If you’ve been hellbent on finishing your thesis, you probably haven’t given much thought to the viva. Usually, there’s a sudden realisation that submission isn’t the end. The thesis isn’t the PhD, it’s part of it; and the PhD is an examination. Although the PhD is different from other types of degree, there are still regulations and an examination process that must be followed. Your viva is the spoken element of this examination. So, your PhD examination isn’t complete until you’ve passed your viva. And your thesis almost certainly isn’t complete, either, as around 90% of candidates are asked to [...]