phd viva presentation in hindi

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• Interview /

जानिए Viva Exam Kya Hota hai और वाइवा को क्रैक करने के लिए टिप्स

• Updated on  
• अप्रैल 10, 2023

वाइवा एक ओरल टेस्ट है जिसका उपयोग स्टूडेंट के ज्ञान और उनके विषय की समझ का टेस्ट करने के लिए किया जाता है, आमतौर पर वाइवा हाई स्कूल, इंटरमीडिएट, ग्रेजुएट, पोस्टग्रेजुएट और पीएचडी  डिग्री के स्टूडेंट्स का वाइवा लिया जाता है। वाइवा का भी रिटन एग्जाम की तरह महत्व है जिसमें स्टूडेंट्स का उनके द्वारा पढ़ें जा रहे सब्जेट्स की नॉलेज को परखने के लिए किया जाता है। वाइवा एक ऐसा एग्जाम है जिसे हर एक स्टूडेंट को अपनी शिक्षा के दौरान देना अनिवार्य होता है। इस एग्जाम में स्टूडेंट को टीचर्स, प्रोफेसर या एक्सपर्ट के किसी विशेष पैनल के सामने अपने सब्जेक्ट से संबंधित प्रश्नों का आंसर देना होता है। वाइवा एक ऐसा एग्जाम भी है जिसमें अच्छा प्रदर्शन करने पर स्टूडेंट को अच्छे मार्क्स भी प्राप्त होते है। इस ब्लॉग में हम Viva exam kya hota hai के बारे में विस्तार से जानेंगे।

This Blog Includes:

Viva exam kya hota hai, 1. अपने बारे में बताएं, 2. अपने प्रोजेक्ट/थीसिस/रिसर्च को तीन मिनट में समराइज़ करें, 3. आपके रिसर्च की ताकत और कमजोरी क्या है, 4. विस्तार से बताएं कि आपके निष्कर्ष आपके क्षेत्र के शोध से कैसे संबंधित हैं, 5. इस रिसर्च का मुख्य बिंदु क्या है, 15 कॉमन viva केवश्वन, 10 phd viva केवश्वन, फिजिक्स के लिए कुछ प्रमुख वाइवा प्रश्न , केमिस्ट्री के लिए कुछ प्रमुख वाइवा प्रश्न , बायोलॉजी के लिए कुछ प्रमुख वाइवा प्रश्न , हायर एजुकेशन के लिए viva केवश्वन, viva केवश्वन क्रैक करने के लिए टिप्स.

वाइवा एक ओरल एग्जाम है जिसमें किसी स्कूल, कॉलेज या इंस्टिट्यूट के स्टूडेंट से टीचर्स, प्रोफेसर या एक्सपर्ट्स मौखिक रूप उसके विषय से संबंधित कई तरह के प्रश्न पूछते है। जिसका उतर स्टूडेंट को मौखिक रूप में देना होता है। वाइवा भी रिटन, प्रैक्टिकल की तरह एक प्रमुख एग्जाम होता है जिसको देना हर स्टूडेंट के लिए अनिवार्य होता है। यह एग्जाम अन्य एग्जाम से थोड़ा कठिन माना जाता है क्योंकि इसमें स्टूडेंट्स को अपने विषय के बारे में बताने के लिए ज्यादा समय नहीं मिलता। इस एग्जाम में स्टूडेंट्स को सोचने के लिए अधिक समय नहीं मिलता और प्रश्नों का उतर भी उसी समय देना होता है। 

Viva में पूछे जानें वाले प्रमुख प्रश्न और उत्तर

स्टूडेंट का वाइवा एग्जाम अपने स्कूल के दिनों से ही शुरू हो जाती है। एक स्टूडेंट को अपने प्रारंभिक एजुकेशन से हायर एजुकेशन तक वाइवा एग्जाम देना कम्पलसरी होता है। स्टूडेंट चाहे स्कूल में हो या फिर PhD स्कॉलर ओरल एग्जाम सभी के लिए समान रूप से कठिन माना जाता है। यहां वाइवा एग्जाम से संबंधित पूछे जानें सवालों और उनके जवाब के बारे में बताया जा रहा है। जो आपकी वाइवा एग्जाम में बहुत सहायता करेंगे :

स्टूडेंट को अपने और अपनी रुचियों के बारे में सबसे पहले बताना चाहिए। आप उन क्षेत्रों पर ध्यान केंद्रित करें जिनके बारे में आप बेहद सकारात्मक हैं। अपनी पिछली उपलब्धियों के बारे में बात करते समय अपनी पोजीशन प्रोफेशनल रखें। 

इस प्रश्न का सही उत्तर देने के लिए, आपको अपने पूरे प्रोजेक्ट के बारे में कंप्लीट जानकारी होनी चाहिए। आपने अपने प्रोजेक्ट, थीसिस या रिसर्च के विषय का चयन क्यों किया, यह समझाते हुए एक उत्तर के साथ शुरूवात करें और समस्या का एक उचित समाधान देकर अपनी व्याख्या एक्सप्लेनेशन कंप्लीट करें।

अपने शोध की ताकत और कमजोरियों का सावधानीपूर्वक विश्लेषण करें और उत्तर देते समय, सुनिश्चित करें कि आप अपनी रिसर्च कमजोरियों के बारे में भी बात करें, न कि सिर्फ अपनी ताकत के बारे में।

बताएं कि आपके निष्कर्ष आपकी प्रोजेक्ट की साहित्य समीक्षा से कैसे संबंधित हैं और आपकी रिसर्च के क्षेत्र में इसका क्या योगदान है। क्या इससे साहित्य का और विस्तार होता है? क्या यह कुछ नई टिप्पणियों को उजागर करता है? क्या यह इस विषय में नए साहित्य को जोड़ता है? इन मुख्य प्रश्नों के उत्तर दीजिए।

इसका उत्तर देते समय, अपने रिसर्च का एक संक्षिप्त संस्करण अपने दिमाग में रखें और फिर रिसर्च के प्राथमिक फोकस के क्षेत्र के बारे में बात करें। यह प्रदर्शित करने के लिए कि आपकी रिसर्च व्यवहार्य है, कुछ प्रमुख प्रश्नों की पहचान करना आवश्यक है जिन्हें आप बता सकते है।

अधिकतर डॉक्टरेट थीसिस के मामले में ज्यादातर शोध-आधारित वाइवा प्रश्न पूछे जाते हैं, जिसमें शोध प्रक्रिया का प्रमुख पहलू विशिष्ट पेपर के विकास के पीछे की सोच की पहचान करना है। यह शोधकर्ता के ज्ञान और मौलिकता को निर्धारित करने और क्षेत्र में उनकी आगे की रुचि का आंकलन करने के लिए किया जाता है। यहां कुछ प्रमुख वाइवा प्रश्नों की सूची दी जा रही है जिन्हें आप नीचे दिए गए बिंदुओं में देख सकते हैं:-

• अपने बारे में बताएं?
• अपने प्रोजेक्ट/थीसिस/रिसर्च को तीन मिनट में समराइज़ करें?
• आपके रिसर्च की ताकत और कमजोरी क्या है?
• विस्तार से बताएं कि आपके निष्कर्ष आपके क्षेत्र के शोध से कैसे संबंधित हैं?
•  इस रिसर्च का मुख्य बिंदु क्या है?
• हमें बताएं कि आपकी रिसर्च नॉलेज डिस्कोर्स में कैसे योगदान दे सकती है?
• अध्ययन के इस क्षेत्र में आप क्या योगदान देना चाहते हैं?
• हम आपके पेपर में मौलिकता कहां ढूंढ सकते हैं?
• आपने अध्ययन के इस क्षेत्र में अपने रिसोर्सेज को खर्च करना क्यों आवश्यक समझा?
• आपका शोध अंतर्निहित समस्याओं को हल करने में कैसे मदद करता है?
• क्या आप अपनी थीसिस को एक वाक्य में समझा सकते हैं?
• इस पत्र में डिबेट के मुख्य क्षेत्र क्या हैं?
• इस मुद्दे को हल करने के लिए आपने किस शोध पद्धति को लागू किया है?
• इस मुद्दे को हल करने के लिए आपने किस शोध पद्धति का प्रयोग किया है?
• अपनी थीसिस के संदर्भों के बारे में हमें कुछ जानकारी दें।

यहां PhD के कुछ प्रमुख वाइवा प्रश्नों की सूची दी जा रही है जिन्हें आप नीचे दिए गए बिंदुओं में देख सकते हैं :

• वह कौन सा क्षेत्र है जिसमें आप रिसर्च करना चाहते हैं?
• आपने अपने कार्य के नैतिक प्रभावों से कैसे निपटा?
• क्या आप मुझे अपने शोध के सबसे मजबूत बिंदु के बारे में बता सकते हैं?
• क्या इस रिसर्च को करते समय आपके पास किस संसाधन की कमी थी?
• आप अपने काम का मूल्यांकन कैसे करेंगे?
• इस मेथडालजी के विकल्प क्या थे?
• आपके सामने रिसर्च के समय सबसे बड़ी चुनौती क्या थी?
• इस शोध को करने के लिए आपको किसने प्रेरित किया?

स्कूल के लिए सब्जेक्टिव वाइवा केवश्वन

स्टूडेंट्स को 10वीं क्लास के बाद से ही विज्ञान स्ट्रीम के विषयों में केमिस्ट्री, फिजिक्स और बायोलॉजी में वाइवा के लिए उपस्थित होना पड़ता है। वाइवा में उन विषयों से संबंधित प्रश्न पूछे जाते है जिनका स्टूडेंट पूरे साल स्टडी करते है। इंटरमीडिएट लेवल पर मौखिक एग्जाम उन प्रश्नों पर आधारित होते है जो स्टूडेंट की रिसर्च की नॉलेज के बारे में परीक्षण के लिए किया जाता है। उन प्रयोगों के अलावा, छात्रों से अध्ययन के प्रमुख क्षेत्रों की उनकी व्यावहारिक समझ का अनुमान लगाने के लिए कई प्रश्न भी पूछे जाते हैं।

फिजिक्स के लिए वाइवा प्रश्न मुख्य रूप से फिजिक्स की पाठ्यपुस्तकों की अवधारणाओं और विषयों पर आधारित होते हैं। यहां फिजिक्स कक्षा 11 और कक्षा 12 के लिए सबसे सामान्य मौखिक प्रश्न दिए गए हैं:

• Ohm का नियम क्या है?
• इंटरफेरेंस क्या है?
• टैन्जन्ट नियम को परिभाषित कीजिए।
• स्पेक्ट्रम के क्रम से आप क्या समझते हैं ?
• wedge Film Experiment कैसे उपयोगी है?

केमिस्ट्री के लिए वाइवा प्रश्न मुख्य रूप से केमिस्ट्री की पाठ्यपुस्तकों की अवधारणाओं और विषयों पर आधारित होते हैं। यहां केमिस्ट्री कक्षा 11 और कक्षा 12 के लिए सबसे सामान्य मौखिक प्रश्न दिए गए हैं:-

• Valency क्या है?
• पॉलिमर क्या होते हैं?
• IUPAC नाम क्या है?
• योगज और संघनन बहुलक में अंतर स्पष्ट कीजिए?
• Titration क्या है?

बायोलॉजी के लिए वाइवा प्रश्न मुख्य रूप से बायोलॉजी की पाठ्यपुस्तकों की अवधारणाओं और विषयों पर आधारित होते हैं। यहां बायोलॉजी कक्षा 11 और कक्षा 12 के लिए सबसे सामान्य मौखिक प्रश्न दिए गए हैं:-

• DNA की फुल फॉर्म क्या है?
• RNA की फुल फॉर्म क्या है?
• मेंडेलियन का नियम क्या हैं?
• एंजाइम क्या होते हैं?
• प्रोटीन कितने प्रकार के होते हैं?

पोस्ट ग्रेजुएशन के लिए वाइवा या साक्षात्कार आयोजित किया जाता हैं कि क्या ग्रेजुएट स्टूडेंट मास्टर या पीएचडी स्तर के पाठ्यक्रमों का अध्ययन करने के लिए तैयार हैं। ये नौकरी के इंटरव्यू की तुलना में कम औपचारिक होते हैं, लेकिन फिर भी आपको इन्हें गंभीरता से लेने की आवश्यकता है। विदेश में शिक्षा प्राप्त करने की आपकी आकांक्षा आपके प्रदर्शन पर निर्भर हो सकती है।

मान लीजिए कि आप मास कम्युनिकेशन बैकग्राउंड के स्टूडेंट हैं और आपने “समाज के वंचित वर्गों” पर एक डॉक्यूमेंट्री बनाई है। फिर आपसे फिल्म के विकास की प्रक्रिया के बारे में पूछा जा सकता है कि फिल्म के प्रमुख पहलुओं या निर्देशन प्रक्रिया के पीछे के परिप्रेक्ष्य को समझने में कितना समय लगा।

यद्यपि आप अपने पीएचडी में जो शोध करते हैं वह एक बड़ी उपलब्धि है, आपको विशेषज्ञों के साथ विस्तृत मौखिक सत्र के लिए तैयार रहने की आवश्यकता है। यह मौखिक परीक्षा छात्रों के लिए पेशेवरों के साथ अपने काम पर चर्चा करने का एक मौका है। इसका औपचारिक उद्देश्य यह सुनिश्चित करना है कि छात्र अपनी थीसिस को समझे और समझा सके। 

यहां Viva केवश्वन क्रैक करने के लिए कुछ टिप्स दी जा रही है, जो आपकी वाइवा एग्जाम में बहुत उपयोगी सिद्ध होगा:-

• अपने शोध को प्रदर्शित करने के लिए तैयार रहें – जिस विषय पर आपने शोध किया है उस पर कार्यप्रणाली, परिणामों और निष्कर्षों की व्याख्या को आसान भाषा में अपने प्रोफ़ेसर या विशेष पैनल को बताएं। 
• आत्मविश्वासी बनें – स्टूडेंट को मौखिक परीक्षा के दौरान आत्मविश्वास रहना चाहिए। स्टूडेंट को अपनी रिसर्च पर भरोसा रखना चाहिए कि आप पूछे गए प्रश्नों का सही उत्तर दे सकते हैं।
• पूछे गए प्रश्नों को ध्यान से सुनें – परीक्षकों या विशेष पैनल द्वारा पूछे गए प्रश्नों पर ध्यान दें। अपना आंसर देने से पहले यह सुनिश्चित करें कि आप प्रत्येक प्रश्न को ठीक से समझते हैं।
• अपना समय लें – स्टूडेंट को प्रश्नों का उतर देते समय प्रश्नों के बारे में ध्यान से सोच कर उसका आंसर देना चाहिए। आंसर देते समय किसी भी प्रकार की जल्दबाजी न करें। 
• प्रश्नों का संक्षिप्त उतर दें – परीक्षकों या विशेष पैनल  द्वारा पूछे गए प्रश्नों का सही और संक्षिप्त में उतर देने का प्रयास करें। 
• 6. परीक्षकों या विशेष पैनल के फीडबैक जानें – परीक्षकों या विशेष पैनल से अपनी रिसर्च का फीडबैक प्राप्त करें। ऐसा करने से आपको अपनी रिसर्च और भविष्य की परियोजनाओं को परिष्कृत करने में सहायता मिल सकती है।

वाइवा एक मौखिक परीक्षा जिसे स्कूल या विश्वविद्यालय में आयोजित किया जाता है। जिसमें एक छात्र लिखित माध्यम के बजाय मौखिक रूप प्रश्नों का उत्तर देता है।

वाइवा एक मौखिक परीक्षा है जिसका उपयोग छात्र के ज्ञान और उनके विषय की समझ का परीक्षण करने के लिए किया जाता है, आमतौर पर ग्रेजुएट या पोस्टग्रेजुएट डिग्री के छात्रों का वाइवा लिया जाता है।

पीएचडी मौखिक परीक्षा एक से चार घंटे के बीच हो सकती है – आमतौर पर दो  इसलिए सर्वोत्तम संभव शुरुआत के लिए खुद को गति देना आवश्यक है। याद रखें, परीक्षक आपको परेशान करने की कोशिश नहीं कर रहे हैं। वे चाहते हैं कि आप पास हों और मुख्य रूप से आपकी परियोजना के बारे में बात सुनने के लिए हैं।

आशा है आपको viva exam kya hota hai पर आधारित जानिए viva exam kya hota hai और वाइवा को क्रैक करने के लिए टिप्स का यह ब्लॉग पसंद आया होगा। यह ब्लॉग अपने दोस्तों और परिवार के साथ जरूर शेयर करें। ऐसे ही अन्य रोचक, ज्ञानवर्धक और आकर्षक ब्लॉग पढ़ने के लिए Leverage Edu के साथ बने रहें।

Leverage Edu स्टडी अब्रॉड प्लेटफार्म में बतौर एसोसिएट कंटेंट राइटर के तौर पर कार्यरत हैं। नीरज को स्टडी अब्रॉड प्लेटफाॅर्म और स्टोरी राइटिंग में 2 वर्ष से अधिक का अनुभव है। वह पूर्व में upGrad Campus, Neend App और ThisDay App में कंटेंट डेवलपर और कंटेंट राइटर रह चुके हैं। उन्होंने दिल्ली विश्वविधालय से बौद्ध अध्ययन और चौधरी चरण सिंह विश्वविधालय से हिंदी में मास्टर डिग्री कंप्लीट की है।

प्रातिक्रिया दे जवाब रद्द करें

अगली बार जब मैं टिप्पणी करूँ, तो इस ब्राउज़र में मेरा नाम, ईमेल और वेबसाइट सहेजें।

Contact no. *

अपने समझने की प्रक्रिया को बहुत ही विश्वसनीय तरीके से बनाया है

Very good I like

Leaving already?

8 Universities with higher ROI than IITs and IIMs

Grab this one-time opportunity to download this ebook

Connect With Us

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

September 2024

January 2025

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

404 Not found

• Interesting
• Scholarships
• UGC-CARE Journals

Tips to Prepare PhD viva-voce Presentation Slides

Best Ph.D. viva ppt slide preparation tips

Table of contents

Sample ph.d. viva-voce presentation slides, tips to prepare ph.d. viva-voce presentation slides.

Preparation of neat PhD viva -voce presentation slides and presenting them in a perfect manner in the given time is very important for a PhD viva-voce examination as it going to give a good impression on both research scholar and supervisor or mentor by the examiners or moderators.

Before designing the presentation slides, the scholar has to decide what to include and what not to include in the slides. It is always a big deal for a scholar to include all the research findings, data in the presentation that was obtained during the research program (4 to 5 years).

The scholar has to remember that the presentation should include only the major research findings and key contributions as time management is important. Therefore, in this article, iLovePhD framed simple and useful tips to prepare Ph.D. viva-voce presentation slides.

The format of the presentation slides is presented below. This would give you an idea to prepare the slides.

• Give brief introduction about the background of your study. Always present the points in a bulleted manner (4 to 5 points) rather than paragraph.
• Highlight the research gaps or the need for the research study and present your problem statement clearly.
• List the objectives and methodology of your study with neat schematics.
• Present the important research findings and data presented in your thesis in a simple and bulleted manner. Don’t explain it as a paragraph in the slide rather you can give the detailed explanation with scientific evidences during your defence presentation.
• Connect your findings with past relevant literatures and emphasis the novelty of your research.
• Use schematics, graphs, and tables with experimental conditions rather than detailed statements.
• Summarize the results of your research objectives and conclude the research outcomes with societal benefits.
• Use hyperlinks at appropriate places for presenting huge and important data (Datasets, experimental procedures, literatures).
• Ensure the quality of the images as it should be clear and readable.
• Limit your presentation slides to 50 to 55 slides.
• Check the flow and connectivity between each slide.

We hope this article would be very much useful for the Ph.D. research scholars who are preparing their defense presentation slides irrespective of their area of research. We wish you all the best!!!

Also Read: Top 38 Possible PhD Viva Questions

• best phd viva presentation ppt
• phd viva presentation
• phd viva presentation tips
• presentation
• presentation tips
• Research Tips
• Thesis presentation tips
• viva-voce ppt

Guide to PhD Admission in India – 2024

Net score for ph.d. admission 2024-25 – ugc, how to improve your academic writing 7 tips, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Email Subscription

iLovePhD is a research education website to know updated research-related information. It helps researchers to find top journals for publishing research articles and get an easy manual for research tools. The main aim of this website is to help Ph.D. scholars who are working in various domains to get more valuable ideas to carry out their research. Learn the current groundbreaking research activities around the world, love the process of getting a Ph.D.

WhatsApp Channel

Join iLovePhD WhatsApp Channel Now!

Contact us: [email protected]

Copyright © 2019-2024 - iLovePhD

• Artificial intelligence

404 Not found

Top 12 Potential PhD Viva Questions and How to Answer Them

Breathed a sigh of relief after submitting the PhD thesis you’ve burnt the midnight oil for? Not so soon! While submitting your thesis is a massive achievement, defending it decides whether you will receive the doctoral degree or not. Although every PhD viva examination is different, there are similarities in the types of questions asked at each. In this article, we shall discuss the most common and potential PhD viva questions and how to answer them.

Types of PhD Viva Questions

Generally, examiners prepare a series of questions for you to answer at the PhD viva voce examination. These questions are primarily based on your thesis. However, the questions asked in PhD viva examinations can be broadly grouped under four basic headings:

• General Questions
• Research Context and Methods
• Analysis and Findings
• Discussions and Conclusion/Implications

Therefore, while preparing for your PhD viva and defending your thesis , you must consider the types of questions you’re likely to be asked. This helps in practicing your answers in advance and not being baffled during the viva. Practicing how you would answer questions based on these four basic categories will take you a long way in your preparations.

Commonly Asked PhD Viva Questions and How to Answer Them

While sticking to answering the most commonly asked questions might sound simple, it is equally important to be prepared for counter questions. Furthermore, it’s easy to go off on a tangent due to nervousness. This leads to opening up other lines of enquiry from the examiners in areas you hadn’t probably expected to be questioned about.

Ideally, you aren’t expected to dictate your thesis as it is. Examiners are interested in knowing your understanding of the research, its methods, analysis and findings, conclusion and implications, etc.

Despite the differences in every PhD viva, you must be prepared to answer these common questions logically. Below are some popular PhD viva questions to prepare:

1. Tell me about yourself.

Introduce yourself and talk about your areas of interest related to research. More importantly, focus on the areas you are extremely positive about. Briefly speak about your past achievements without overwhelming the examiners and sounding boastful. Keep the introduction professional.

2. What is the reason for selecting this research question?

The response to this question is often generalized by saying that you are interested in the topic. However, examiners want to hear the specifications of your interest in the topic. You must plan your answer stating the most interesting aspect of your research and why did you choose the research question over another topic from the same or allied domain. Furthermore, cite certain instances that helped you in selecting the research topic and the particular field for your project.

3. What is the key focus of your research?

Remember that the answer to this question is not about summarizing your research. It involves talking about the area of primary focus of research. Most importantly, in order to demonstrate the viability of your research, it is essential to identify some of the key questions it addresses.

4. Did the research process go as per your plan or were there any unexpected circumstances that you had to deal with?

The purpose of this question is not only to see whether you can work as per your structured plan, but also to understand your readiness with backup plans in case of unforeseen situations. An ideal way to answer this is by clearly stating if the project went as per your predefined plan. Furthermore, be honest in mentioning if you were assisted by others in dealing with it, as it may lead to a new set of questioning from the examiners.

5. After completion of your research, which part of the process did you enjoy the most and why?

Remember that the examiners know about a PhD student’s stressful journey . Therefore, do not elaborate on the hardships that you went through during your research, unless asked otherwise. Emphasize on the aspects of the research project that you enjoyed and looked forward to every time you stepped in your laboratory. Describe how you developed interest in newer approaches to conduct research.

6. As a researcher, what change has this research brought in you?

This question demands a strong, progressive, and positive response. Remember your first day in the research laboratory and compare it to today. Identify the differences in your traits as a researcher. Mention how following, reading, and analyzing other researchers’ works have brought a positive change in you. Furthermore, address how you overcame your shortcomings as a researcher and upskilled yourself.

7. Summarize your thesis.

Be well versed with the entire project. Start by explaining why you selected the topic of your thesis and close your explanation by providing an optimum solution to the problem. You must prepare for 3 types of answers for this question. Prepare a 1-minute, 3-5 minutes, and 10-minute summary and use the correct one based on your audience at the viva.

8. What developments have you witnessed in this field since you began your doctorate? How did these developments change your research context?

Familiarize yourself with the advances in your field throughout your PhD. Mention works of researchers you have referred to while working on your project. Additionally, elaborate on how other researchers’ work influenced your research and directed you to finding results.

9. What original contribution has your thesis made to this field of study?

Answer this question by keeping in mind what was known before in published literature and what you have added as part of being awarded your PhD. Firstly, you must present a major piece of new information during your research project. Secondly, elaborate on how your research expands the existing literature. Thirdly, mention how your work is different from other researchers’ works that you referred. Finally, discuss how you developed a new product or improved an existing one.

10. How well did the study design work?

While answering this question, you must focus on how your planned methods and methodologies were executed. Furthermore, mention how you tackled difficulties in study design and concluded your research.

11. Elaborate on your main findings and how do they relate to literature in your field?

While answering this question, elaborate on how you evaluated the key findings in your research. Mention the key factors involved and the reason for choosing a particular process of evaluation. Furthermore, explain how your findings are related with the literature review of your project. Mention its significant contributions in your field of research. In addition, discuss how your research findings connect with your hypothesis as well as the conclusion of your research.

12. What is the strength and weakness of your research?

While you may want to impress the examiner by emphasizing on the strengths of your research, being aware of the weaknesses and planning a directional move to overcome them is also equally important. Hence, mention the strengths first and elaborate on how they connect with the key findings. Additionally, underline the limitations and the factors that could be transformed into strengths in future research.

How nervous were you while preparing for your PhD viva voce? Did you follow any specific tips to ace your PhD viva voce ? How important is it to prepare for these common PhD viva questions beforehand? Let us know how you prepared for your PhD viva voce in the comments section below! You can also visit our  Q&A forum  for frequently asked questions related to different aspects of research writing and publishing answered by our team that comprises subject-matter experts, eminent researchers, and publication experts.

Really useful in helping me put a plan / script together for my forthcoming viva. Some interesting questions that I hadn’t thought about before reading this article – the proof of the pudding will be how well the viva goes of course, but at least I now have a head start! Many thanks

Thank you, this is super helpful. I have my viva voce in a month and I’ll be using these questions as a guide

Well framed questions

Rate this article Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Enago Academy's Most Popular Articles

• Diversity and Inclusion
• Trending Now

The Silent Struggle: Confronting gender bias in science funding

In the 1990s, Dr. Katalin Kariko’s pioneering mRNA research seemed destined for obscurity, doomed by…

• Reporting Research

Choosing the Right Analytical Approach: Thematic analysis vs. content analysis for data interpretation

In research, choosing the right approach to understand data is crucial for deriving meaningful insights.…

Addressing Barriers in Academia: Navigating unconscious biases in the Ph.D. journey

In the journey of academia, a Ph.D. marks a transitional phase, like that of a…

Comparing Cross Sectional and Longitudinal Studies: 5 steps for choosing the right approach

The process of choosing the right research design can put ourselves at the crossroads of…

• Career Corner

Unlocking the Power of Networking in Academic Conferences

Embarking on your first academic conference experience? Fear not, we got you covered! Academic conferences…

Intersectionality in Academia: Dealing with diverse perspectives

Meritocracy and Diversity in Science: Increasing inclusivity in STEM education

Avoiding the AI Trap: Pitfalls of relying on ChatGPT for PhD applications

Sign-up to read more

Subscribe for free to get unrestricted access to all our resources on research writing and academic publishing including:

• 2000+ blog articles
• 50+ Webinars
• 10+ Expert podcasts
• 50+ Infographics
• 10+ Checklists
• Research Guides

We hate spam too. We promise to protect your privacy and never spam you.

I am looking for Editing/ Proofreading services for my manuscript Tentative date of next journal submission:

What should universities' stance be on AI tools in research and academic writing?

Accredited 'A++' Grade by NAAC (2023)

• Vision & Mission
• Act & Statutes
• Academic Ordinance
• University Gallery's
•   Event Gallery
•   Press/Media Gallery
•   Video Gallery

• Statutory Bodies
• Board of Management
• Academic Council
• Planning Board
• Finance Committee
• Administration
• Vice Chancellor
• Finance Officer
• Controller Of Examination
• Dean Student Welfare
• Director IQAC
• Dean Academic affairs
• Alumni Cell
• Chief Vigilance Officer
• Deans of School
• Heads of Department
• Other / Important Centre's
• Dean Academic Affairs
• M.Phil / Ph.D Regulations
• Consultancy
• Course folder
• Academic Calender
• Institutional Academic Integrity Panel (IAIP)
• Centre for Industry Institution Partnership Program (CIIPP)
• Academic Flexibility
• Foundation Course
• Choice Based Credit System
• Publications
• Annual Reports
• BBAU Newsletter
• Proceedings
• Ambedkar School of Social Sciences
• Life Sciences
• Information Science & Technology
• Earth & Environmental Sciences
• Home Science
• Legal Studies
• Management and Commerce
• Physical & Decision Science
• Languages and Literature
• Media and Communication
• Agricultural Sciences & Technology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Sanskrit & Indic Studies
• School of Vocational & Futuristic Studies
• School of Yoga Naturopathy & Cognitive Studies
• School of Performing Arts
• School of Engineering & Technology
• Centre's & Institute
• Satellite Centre, Amethi
• University Institute of Engineering & Technology
• Integrated Courses
• Post Graduate
• Under Graduate
• Certificate
• Director Research & Development
• Research & Development
• Ph.D Awarded
• Ongoing Ph.D Research
• Awards and Honors
• Research Collaborations
• Completed & On-going
• Guidelines for Research Project
• Institutional Ethics Committee
• Institutional Biosafety Committee
• Publication
• Last 5 Years
• University Patent Cell
• Major Links
• Office for International Affairs
• Students Welfare
• Students Council
• Central Placement Cell
• Information Guidance Bureau
• Centre for Personality Development
• Semester Result
• Grievance Redressal Cell
• Students Feedback Portal
• SC/ST, OBC, Disable & Minority Complaint Portal
• Students Counsellings Centre
• Internal Complaints Committee
• Other Links
• National Cadet Corps
• National Service Scheme
• Scholarships
• e-Learning Resources
• Other Portals
• Skills test for internship and jobs
• UGC Online Student's grievance Redressal System
• Downloads for Students
• Physical Infrastructure  
• University Sophisticated Instrumentation Centre
• Health Centre
• Media Centre
• Guest House
• Auditorium  
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee Auditorium & Conference Hall's
• IT Infrastructure  
• University Computer Centre
• National Knowledge Network
• Students  
• Residential Coaching Academy
• Remedial Coaching Program
• Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence
• Others  
• Procedures and policies
• Basic Facility for Women
• Yoga Wellness Centre
• Post Office
• Login  
• Internet User Authentication
• Email (@bbau.ac.in)
• Email(@email.bbau.ac.in)
• Exam Section (ERP)
• Webex Login
• UGC Grievance Redressal Portal
• Students Feedback Form
• SC/ST, OBC, Disable & Minority Discrimination Complaint Portal

Pre - Ph.D Presentation / Seminar

• Ph.D Award Notification
• Examination Notices
• Guidelines/Rules/Regulations
• Form Formats
• Exam Related Circular & Notices
• COE Functions
• Office Staff

404 Not found

From admission to dissertation. Tips on making the PhD journey happy, productive and successful

18 tips to pass your Viva presentation

Viva Presentation of your PhD thesis requires you to prepare thoroughly. Viva Voce defense could be a failure if you don’t present properly. Learn tips on how to do PhD viva dissertation defense that makes you pass in doctoral viva. Face Viva exam confidently with an impressive opening speech. Keep some sample PhD viva questions and answers readily.

• Adjust voice as per the room size during the presentation of PhD viva.
• Clear Audibility is the first step for viva Voce success.
• Present Confidently viva thesis presentation.
• Do not stammer while defending PhD viva voce.
• Learn how to make an appropriate eye contact during PhD viva presentation.
• Keep ready some ready-made sample PhD viva answers.
• Know how to extend PhD viva validity.
• Never say you don’t know about any question
• Try to give your best from nothing during doctoral viva presentation.

Here are my detailed advanced tips on how to pass viva voce during your PhD studies. These viva tips will help you remain confident throughout your presentation

What is a Viva Voce?

A PhD scholar does not consider completing the thesis paper an accomplishment because they are still required to go through the viva voce process.

Although there are countries such as Australia that do not require one to do so, others like the United States necessitate the scholar to go through the process.

A viva voce is an oral examination whereby the researcher is required to stand before a panel of examiners to defend their dissertation .

This is why it is essential for the scholar to ensure that they have clearly mastered the field and the chosen topic by conducting the research on their own.

During the viva voce, the evaluators are at liberty to ask whatever question they feel is related to the topic and the candidate has the obligation of answering the question satisfactorily.

Simply put, a viva voce is an oral presentation that is aimed at proving that the researcher commands knowledge on the topic and has gained knowledge on the field of study.

When is PhD Viva voce examination conducted during PhD

A PhD viva voce examination is the last thing that comes in the PhD process whereby the researcher is required to present themselves before evaluators and answer any questions thrown at them regarding the thesis.

That said, the viva voce comes after the candidate has submitted their thesis to the faculty. Upon receiving the research paper, the evaluators may require the scholar to present themselves in person and required to exhibit what they have learned during the Ph.D. process.

Therefore, a viva voce comes after submission of the thesis and before the candidate earns the doctorate title.

How long is the PhD Viva Voce Presentation with example

Many Ph.D. candidates are concerned by the duration that a viva voce takes and we would like to point out that it all depends on how prepared one is for the same.

Traditionally, a viva voce is supposed to take ninety minutes with no hassles. However, it boils down to the examiners’ decision and if they feel that the time is not enough, then they can extend the process up to three hours.

The purpose of the process is to evaluate how much knowledge one has acquired during the Ph.D. and whether they are capable of answering questions related to their topic.

Therefore, it is true to state that the length of the viva voce will depend on the examiners. If the candidate does not satisfy their expectations, they are bound to ask more questions thus the process I likely to take more time

How many examiners will site in PhD Viva Examination

Many scholars are concerned about with the viva voce since it makes almost all candidates nervous as is the case of any situation where one has to stand before viva examiners and defend their work.

When one is deemed qualified to do a Ph.D., they are assigned a supervisor who ensures that the Ph.D. process is not marred by challenges through offering advice to the scholar.

The examiners are mostly two all of which should come from the university’s faculty. To ensure that the evaluation process is effective, they are mostly chosen from the same field as the candidate. Although it is not a must, there are occasions where the examining body may also comprise of external members.

This implies that the minimum number of examiners is two but they can be more according to the university’s decision.

Viva Preparation Questions

• What is the new thing that one feels to read your PhD dissertation?
• How do you prove this experiment can change the way others think?
• Explain the validity of your proposition with some examples.
• Give one strong why should we accept your thesis to be authoritative.
• What influenced you to make your thesis stand out from others

Why is PhD Viva Presentation conducted

A thesis is nothing short of a research paper which means that the scholar is expected to have taken their time to conduct thorough research using advanced techniques.

The main reason why a viva voce is conducted is to give the researcher an opportunity to defend their work before they are graded whether they meet qualifications or not.

The first thing that the scholar should know is that they should be able to defend their thesis which means that they should be aware of everything that is in the research paper. The reason for this is because one can never know what the examiners will ask and from which section of the thesis they will derive their questions.

It is essential that the scholar must ensure that they are prepared adequately by going through their thesis and ensure that they are able to answer any question arising from the same.

There are candidates who may be tempted to have other people write their thesis and although it may be perfect, the viva voce reveals the truth depending on whether they can defend the thesis or not.

Be what you are in your PhD Viva Exam

According to many candidates, the viva voce is an impeachment whereby they feel like they are grilled, but in a real sense, it is designed to prove to themselves and others whether they are in a situation to defend their title as a doctor of philosophy in their field.

It is therefore important for the candidate to ensure that they do not fall prey to brown nosing. They should not direct their efforts to sweet-talk the examiners by trying to impress them. Instead, the scholar is advised to play their role and prove to the evaluators that they are capable of defending what they have written in the thesis.

It is recommended that the scholar should be calm, relaxed and confident in their thesis and have the courage to stand before the examiners and express themselves.

The candidate should recognize the importance of the thesis and this is partly the reason why they have the responsibility of choosing their own topic and doing the research.

Never give one-word answers during Viva Voce viva exam

A viva voce must not be confused with a multiple choice questionnaire thus the researcher must appreciate that it is intended to diminish curiosity.

This cannot be achieved by giving one-word answers because the scholar is required to explain themselves as reflected in the thesis. Important to note is that a person’s standing or view on a certain view cannot be explained in a short statement.

The reason for this is because when one is asked a question during the viva voce, they are expected to state their position on the matter. The statement is not enough because it only triggers more questions.

Therefore, it is necessary that the scholar must support their claim by giving explanations as to why they support their arguments. In fact, the primary purpose of the viva voce is to ensure that the scholar can defend what they advocate for thus they should be in a position to give explanations and proof of what they are saying.

Be confident throughout the session (not over confident) during doctoral viva

According to human nature, there are people that find it easy to stand before others and air their view but the viva voce does not recognize that. It is essential that the scholar must be in a position to present themselves and stand for what they have presented to the faculty and the world.

At this level of learning, it is expected that the scholar must be confident enough to ensure that they can speak in front of a crowd leave alone two or three examiners. Confidence is a virtue that must be acquired by all scholars to ensure that they can stand before others and teach them or address key concerns that affect society.

However, the candidate must take caution not to be overconfident and the main reason for this is that too much confidence is interpreted as arrogance.

The bad thing about this is that the examiners are likely to get the wrong impression about the scholar. This is true because among the virtues that a Ph.D. teaches the candidate is patience and respect for others.

Do not show that you are afraid of Viva Voce of dissertation

The human mind is designed in such a manner that it controls the entire body and command activities that the individual will like and those that they will not.

One of the reasons why most scholars fail the viva voce process is that they tend to develop a negative attitude towards the same even before they go through the process.

It is essential that the scholar must be confident and not only outwardly but also inwardly. We recommend the scholar to ensure that they take all necessary measures to ensure that they do not exhibit fear in front of the examiners.

It is understandable that anyone is capable of nervousness while in front of a panel of examiners. However, we recommend that the scholar must pay attention to two things to boost their confidence. The first element is that they should prepare adequately for the process.

The second is that they should develop a positive attitude towards the viva voce. Adhering to these two advises is bound to increase the scholar’s confidence in themselves and their thesis.

My top Viva advice is to practice before one month

In the scholar’s life, before they take the Ph.D. course, it is true to say that they have gone through many examinations and passed. It is not automatic to pass an examination and it requires a lot of dedication and sacrifice.

Although there are individuals that may be tempted to take a shortcut, there is only one recipe to passing. All examinations require a lot of preparation and a viva voce is not exceptional.

This implies that the scholar must take their time to prepare for the viva voce beforehand. It is recommended that the candidate should take at least one month to prepare themselves.

It may seem like a difficult thing to do but we remind the scholar that they have a supervisor who has knowledge about the viva voce and they can offer useful advice that can make the process easy for the candidate.

Dress proper and be neat and formal during thesis viva preparation

The short description of a viva voce is that it is an oral presentation and therefore it means that there must be physical appearance.

Appearance has a powerful effect in that it creates a lasting impression on the examiners and therefore, the way that one presents themselves before the evaluators automatically make them judge the candidate’s character. The scholar wants the evaluators to be on their side and therefore the first thing that should pop in the scholar’s mind is creating a good impression.

It is essential because it may affect the examiners’ judgment which implies that a good impression is likely to yield good results while a bad impression is likely to yield bad results.

It is crucial that the scholar must dress formally for the viva voce and they should be neat. The proper dressing makes the scholar look responsible and in a position to defend their thesis.

Read your thesis once and thrice and prepare sample PhD viva answers

The viva voce is an oral presentation of the thesis and therefore it is necessary that the scholar must ensure that they have a proper understanding of their thesis before they engage with the examiners.

It is purposeful for the scholar to have 100% knowledge of the thesis even though it is common to forget some points. To avoid mistakes arising from being unable to answer some examiners’ questions, we recommend the scholar to make a point of revising the thesis before and after submitting to the faculty.

Some scholars might consider reading the thesis twice sufficient but this is not the case.

Others may be overconfident and feel that they do not have to read the thesis again but this is usually a recipe to disaster. It is our recommendation that the scholar reads through the thesis at least three times to ensure that they are familiar with all the points discussed within.

Learn how to start your opening speech of PhD Viva

It may sound tricky to summarize a paper comprising of at least 50,000 words in as little as five minutes but it is possible and the scholar should practice doing so.

Essentially, the examiners expect the scholar to have mastered their thesis and therefore they should be able to point out the problem surrounding the topic as well as the causes and recommended solution briefly.

At the onset of the viva voce, the scholar must be in a position to introduce the dissertation to the examiners briefly. This involves presenting an overview of the research paper.

Among the different sections of the thesis is the abstract section which was explained as a summary of the research paper. While preparing for the viva voce, the candidate is advised to consider the abstract and use it as a guideline for the oral presentation.

Listen to what your examiner is asking clearly

The easiest way to fail in any examination is answering the wrong questions or failing to address what the examiner requires.

It is mandatory for the candidate to pay attention to what the examiner is asking and carefully analyze points that they require from the candidate.

By doing so, the scholar is in a position to give the right feedback with reference to the thesis. It means that it is important for the candidate to concentrate during the viva voce and they should ensure that they are not distracted by anything else. 100% concentration is a requirement for the viva voce process if the candidate is going to answer questions satisfactorily.

Do not argue under any circumstance (just defend)

It should be noted that a viva voce is not a form of a debate where two parties are engaged in arguing. The candidate should note that the examiners are already professors and they are not there to engage in a battle of wits.

What they require from the candidate is proof that they have learned during the research and that they are in a position to demonstrate that they command knowledge in their specific fields.

That said, rather than argue, the candidate must ensure that the presentation is based on defending the thesis and shows the validity of the scholar’s standing regarding the points presented in the dissertation.

Pass- short corrections-resubmit- Fail after Ph.D. Viva defense

After the oral presentation, the examiners make a point of presenting their results to the candidate which point out areas that were sufficiently answered and those that were not.

The candidate should look into areas where they gave wrong answers and make a point of researching and making the necessary changes.

The correct answers should be passed to the examiners. The candidate must ensure that the correct answers are written as briefly as possible.

Do not write stuff on your hands or hold slip while defending viva thesis

During the oral presentation, it is necessary that the scholar avoids writing points in their hands or slip. It is so because it acts as a way of showing that the scholar has not prepared sufficiently for the viva voce.

In addition, it creates the impression that the researcher is not fully aware of the content in the thesis. Using written points give the impression of someone who is presenting a speech that has been written for them.

The candidate does not want the examiners feeling that they have not done the research for themselves as this would automatically lead to a fail.

How to do viva presentation with an impressive eye contact

A good presentation is one that the candidate commands presence before the examiners as it shows that they are confident with their work. It also shows that the scholar has worked hard for the thesis and they have nothing to fear regarding the viva voce.

One way of showing the examiners that the candidate is prepared and has dedicated themselves to the research is by making constant eye contact with the examiners.

The researcher should also be careful not to give too much attention to one examiner and instead they should keep eye contact with all the researchers during the whole viva voce.

Plan some expected questions and your answers

Whichever situation that one finds that they are required to make a presentation before a panel or a group of people, the first thing that the person does is to prepare adequately.

It is useful for the candidate to expect some questions that are likely to be asked during the presentation and therefore the scholar should make a list of some of them and work on possible answers.

Although one cannot fully predict the type of questions, it is important for the candidate to conduct a research of previous viva voce that have been done on the same field. Also, the scholar must consult the supervisor who may have useful advice.

Be ready to explain the drawbacks of your thesis cleverly

There is no perfect research and all of them are liable to limitations which the candidate must make a point of acknowledging before they are asked.

The scholar must be prepared to mention the drawbacks and explain why they arise. Merely stating the drawbacks is not enough since it will only make the examiners curios and therefore the candidate must defend the thesis wit-fully taking care to show that the limitations could not be avoided.

Challenges encountered during the thesis should be noted since they might be helpful in explaining the limitations or drawbacks.

Make rehearsals before two days of your viva voce

It has been noted that the scholar must ensure that they are fully prepared for the viva voce before meeting the examiners. Apart from reading through the thesis at least three times, the candidate should ensure that they prepare for the presentation prior to the scheduled day of the meeting.

If possible, the candidate is advised to look for friends and prepare a mock viva voce whereby they act as the examiners and ask questions that the candidate feel could potentially be asked.

This process should be done at least two days before the presentation. A rehearsal is important because it assists the candidate to engage how much they know pertaining to their thesis and some areas that may not have been given adequate attention can be addressed.

Never say “I don’t know” Somehow defend PhD viva (Be it wrong its ok)

A research paper consists of a lot of content and it may not be possible to remember everything that is contained in the same. It is common for the examiners to ask questions that the candidate has not prepared themselves to answer but this should not deter them from answering.

In case the candidate encounters such questions, they should not hastily state that they do not have the answer. Instead, the candidate should take their time and reflect on the thesis and analyze the connection between the question and the thesis.

It is understandable if the answer is not correct but at least the candidate should try to answer the question.

Prepare some positive statements of English to use them during presentation of your viva

One way of preparing for the viva voce is to ensure that one has answers to the examiner’s questions. The main areas of concern are the main points and how they are relevant to the topic.

A presentation must have statements that can be defended at all times since they help the scholar to show the importance of the thesis to the community. Such statements must be positive in nature and exhibit backing up of the thesis.

They should be prepared in English since it is the universal language that is applicable to almost all job specifications in the job market.

How to present PhD viva presentation positively

Positive statements are one way of the researcher showing that they have confidence in themselves and the thesis. Throughout the viva voce, the candidate must ensure that they have a positive attitude which is essential because it draws the examiners on their side.

A positive attitude makes it possible to answer questions easily and there is a likelihood that the examiners may not ask questions that put the candidate in bad situations. It enables the scholar to be motivated and therefore they are able to answer questions freely without feeling tense.

Be audible and do not look shy during thesis viva presentation

It is understandable that some people may have difficulty in standing before people and speaking their minds. However, the scholar is advised to remember that this is their dissertation and the presentation is among the stakeholders that determine whether one will pass or fail.

To counter shyness, the candidate is advised to prepare themselves adequately before the viva voce process. It is important because it boosts the candidate’s moral and level of motivation.

A scholar that is prepared becomes confident in themselves and they also develop a positive attitude which makes it easier to face the examiners and answer any question hurled at them without fear.

If you have had any experience with public speaking skills, you can do this task very easily. But unfortunately, you might have been lazy not to learn these skills when your English Teacher taught you during your school days. You need to give your count now while doing your Ph.D. viva. These skills are very necessary to get through these oral sessions. The way you speak is what matters seriously for the examiners or the reviewers.

Once you are through enough to make it, you can become successful. This way you can become a lot more confident and you will pass this viva without any doubt. While presenting do remember that you have to make some preparation for the last two months. This preparation is the only backbone for your viva. If you do not prepare beforehand you will face trouble while presenting your Ph.D. viva oral

When you keep this in mind, there are some other tips, I want to give here. See how PhD candidates do their viva online. If you go on to youtube you will get many videos in real time. Learn from them how they are able to present during such stressful sessions. I suggest you watch at least one video about Ph.D. viva or any other sessions with respect to Viva. This will surely give you fuller knowledge and viva presentations presentation tips about viva

When you want to give Ph.D. viva, try to show respect who are around you. They may be irritating sometimes to face. But you must never lose temper if someone asks you an inappropriate question. These type of unrelated questions are very common while giving your Ph.D. viva oral examination.

Master all the techniques on how to face audience and PhD supervisor during your viva voce. The way you speak, the way you behave, the way you respond, the way you manage, the way you present. All such skills must be learned before going to viva session.

You cannot make yourself a bluff in front of others for simple questions. So in order to avoid this, you must take your viva seriously and make sufficient preparation.

Never lose heart rather increase your active participation in the viva. If someone corrects you, accept it humbly and proceed to the next defending minutes. So Ph.D. viva is not a big problem if you follow all these suggestions throughout the reading on how to do Ph.D. Viva Voce.phd viva tips

Syam Prasad Reddy T

Hello, My name is Syam, Asst. Professor of English and Mentor for Ph.D. students worldwide. I have worked years to give you these amazing tips to complete your Ph.D. successfully. Having put a lot of efforts means to make your Ph.D. journey easier. Thank you for visiting my Ph.D. blog.

You May Also Like

Google Jam topics

Top 100 Jam topics in an Interview Session

How to Introduce Myself in Jam Session

• PhD Viva Voces – A Complete Guide
• Doing a PhD
• A PhD viva involves defending your thesis in an oral examination with at least two examiners.
• The aim of a PhD viva is to confirm that the work is your own , that you have a deep understanding of your project and, overall, that you are a competent researcher .
• There are no standard durations, but they usually range from one to three hours, with most lasting approximately two hours .
• There are six outcomes of a PhD viva: (1) pass without corrections (2) pass subject to minor corrections, (3) pass subject to major corrections, (4) downgrade to MPhil with no amendments, (5) downgrade to MPhil subject to amendments, (6) immediate fail.
• Almost all students who sit their viva pass it, with the most common outcome being ‘(2) – pass subject to minor corrections’.

What Is a PhD Viva?

A viva voce , more commonly referred to as ‘viva’, is an oral examination conducted at the end of your PhD and is essentially the final hurdle on the path to a doctorate. It is the period in which a student’s knowledge and work are evaluated by independent examiners.

In order to assess the student and their work around their research question, a viva sets out to determine:

• you understand the ideas and theories that you have put forward,
• you can answer questions about elements of your work that the examiners have questions about,
• you understand the broader research in your field and how your work contributes to this,
• you are aware of the limitations of your work and understand how it can be developed further,
• your work makes an original contribution, is your own and has not been plagiarised.

Note: A viva is a compulsory procedure for all PhD students, with the only exception being when a PhD is obtained through publication as opposed to the conventional route of study.

Who Will Attend a Viva?

In the UK, at least two examiners must take part in all vivas. Although you could have more than two examiners, most will not in an attempt to facilitate a smoother questioning process.

One of the two examiners will be internal, i.e. from your university, and the other will be external, i.e. from another university. Regardless, both will be knowledgeable in your research field and have read your thesis beforehand.

In addition to your two examiners, two other people may be present. The first is a chairperson. This is an individual who will be responsible for monitoring the interview and for ensuring proper conduct is followed at all times. The need for an external chairperson will vary between universities, as one of the examiners can also take on this role. The second is your supervisor, whose attendance is decided upon by you in agreement with your examiners. If your supervisor attends, they are prohibited from asking questions or from influencing the outcome of the viva.

To avoid any misunderstandings, we have summarised the above in a table:

Note: In some countries, such as in the United States, a viva is known as a ‘PhD defense’ and is performed publicly in front of a panel or board of examiners and an open audience. In these situations, the student presents their work in the form of a lecture and then faces questions from the examiners and audience which almost acts as a critical appraisal.

How Long Does a Viva Last?

Since all universities have different guidelines , and since all PhDs are unique, there are no standard durations. Typically, however, the duration ranges from one to three hours, with most lasting approximately two hours.

Your examiners will also influence the duration of your viva as some will favour a lengthy discussion, while others may not. Usually, your university will consult your examiners in advance and notify you of the likely duration closer to the day of your viva.

What Happens During a Viva?

Regardless of the subject area, all PhD vivas follow the same examination process format as below.

Introductions

You will introduce yourselves to each other, with the internal examiner normally introducing the external examiner. If an external chairperson is present, they too are introduced; otherwise, this role will be assumed by one of the examiners.

Procedure Explained

After the introductions, the appointed chair will explain the viva process. Although it should already be known to everyone, it will be repeated to ensure the viva remains on track during the forthcoming discussion.

Warm-Up Questions

The examiners will then begin the questioning process. This usually starts with a few simple opening questions, such as asking you to summarise your PhD thesis and what motivated you to carry out the research project.

In-Depth Questions

The viva questions will then naturally increase in difficulty as the examiners go further into the details of your thesis. These may include questions such as “What was the most critical decision you made when determining your research methodology ?”, “Do your findings agree with the current published work?” and “How do your findings impact existing theories or literature? ”. In addition to asking open-ended questions, they will also ask specific questions about the methodology, results and analysis on which your thesis is based.

Closing the Viva

Once the examiners are satisfied that they have thoroughly evaluated your knowledge and thesis, they will invite you to ask any questions you may have, and then bring the oral examination to a close.

What Happens After the Viva?

Once your viva has officially ended, your examiners will ask you to leave the room so that they can discuss your performance. Once a mutual agreement has been reached, which can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, you will be invited back inside and informed of your outcome.

PhD Viva Outcomes

There are six possible outcomes to a viva:

• Immediate award of degree: A rare recommendation – congratulations, you are one of the few people who completely satisfied your examiners the first time around. You do not have to do anything further at this point.
• Minor amendments required: The most common recommendation – you obtain a pass on the condition that you make a number of minor amendments to your thesis, such as clarifying certain points and correcting grammatical errors. The time you have to make these changes depends on the number of them, but is usually one to six months.
• Major amendments required: A somewhat uncommon recommendation – you are requested to make major amendments to your thesis, ranging from further research to collecting more data or rewriting entire sections. Again, the time you have to complete this will depend on the number of changes required, but will usually be six months to one year. You will be awarded your degree once your amended thesis has been reviewed and accepted.
• Immediate award of MPhil: An uncommon recommendation – your examiners believe your thesis does not meet the standard for a doctoral degree but meets the standard for an MPhil (Master of Philosophy), a lower Master’s degree.
• Amendments required for MPhil: A rare recommendation – your examiners believe your thesis does not meet the standard for a doctoral degree, but with several amendments will meet the standard for an MPhil.
• Immediate fail: A very rare recommendation – you are given an immediate fail without the ability to resubmit and without entitlement to an MPhil.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

What Is the Pass Rate for Vivas?

Based on an  analysis of 26,076 PhD students  who took their viva exam between 2006 and 2017, the PhD viva pass rate in the UK is 96%; of those who passed, about 80% were required to make minor amendments to their thesis. The reason for this high pass rate is that supervisors will only put their students forward for a viva once they confidently believe they are ready for it. As a result, most candidates who sit a viva are already well-versed in their PhD topic before they even start preparing for the exam.

How Do I Arrange a Viva?

Your viva will be arranged either by the examiners or by the chairperson. The viva will be arranged at least one to two months after you have submitted your thesis and will arrange a viva date and venue that is suitable for all participants.

Can I Choose My Examiners?

At most universities, you and your supervisor will choose the internal and external examiners yourselves. This is because the examiners must have extensive knowledge of the thesis topic in order to be able to examine you and, as the author of the thesis in question, who else could better determine who they might be than you and your supervisor. The internal examiner is usually quite easy to find given they will be from your institution, but the external examiner may end up being your second or third preference depending on availability.

Can I Take Notes Into a Viva?

A viva is about testing your competence, not your memory. As such, you are allowed to take notes and other supporting material in with you. However, keep in mind that your examiners will not be overly impressed if you constantly have to refer to your notes to answer each question. Because of this, many students prefer to take an annotated copy of their thesis, with important points already highlighted and key chapters marked with post-it notes.

In addition to an annotated copy of a thesis, some students also take:

• a list of questions they would like to ask the examiners,
• notes that were created during their preparation,
• a list of minor corrections they have already identified from their viva prep work.

How Do I Prepare for a PhD Viva?

There are several ways to prepare for a PhD viva, one of the most effective being a mock viva voce examination . This allows you to familiarise yourself with the type of viva questions you will be asked and identify any weak areas you need to improve. They also give you the opportunity to practise without the pressure, giving you more time to think about your answers which will help to make sure that you know your thesis inside out. However, a mock viva exam is just one of many methods available to you – some of the other viva preparation methods can be found on our “ How to Prepare for a PhD Viva ” page.

Browse PhDs Now

Join thousands of students.

Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.

How to prepare your viva opening speech

A viva, or PhD thesis defence, typically starts with an opening speech by the PhD candidate. This opening speech can be prepared in advance. How? By following six simple steps that take you from checking university requirements, to structuring and practising your viva opening speech.

What is a viva opening speech?

Step 1: check the requirements for your viva opening speech, step 2: define the audience for your viva opening speech, step 3: develop key messages for your viva opening speech, step 4: structure your viva opening speech, step 5: create visual support for your viva opening speech, step 6: practice your viva opening speech.

Submitting a PhD thesis feels like a major milestone. And it is! But before being able to call themselves a ‘doctor’, most PhD students have to defend their thesis. And this thesis defence, or viva, tends to start with an opening speech.

A viva opening speech is a short presentation of the PhD thesis by the PhD candidate. It typically lasts between 10 and 30 minutes and kicks off the PhD defence during which the candidate has to answer questions from the examiners.

Questions from examiners are relatively unpredictable. A viva opening speech, however, can be prepared and practised in advance! Therefore, it constitutes a major part of getting reading for a PhD thesis defence.

Different universities have (sometimes vastly) different requirements for viva opening speeches. So, unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all advice.

Therefore, the first step to preparing a viva opening speech should always be to find out the specific regulations of your university.

Common factors to consider are the following:

• The length of the viva opening speech. Whether you have to prepare a 10-minute or a 30-minutes presentation matters considerably.
• The use of a (PowerPoint) presentation. Some universities require presentation slides. Others don’t. Make sure to follow all requirements or customary standards.
• The focus of the speech. Some universities explicitly ask for a summary of the whole PhD thesis. Others may prefer several key findings, or arguments to kick off the discussion.
• The target audience of the speech. Find out who you are supposed to address in your speech. More on this in Step 2!

Some information is easy to find. Some isn’t. Always talk to your PhD supervisor/s! PhD supervisors will know about the university requirements, can share their experiences and guide you in the right direction.

Once you are aware of your university’s regulation concerning viva opening speeches, it is smart to think a bit more about the target audience of your speech.

The target audience for your viva opening speech will influence the level of detail in your presentation, the complexity of the information, and the language and terminology you will use.

In the UK, for instance, the thesis defence usually involves only the examiners and the candidate. Thus, the viva opening speech will be directed at the examiners, who have all read the PhD thesis in advance and are experts in the candidate’s research field.

In contrast, in the Netherlands, for instance, PhD defences are public events. Viva opening speeches during these public events are used to share the focus of the thesis in simple language with the audience. The audience is usually family, friends and colleagues. Examiners are not even present during the speech.

Now it is time to brainstorm about the content of your viva opening speech! One harsh truth is that you simply cannot include everything. Summarising the work of 3, 4 or more years in a few minutes is incredibly challenging. You have to be selective. You have to summarise, abstract and prioritise.

The key messages for your viva opening speech should be in line with the nature of your PhD thesis. For those who have read your PhD thesis in advance, the content of your viva opening speech should not come as a surprise.

For instance, if you wrote a very theoretical PhD thesis, it makes no sense to focus your whole speech on your data collection and analysis. Instead, it makes more sense to emphasise the theoretical contributions of your PhD.

Next up, you should structure your viva opening speech: Breaking up the key messages into concrete parts helps you to develop a logic and convincing storyline.

Common ways to structure viva presentations are around the table of contents of the PhD thesis, around key findings, key arguments, or around case studies.

Finding the right structure for your opening speech is so important that I wrote a whole post on how to structure your viva presentation, including examples of different viva presentation structures .

As in every speech or presentation, visual support can be helpful. Therefore, if you are allowed to use PowerPoint slides or other forms of visual support for your viva opening speech, it is sensible to make use of this opportunity.

As with regular presentations, avoid too much text on slides. Instead, make strategic use of images, photographs, figures or diagrams to develop your storyline and bring your points across.

Finally, practice your viva opening speech! If your target audience is the thesis examiners, present your speech to your supervisor/s or fellow PhD students. Ask them for feedback and use it to improve your speech.

If the target audience is the general public, present to family members or friends outside of academia. Do they understand what you are talking about? Can they follow your storyline?

You should practice your viva opening speech up to the point that you can present freely, without reading from your notes. However, don’t learn the whole speech by heart. It is always noticeable if someone just recites text, and it will make you sound like a robot.

Lastly, when you practice make sure to keep a timer at hand. Most viva opening speeches have to adhere to a strict time limitation, and will simply be cut off if they exceed the given time. You don’t want this to happen on your big day! So make sure to practice sticking to your time.

Get new content delivered directly to your inbox!

Subscribe and receive Master Academia's quarterly newsletter.

Planning your PhD research: A 3-year PhD timeline example

All you need to know about career objectives on phd resumes, related articles.

Better thesis writing with the Pomodoro® technique

PhD thesis types: Monograph and collection of articles

Minimalist writing for a better thesis

Why you cannot write a PhD thesis in 3-6 months

Public Ph.D. Viva-Voce Presentation notification of Srutheesh S on 15.04.2024

News & notifications.

View Fullscreen

Issuing Authority & Date

Dr. s. arulselvan, .

Department of Electronic Media and Mass Communication

Pondicherry University

Get in touch with us for world class education..

The Registrar, R Venkat Raman Nagar, Kalapet Pondicherry - 605 014, India [email protected] Tel : 0413 - 2655179 Fax : 0413 - 2655734

Quick Links

• National Cyber Crime Portal
• Anti - Ragging
• Anti - Discrimination
• Hindi Word for this day
• How to reach?

Important Links

• Women's Cell
• Research and Development Cell
• Incubation Facility
• ASPIRE (LBI) - PU
• Recruitment Portal

Constituent Units

• UGC - MMTTC
• Community College - Puducherry
• Community College - Mahe
• Karaikal Campus
• Port Blair Campus

Copyright 2020 © Pondicherry University

Website team.