If you’ve made it through to viva point and you’ve really done your own work, you’re ready. Here in the UK, the viva is there to primarily check three things (in my view): that you did the work, that you know why you made the decisions and that you can talk about where it sits in the context/why you did your work. The rest, really, is in your thesis.
After several weeks of a pretty chilled time post-thesis submission, it’s probably about time that I got stuck into some structured viva prep.
I did it! I went in, introduced myself and made it through the day. So, it turns out all my pre-PhD nerves about the first day were just that..nerves. Whilst packing my ‘school bags’ last night, there were a lot of worries going through my head (and pouring out my mouth.)
So here I am, my week off before my PhD and I am learning code and really trying to learn it: good practices, why do it this way rather than that way, and how to fix what’s not working.
I thought I’d collate a list of the tips I’d received, partly because it puts them all in once accessible place for me but also they’ll be in once place for anyone else who wants them too.
I thought I’d write a blog throughout partly for self reflection, so that I remember the good times but also look back at how I got through the inevitable not so good times.
Shruti's PhD 