purpose of the viva is to prove to the examiners that you did the work, that you understand what your work contributes to your field (and it's novel elements) and, importantly, that you are aware of any limitations or deficiencies in your work (which will always be there to some degree and aren't necessarily a problem but you need to be aware of them!). It is known as a defence (esp. in USA) as it is your opportunity to respond to the examiners queries and to explain why you conducted your research the way you did.

Everybody dreads their viva and we've all heard horror stories but really, if a thesis is that lacking, it should be apparent way before you get to the viva stage. Most people have corrections (minor or major), and some people may be asked to do some additional work (with or without a second viva). Another option is for the examiners to recommend that an Mphil be awarded instead. An outright failure is, thankfully, very very rare.

It is theoretically possible not to pass your PhD due to the viva, if it is on the borderline between pass and referal. My work got referred and I am now preparing it for resubmission. Having said that, even though my examiner's reports claim that I was borderline before the viva and only failed because of it, if an examiner is hostile and does not seem to be representing your work fairly, you really have your work cut out for you.

Although you can't choose directly, you will probably have the chance to discuss possible examiners with your supervisor. Once you know who is examining, find out as much as you can, not just about their work, but about them. I've since discovered that my external has a reputation for being difficult, but I went into my viva feeling confident as I thought my research was compatible with hers. Once things have gone wrong, it can be hard to change things as there is no "expert's expert" who can judge that criticisms were not justified.

I'd been told by most of my friends who've had vivas that they unofficially got told they'd passed as soon as they walked in the room - the fact that this didn't happen to me instantly threw me and I couldn't concentrate as all I could think was "I've definitely failed" - perhaps if I hadn't been thinking this, I wouldn't have! So try not to have fixed vision of how things will go in the viva, as you could get disconcerted needlessly.

One thing I wish I'd known is that if you're having a panic, you can ask for a break to go out and get some air.
Even if it's a complete disaster like mine was, if the viva was the problem and not the thesis overall, examiners will make allowances (my nervousness is listed as a probable major factor in the viva report and while this doesn't let me off the rewrite, it shows people don't instantly conclude not performing well in the viva means you didn't write the work or are stupid)

Hi Katie, you make some very good points, especially about choice of examiner. Re nervousness, I was really nervous and this certainly showed in my mock viva. One of my supervisors said not to worry about appearing nervous because any decent examiner will not hold that against you and should make every effort to put you at ease. This helped and I was actually less bothered by nerves at the real viva.

I think it's definitely worth having at least one mock viva with your supervisors, especially if like me, you have never before been in a viva situation. Talking about your work is a very different skill to writing about it. I'm sorry to hear that you had such a stressful viva and hope the resubmission goes smoothly. Best wishes :o)