Preparing for the Viva Voce
Examination at UCC (or elsewhere)
Graduate School
College of Business and Law
Thursday 1st of November 2012
Viva Voce - What is it?
• The oral examination part of the award of a Doctoral
degree
“A doctoral degree is awarded to suitably qualified candidates who prepare,
present and defend in examination a thesis describing original research
which is their own work”
• Commonly used in graduate education for higher level
degrees
• In UCC a presentation to an Exam Board before the
final version is submitted [old / new rules]
• Viva voce leads to (1) a decision and (2)
recommendations for changes (optional but frequent)
Purposes of the Viva
A doctoral degree is awarded to suitably qualified
candidates who prepare, present and defend in
examination a thesis describing original research which is
their own work. Such work will include discovery of new
facts or new interpretations of existing knowledge, and
thus represent a real advance in the field of study. The
thesis should be of publishable standard in the
disciplinary literature, in whole or in part.
To establish that the research is of doctoral standard, the
candidate is examined on their thesis formally in an oral
examination (viva voce).
[emphasis added]
Alternatives
• Many European countries have vivas but differ
because they rely on:
– Some examinations are adversarial (eg: Sweden)
– Some examinations are public (eg: Sweden,
France)
– Thesis is not always modified (eg: France)
• Other systems –
– Viva-less system – examiners submit a report
which goes to a “local” committee (eg Australia)
“Old rules” – “New rules”
• UCC has changed its rules fundamentally in
October 2008
– Registered before Oct. 2008 => choice
– After Oct. 2008 => new rules
• Key differences – role of the supervisor
– Old rule: supervisor is one of the examiner = is
present, asks questions and signs the report
– New rule: no role for supervisor – can be allowed to
stay in the room if no objections but no part in
decision / may be “invited” to make a statement
The UCC Examination Board
• Examiners have relevant expert competence
• Internal examiner – typically member of department. Will
act as Chair and will conduct process
• External examiner (two for a UCC staff member) – non NUI
• Under old rules – supervisor acts as a second internal
examiner – other internal examiner will chair
• Under new rules, there is an “independent chair” in the
case of a staff member or on request by one party
(permission of the student requested)
• Note that this is the last year that PhD candidates can go
under old rules.
• All examiners write reports before the viva voce – these are
synthesised in to The Report
Outline of the UCC Process
•
•
•
•
•
You submit draft soft bound copies
They are sent to the examiners
They write reports
You perform miracles in the viva
You get out of the room so they can talk behind your
back
• You are brought back in for feed back
• The internal examiner gives you a detailed list of
changes
• When these changes have been checked you submit
the final thesis
Decision (don’t panic yet)
• (1) Award, no corrections needed (the degree is
awarded without any changes to the thesis)
• (2) Award, on condition minor amendments are
carried out [typically less then 3 months]
• (3) Award, on condition major amendments are
carried out [typically less than 6 months]
• (4) Reject, but permit the submission of a revised
thesis,
• (5) Reject, but allow the award of a lower degree
• (6) Reject.
Most likely scenario – Award with
changes – hopefully minor
• [because your supervisor has done their
homework]
• Amendments are a good thing –
– Fresh insights in the work
– Enhance publishability
– Deliver a really nice document that you are happy
to show around in future
– Showcase of your ability
– Happy times
The Viva Itself
• Little nerves are OK – as long as they don’t affect your
performance too much
• Come prepared – no excuse for not having answer to
certain questions – see FAQs
• Bring pen and paper – take notes on long questions
• 3 key pieces of advice: LISTEN LISTEN AND LISTEN
• Take your time to think and answer
• Never try to pull a fast one
– If you don’t know always say it – it is quicker and much safer
• Don’t get defensive
– Evaluate the objections
• Out of scope / different approach
• Genuine problem => don’t panic – reflect on it
• Ask for a break if you feel unwell
• But remember the number one thing –
The Viva should absolutely be an enjoyable
experience – rich and enriching – a true
dialogue, a nice challenge
Frequently asked questions
• MUST HAVE ANSWERS!
– Present your work in 3 / 5 minutes (but concentrate on the
conclusions)
– Explain the topic of the thesis
– State the research objective
– Outline the linkages between existing literature – research gap
and your research questions
– Outline the theoretical basis and how it served the thesis
– Describe the research protocol in detail
– What is the contribution of the work?
– What are the key authors underpinning your work?
– What alternative theoretical framework / research protocol
could have been used?
– What are the implications of your work (1) for theory (2) for
practice?
FAQs (2)
• LIKELY:
–
–
–
–
Explain the sampling strategy
What is your publication plan for this work?
Explain how you did XYZ
What is the proportion of literature extracted elements
and emergent elements in your model / framework?
– Explain in detail the data analysis methods you used [link
data-finding-conclusion]
– Explain to what extent your work supports or contradicts
existing literature on XYZ
– If final chapter not developed enough: where does all this
go…
FAQs (3)
• CAN ALSO HAPPEN:
– What your 5 favourite authors in XXX (area of
research)?
– Summarise your work in layman’s terms
– How do you think your work could apply to YYY (a
different object of study)
– What obstacles did you encounter?
– What would you do differently?
Critical elements of performance
• Clarity of expression
• Ability to go in and out of the detail of the
data – familiarity with data
• Ability to explain underlying references /
theories / methodologies
Links!
• Where can I find the University Regulations in relation
to PhDs?
• University regulations can be found in the University
Calendar on the following weblink
http://www.ucc.ie/calendar/postgraduate/Doctor/inde
x.html .
• The following is also a link to
http://www.ucc.ie/en/media/Doctoral-ExaminationGuidelines-for-AC-final.pdf
• A quick guide to PhD submission for students
http://www.ucc.ie/en/graduatestudies/current/thesis/S_
PhD_Thesis/