Webinar: Demystifying and Preparing for the Doctoral Viva

This will be an interactive Zoom session with information provided through presentation and handouts, interspersed with opportunities to ask questions and engaged in activities to develop your skills useful in the viva, whiling enabling networking with peers.

Aimed at

Doctoral Researchers (mid stage, final stage)

Pre-requisites

Please watch the Good VIVA video - direct link: www.brunel.ac.uk/Good-VIVA-Video
OR
View via BlackBoard Learn: Communities > GRADUATE SCHOOL – RESOURCES > Researcher Development Programme > Video Resources > The Good Viva Video

Joining instructions

Zoom link will be emailed to you

Key learning outcomes

This session will cover:

Dispelling common myths
The purposes of the viva
Advance preparation in relation to criteria used (what examiners are looking for)
How the process works
Roles and Responsibilities (what to expect of examiners & chairs and what they expect of you)
Types of questions and their purposes
What happens after the questioning
Potential outcomes & how to deal with them
Practical issues
Planning for success

Presented by

Professor Emerita Pam Denicolo, University of Reading

Session outline and aims

This session will be led by a Trainer and interactive discussions are encouraged between the participants and the Trainer at appropriate times.

Specific skills focused on in this session

Achieving your doctorate

Health and Safety and general notice

Participants will be viewing presentations projected onto a SMART Board screen. Participants may be required to work in pairs. Refreshments may be available at the venue.