Practice makes perfect; Practice vivas at the Graduate School

Doctors Abbie Edgar and Fabiana Fausto McCracken, two Researcher Development Consultants at the Graduate School, are well versed in this stage of the PhD journey, and having worked with doctoral students for years, as well as passing their own vivas, both are aware of the pressures which can coincide with this ‘final hurdle’. 

Abbie says, “There are some people who are really confident talking about their research, but it can also be hard for some students, especially those who have been so deeply entrenched in their research for years, to take a step back and think about their thesis in a holistic way. That’s why the viva can sometimes be a daunting process.” 

This shared experience was part of the reason Abbie and Fabiana began offering ‘practice viva’ sessions to the doctoral students here at Queen’s. 

Speaking about the practice vivas, Fabiana said; “We don’t know exactly what questions are coming, and we don’t promise that we’ll be able to think of everything – but we know that even practising having a deeper discussion about your research has proven beneficial for the students we’ve seen. They have also found it useful to receive feedback on the clarity of their communication.”

There’s no shortage of students who have benefited from this practice. Sharon Dempsey, who successfully passed her viva in June, said: “I felt prepared, and that was half the battle. Going into the viva practice process helped me focus on what I wanted to communicate about my research.” 

As well as encouraging to feel an extra level of preparedness ahead of the actual viva, the practice opportunity has been seen by some as a time to reflect on their strengths too. 

Pingping Xie passed her viva in April. Following her success, she said; “I was expecting to learn how to improve during the mock viva. But Abbie’s feedback also pointed out things that I had done well which meant a lot to me, especially when I was under great pressure.” 

Tracy O’Connor passed her viva in May and said that the preparation she felt following the practice made the eventual exam “a joyful experience.” 

“The external examiner even said that she enjoyed it too, which was precisely what I had been hoping for.”

Abbie and Fabiana run these ‘practising the viva’ workshops all throughout the year. If you feel like you would benefit from taking part, or simply have more questions about the process, you can contact them via email at: abbie-leigh.edgar@qub.ac.uk OR f.faustomccracken@qub.ac.uk