Doctoral Training Workshops
The PhD, Probation and MRes Viva
Stephen Potter and John Richardson
Session Aims
• Explore the purpose of each viva
• Understand how assessors/examiners are
appointed and what they are required to do
• Help you prepare for your viva
– PhD viva draws on Ch 11 of Doing Postgraduate
Research
– MRes viva guidance provided on MRes website
– Probation mini-viva guidance provided on VRE
website
Session organisation
• We will first consider the PhD viva and then split
into two groups
– One will consider the MRes viva
– The other will consider the probation viva and look
further at preparing for the PhD viva
• MRes students can then join in the other session
next year
PhD Viva
What will the examiner be looking
for?
• What do you think???
• Look at OU Examination Report form
PhD Viva
What will the examiner be looking for?
Work that shows:
• Good presentation and style
• Significant contribution to knowledge
• Material worthy of publication
• Able to pursue further research without supervision
• Justify Research Method(s)
• Able to argue and discuss research – communicate
effectively
• Probation mini-viva tests some of these at an appropriate
level in terms of the PhD plan
Why a PhD Viva?
• To confirm you did the research
• To check your ability to respond to questions
• Being a researcher means you can enter into
discussion
• To provide you with an opportunity to defend your
research
The Examination Panel
• Appointing a panel
• Internal and External Examiners
– Minimum experience requirement - at least five UK research degree
examinations
• Independent Chairperson
• Supervisor observer present (not an examiner – can be
asked to contribute and is a useful note-taker to free you up for
discussion)
• For Probation Report mini-viva the panel is 2 people
outside of your supervisory team
What happens in a viva?
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Examiners prepare pre-viva reports separately
Pre-viva meeting by panel (To discuss pre-viva reports)
Presentation or technical demonstration (optional)
Questions and discussion
Candidate leaves
Decision by the panel
Form filling
Candidate notified of result
Possible PhD viva Results
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The degree is awarded
Awarded subject to minor corrections
Awarded subject to substantial amendments
Major revision and re-examination
Awarded a Masters
Fail
•
Decision is subject to ratification
MRes/PhD split
• We split at this point
Probation Viva
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Based on your Probation Report requirements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
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Pertinent review of existing research
Feasible research question
Specification of research approach
Work plan
Should be 1 – 1½ hours long
Some departments include subject-specific guidance to
assessors (check about this)
Probation viva results
1. Pass
2. Pass subject to conditions (specified remedial action is
required)
3. De-register (Only if there is ‘no realistic hope the student can
pursue a PhD’)
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The probation viva has to be done by the end of month 10
(normally July) for FT students in order to allow time for any
corrections and for your PhD registration to be confirmed
For PT students needs to be done by end of year 2
Guidance for assessors is on the VRE site – check it out.
Question and Answer Session
Examiner and Chair:
Steve Potter
Candidate:
Dave Scott (Probation Viva)
Experience and Specifics
Preparation
Experience Preparation
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Seminar
Conference
Networking with other researchers
Doing a refereed paper (not verbal
but gets good experience of criticism)
• Blogs and discussion sites
• Other….
Specifics preparation
• Use the DVD in DPGR and podcasts on VRE
• Being organised:
– Prepare a ‘Road map’ of your thesis/probation
report
– Have back-up materials available
– What to wear(!!)
Mock Viva
• PhD Mock Viva can be useful
and some departments
require one
• Can be done using generic
questions from DPGR – main
thing is about sorting how you deal
with questions
• There are other ways – special
tutorial to discuss what areas will
attract attention, what sort of
questions might emerge (check
external examiner’s web page!)
• DPGR has an audio
on ‘killer questions’
• Could arrange a previva departmental
seminar
Handling Revisions
For both Probation and PhD Viva:
• Set a date for a post-viva tutorial. If there are no
revisions then you can cancel
• In viva make sure any revisions are specific
• Arrange revisions handover tutorial to check they fulfil
requirements of examiners/assessors
• Check with your exam panel Chairperson if necessary
and include them in on any correspondence
And don’t forget the PhD Degree
Ceremony
http://css2.open.ac.uk/students/ceremonies/
Run from May November
Summary
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Build in experiences useful for viva throughout project
Reassure yourself on viva procedure
Ensure you have materials organised to minimise fluster
Draw on materials and guidance provided
Have a preparation tutorial to discuss what areas will
attract attention, what sort of questions might emerge
(know your examiner!)
• Have a mock viva-type event
• Manage revisions
Good Luck and enjoy your viva!