My viva is still quite a few months off, but I have two worries in particular about it. Who will my external examiner be??? I don't like having to rely on my supervisor to sort this out (it is totally their responsibility, right?) and I worry that I'll get someone without sufficient knowledge in my field (I feel very isolated academically, we don't have contacts in the field - I really wish I had a Prof. supervisor!) Sometimes I think I'd like my viva to be a 'chat' with a leader in the field, but that would involve contacting someone we don't already have contact with (!) Would they come? There's someone in particular I'd really like to have, who is supervising an almost identical project to the one I'm working on, but they're in Italy! I've seen external examiners giving talks quite often in our department - is that how to lure them to your viva? Who pays to fly them here? Secondly, I saw a section in our university's PhD regulations that said a student could request not to have their supervisor present at the viva.

I think this would really help me - I've noticed that I can talk much more freely about my research with people other than my supervisor, but wouldn't it go down really badly? I guess I could ask my supervisor nicely not to be there...

Hi Sue

Ideally, the choice of examiners should be a joint decision made by the student and the supervisory team. I was certainly involved in the discussions about my examining team so I think it’s fine for you to request that you are involved in the decision. Ultimately, the team must be approved by the Research Degrees committee (in terms of experience and suitability to access your work).

Again, it’s fine for the examiner to be someone with which your team have had little or no contact. Indeed, there is concern if you or your supervisor are deemed to be too friendly with the examiner! Most people are honoured to be asked to examine a PhD and will happily do the job if they can. The university will pay for examiners expenses but may not be keen to pay for overseas flights if there is a UK based person who could examine your project instead. Check with your postgrad office on this.

You also do not have to have your supervisor in the viva with you. I understand completely what you say about being tongue-tied in front of your supervisor, I am the same! However, I would advise that you do have your supervisor in with you because it’s very helpful to have someone who can make notes for you during the viva, in case of any corrections, and it’s nice to have a familiar face there. Honestly, you will completely forget that they are there as you are so focused on the examiners. However, this is your decision and you should do whatever makes you feel more at ease.

Very best of luck for your viva and the pre-viva prep (make sure you get your supervisor(s) to give you a mock!).

Ann

Thanks Ann, I wouldn't have put your name in the thread title but it was asking me for 'more words to describe your topic' and you're probably the only person on the forum who has gone through the viva.

No problem Sue, happy to help if I can! :o)

Does you Uni run a Viva prep workshop? I found this very useful because apart from the practical info, it was good to meet other pre-viva students and to see that we were all worried about similar things!

Yeah, I think they do. Don't think I've registered for it yet though. Thanks for your help.