#162 - 15 Rules of the PhD Viva

Aug 19, 2026

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Today, I am going to tell you what I wish every candidate knew before they sat down across from me, because most of what you have been told about viva preparation is either vague or wrong.

19 August 2026

Read time: 3 minutes

The viva is not a test of whether you got everything right.

It is a test of whether you can defend what you chose.

That is a completely different thing, and understanding the difference will change how you prepare.

I have examined over forty-five theses and I can tell you that those who struggle are the ones who cannot explain why they did what they did.

Nobody teaches you how to handle that.

Your supervisor tells you to "prepare for the viva" and leaves you to guess what that actually means.

So here are the fifteen rules I have learned from the other side of the table.

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#162 - 15 Rules of the PhD Viva

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