Surviving the Viva
In my last post I shared my elation at having finally submitted my PhD thesis; now I have another reason to be euphoric: I passed the viva voce!
In my last post I shared my elation at having finally submitted my PhD thesis; now I have another reason to be euphoric: I passed the viva voce!
After three years and three months of the most intense, mentally gruelling and challenging study, I have finally finished writing my PhD thesis. Hurrah!
A new study that examines the employability and value of doctoral graduates in comparison with masters and first degree graduates reveals that those with a doctorate have higher earnings and have fared better during the recession.
Teaching and research posts are scarce these days thanks to the drastic changes to HE funding, widespread job cuts, increased tuition fees and the trend towards marketization of the sector, leading to fierce competition in the job market.
If you get through the internal assessment which takes place 12-15 months after initial registration onto a doctoral programme, then 12-15 months after that, or 24-26 months into your PhD, you will have to undergo an internal evaluation.
During the early stages of your PhD research project you will need to think about gaining ethical approval which is required before you can begin the actual research.
The viva is widely recognised as the final stage in a doctoral study where candidates are required to defend their research. But doctoral students are assessed much earlier in a similar fashion through the interim assessment.