This video includes tips from postgraduate researchers (PGRs) who have recently sat their viva voce examination, talking about their experiences, how they prepared in the run up to their exam and how the viva examination went. Please note that not all PGRs will have the same experience in relation to their supervision team, they may not have as much support as others. If you do not have the opportunity to be part of a mock viva then please raise this with your institution's Graduate School/Doctoral College (or equivalent). 

The Viva Examination video includes real life experiences of the actual viva examination from a PGR’s point of view. Please note that not all HEI (Higher Education Institutions) use the same systems and/or processes; where a PGR has mentioned the transfer process this can also be known as “progression” or “upgrade”

This video contains real-life experiences of PGRs during the appointment of their examination teams for their viva examination. Please note you may not have as much involvement in choosing your examiners as some of the people in the video, but you should be consulted. Please raise this with your supervision team when you are preparing draft chapters of your thesis. 

Please note that not all HEIs use the same systems and/or processes; where a PGR has mentioned the transfer process this can also be known as “progression” or “upgrade”.

This video contains tips and advice from current PGR supervisors who have also acted as Internal and/or External Examiners for Research Degree viva examinations.  Please note not all PGRs will have the same experience in relation to their supervision team; they may not have as much support as others. 

If you do not have the opportunity to be part of a mock viva, then please raise this with your institutions Graduate School/Doctoral College (or equivalent). You can also use the “other resources” on this website to help you prepare for your examination. However, some Supervisors may be able to offer a mini viva during your regular supervision meetings on each chapter you submit.  

Please note that each Higher Education Institute has a different process with regards to the viva examination. Some institutions and/or disciplines will require the PGR to prepare a 10-minute presentation at the start of the examination.  This is not the case for every PGR, and you should check with your supervision team/Graduate School/Doctoral College or equivalent for clarification.

This video contains some frequently asked viva questions that the contributors ask when they are acting as an Internal/External examiner. Please note these questions may not come up in your viva examination, they are not a definitive list of viva questions.

This video contains real life experiences of current PGR supervisors who have also acted as an internal/external research degree examiner. The commentary should dispel any myths you may have heard about the Viva examination.

This video contains advice from current PGR supervisors drawing on their experiences of appointing examination teams for their PGRs for their viva examinations.  Please note that you may not have as much involvement in choosing your examiners as some of the people in the video, but you should be consulted. Please raise this with your supervision team when you are preparing draft chapters of your thesis.

The research students that took part in our project told us that one of their main problems when preparing for their viva examination had been the amount of time spent searching online for useful websites and videos, and that having one website linking to as many resources as possible would be beneficial. 

Alongside the videos we have produced this comprehensive guide with useful websites and other resources to further help with your viva preparation.

The viva guide includes: 

• links to other useful websites
• a 30-day countdown calendar 

Download the Viva Guide (PDF)