Completing a PhD is an enormous accomplishment, but before you can officially call yourself “Doctor,” there’s one final hurdle: the PhD viva. This oral examination allows experts in your field to ask in-depth questions, challenge your findings, and assess your understanding. And when it concludes, you’ll receive a final decision on your thesis. Let’s explore the various possible PhD viva outcomes, what they mean, and how you can prepare for them.
What is a PhD Viva?
The PhD viva, also known as a viva voce (Latin for “with living voice”), is an oral defense of your thesis. During the viva, you will discuss your research with an examination panel, which typically includes one or more examiners from your university, an external examiner from another institution, and sometimes a chairperson to oversee the process.
PhD viva outcomes
PhD viva outcomes can vary slightly across universities, but they generally fall into one of several categories. Knowing what to expect can reduce anxiety and help you feel prepared for any result.
Pass with no corrections
- What it means: This is the ideal outcome and means your thesis meets all academic standards. It’s rare for a PhD viva to end with no corrections at all, as examiners usually find some areas for refinement.
- Next steps: You may have a few administrative steps to complete, but you’re essentially done! Congratulations on an excellent thesis.
Pass with minor corrections
- What it means: This is a common outcome and a great result. Minor corrections are typically straightforward edits, like fixing typographical errors, rephrasing certain sections for clarity, or making slight adjustments to references.
- Next steps: The corrections are often manageable and typically take a few weeks to complete. After addressing the feedback, you’ll resubmit your thesis, usually with approval from your internal examiner, to finalize the process.
Pass with major corrections
- What it means: While still a pass, major corrections imply that your thesis needs more substantial changes. This could involve rewriting chapters, conducting additional data analysis, reinterpreting some findings, or expanding on sections that require greater depth.
- Next steps: Typically, universities allow three to six months to complete major corrections. You’ll resubmit your revised thesis for review, and while a second viva isn’t always required, examiners will want to confirm that your revisions meet their expectations.
Revise and resubmit (with or without a second viva)
- What it means: A “revise and resubmit” indicates that, while promising, your thesis requires significant work before it can meet the requirements for a PhD. The examiners may have found substantial issues in your methodology, data, analysis, or argumentation.
- Next steps: You will be asked to spend anywhere from six months to a year on the revisions, and then submit your thesis again. Some universities require a second viva to assess the revised submission. This outcome can be disheartening, but it’s also an opportunity to make your work more rigorous.
MPhil Award (or lower degree)
- What it means: Occasionally, the examiners conclude that the thesis doesn’t meet the standards for a PhD but could qualify for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree, which is still a respected postgraduate research degree. This outcome may occur if your research contributes to knowledge but lacks the originality or scope required for a PhD.
- Next steps: You might be given the option to accept the MPhil award or continue working on your thesis to bring it up to PhD standards. If you choose to make improvements, you’ll generally have a set time frame for resubmission and, potentially, another viva.
Fail
- What it means: Although rare, this outcome signifies that the thesis does not meet the necessary standards for either a PhD or an MPhil. This might result from fundamental flaws in the research design, data, or the core argument that cannot be resolved through revisions.
- Next steps: In this case, examiners generally provide feedback, which can help you decide how to move forward. Some candidates may choose to start afresh with a new project or different university, while others may transition into careers outside academia.
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