Here are 36 questions that are typically asked at PhD vivas to help you with your preparation. PhD viva questions are unpredictable but this list should help you prepare.
Part 1. Overview Viva Questions
- Summarise your thesis in a single sentence
- Does the title represent the content?
- Describe your thesis in brief.
- How did you decide to order your thesis?
- What is your overall argument?
- Why did you choose this topic?
- Why is this topic important, and to whom is it relevant?
- What are your key findings?
- What is original in the thesis? What are your contributions to knowledge?
Part 2. Literature Viva Questions
- Where did you draw the line on what you included in your literature review? (how did you decide what to include and what not to include)
- How did the literature inform your choice of topic and the thesis overall?
- Where does your work fit into the literature?
- Who are the key names (authors) in this area?
Part 3: Research Design and Methodology PhD Viva Questions
- Summarise your research design. What is your methodology?
- What are the limitations of your methodology?
- Is there anything novel in your method?
- What problems did you have?
- How did you develop your research questions?
- Did the research questions change over the course of the project?
- Where are YOU in this study? How has your background (and your identity) influenced your research?
- What is the theoretical framework in this study?
Part 4. Analysis
- What problems did you have in the analysis?
- Briefly summarise the findings as they relate to each of the research questions?
Part 5. Review
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of your thesis?
- What are the implications of your findings?
- How has the context changed since you conducted your research?
- How do you see this area developing over the next 5-10 years?
- What, if any, of your findings are generalisable? [Could your findings apply to other geographies]
- How could you follow this project up with further research?
Part 6. Reflection
- How did the project change as you went through?
- How have your views changed as you have progressed through your research?
- How did your thinking change over the course of the project?
- What are you proudest of in the thesis?
- What were the most difficult areas?
- What surprised you the most?
- If you started this study again, what would you do differently?
I hope these questions are useful to you as you prepare for your viva. If you need any assistance preparing for the viva or getting your thesis ready for submission then just drop me an email and we can discuss how I can help.
