phd viva kcl

Category: PhD Viva

Sze may yee successfully defended her phd thesis.

On Thursday 24th February, Sze May Yee successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled “Towards the Simulations of Complex Human Brain Cell Membranes.” May was examined by  Edina Rosta and Antreas Kalli, who have requested that she completes minor corrections to her thesis.  May’s viva was able to be held in …

Paul Smith successfully defended his PhD thesis!

On Friday 12 November, Paul Smith successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled “Understanding Lipid Membrane Biophysics Through Molecular Simulation.” Paul was examined by Andela Saric and Arianna Fornili, who have requested that he completes minor corrections to his thesis.  Paul’s viva was able to be held in a face-to-face setting, …

Rob, Demi & Adam successful defend their PhD theses!

Since January 2021, three members of the group have had their PhD vivas, Rob Ziolek, Demi Pink and Adam Suhaj.  Each one of them have successfully defended their thesis, and have been asked to submit minor corrections.  Rob was the first to have his defense on 18 February 2021. He …

Irene Marzuoli successfully defended her PhD thesis

On 31 January, Irene Marzuoli, who was co-supervised by Prof. Franca Fraternali in the Randall Centre for Cell & Molecular Biology, was examined by Prof. Syma Khalid (University of Southampton) and Prof. Fernando Bresme (Imperial College London) during her PhD viva.  Irene’s viva was during the afternoon, and in the end the examiners …

Philip Ferguson successfully defended his PhD thesis

On 18 December, Philip Ferguson, who was co-supervised by James Mason (KCL, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science), was examined by Jason Crain (IBM Research, UK) and Jake Bundy (Imperial College London) during his PhD viva.  Phil’s viva lasted most of the afternoon, and in the end the examiners were left impressed by …

Mateusz Bieniek successfully defended his PhD thesis

On 29 November, Mateusz Bieniek conducted his PhD viva, which was examined by Dr. Paul Mulheran (University of Strathclyde) and Dr. Giorgia Brancolini (CNR NANO, Modena, Italy).  First, Mat gave an exit seminar to an audience including members of the Lorenz Lab, the two examiners and Dr. Willie Taylor, Mat’s superviser …

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Your questions answered – postgraduate research students

Introduction.

Updated: 24 January 2022

You may find it useful to read these FAQs in conjunction with the regulation documents and forms available via the Centre for Doctoral Studies .

2021/22 guidance for new and continuing PGR students

We expect PGR students normally to be based in London for their research degrees, as per King’s academic regulations. However, we recognise that there are currently significant challenges for some PGR students, in terms of getting to the UK.

However, students are still able to travel to the UK (provided, if applicable, that any necessary visas have been arranged). Nonetheless, such travel does likely incur significant financial cost, in terms of tests and quarantine , above and beyond the normal costs of visas and travel. In such situations, PGR students, whether new or continuing, might want to consider the potential to study remotely.

Studying remotely is not necessarily a simple decision:

• The nature of many courses means that there is a considerable component of study & research that can only be undertaken in person. Therefore, any consideration of studying remotely should start with a discussion between the student and the supervisory team, to assess whether remote study is feasible.
• As well as this practical consideration, there may be other factors, for example the terms and conditions of the funding of the PhD which may also influence this decision.
• In some cases, students are starting a more structured programme of training in their first year as part of a cohort of students. It may not be possible to undertake this training remotely and/or the student might feel it is a major disadvantage not joining the programme in person (when most other students are physically present). This could make it much harder to settle in and build key working relationships.

However, assuming none of these issues are a significant impediment, the student can study remotely.

In all cases, if the student requires a visa to enter the UK, advice should be sought from the Visa advice team to check any specific individual circumstances. Students who have visas, and who have started studying remotely outside of the UK, will need to be studying in the UK in person by the UK Visas and Immigration deadline of 6 April 2022 (or by the next deadline set by their supervisory team, whichever is earlier).

Students should indicate on the Study location form their location (this should be completed as part of enrolment or re-enrolment). Students do not need to complete the Off-campus study form if the remote study is COVID related.

Another option which might be considered is delaying the start of the degree until the next entry point, in June 2022. However, again, the same factors will need to be considered, as described above. Continuing students should consider interruption of study if remote study is not feasible

Are current recruitment and scholarship application processes still going ahead?

Yes. Recruitment is not impacted. Find out about the latest scholarships .

I am an international student and have accepted a place for a research degree but haven’t enrolled yet. What do I need to know?

Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. As long as you apply for your visa within 6 months of being issued your CAS, it will be valid for use, although you might need to update it with your intended arrival date in the UK. To find out more on CAS updates visit our article How can I change information in my CAS?

I am a student from an EU country. What do I need to know?

As you may be aware the UK exited the European Union on the 1 January 2020.

You can find information on the Advice & Guidance pages:

Students with Pre-settled or Settled Status

Students in the UK with no status

Students outside the UK

Please contact the Advice & Guidance Team for specific advice

Individual student risk assessments

Protecting the health and wellbeing of the entire King’s community is a priority for the university. For our latest updates and safety guidance, please refer to the Keeping King’s safe together webpages.

How do I study on campus safely?

In order to be physically on campus, you will need to have conversations with your supervisors using the return to campus policy .

If you are planning to come to campus, you should complete our online risk assessment tool . You will need to use your King’s account to complete the form. The form will explain the measures that we have put in place to support you and identify if any further steps are required.

What should I do if I am identified as high or medium/high risk and planning to come to campus?

Please discuss the results with your supervisor who will advise you about the next steps and ask you to complete an individual risk assessment.

What should I do if I am identified as high risk but am not planning to come to campus?

If you are not planning to come to campus, then you do not need to take any further action on risk assessments. However, it is advisable to let your supervisor know as early as possible so that adequate support can be put in place for when you join us on campus.

Support for long-term health conditions and disabilities

If you have a long-term health condition or a disability, there are a range of articles in our Disability support section that explain how our services can support you during your time at King's.

Continuing your research

Please speak to your supervisor(s) about your research, in particular, to discuss what research you can continue to undertake given the current situation. It is important to emphasise that most research activities can continue, accessing King’s systems remotely where needed. You may find the guidance from the Research Ethics Office particularly helpful if your research involves human participants.

Please read all the information on this page, which includes guidance on how to record any disruption to your progression.

Can my research continue on campus?

Please discuss continuing your research on campus with your supervisor(s) if you have not already done so and follow your Faculty/department guidance on this. When on campus please ensure that you are tested regularly . Respecting safe distancing, wearing a face covering unless exempt and regular hand washing are the best ways to help reduce transmission of the virus. Please see the Keeping King’s Safe Together webpages for information.

Thesis submission deadline

In 2020 we extended the thesis submission deadline for all students (who enrolled prior to 1 April 2020) by 3 months. There are currently no plans to issue a further blanket submission deadline extension. Students who need additional time to submit should request this via the exemption process with guidance from their faculty. Such requests are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. This extension does not guarantee additional stipend payments. It is just an extension of the submission deadline.

I am a funded student. What is the impact of the King’s submission deadline extension on me?

As a funded student (e.g. those on UKRI programmes) you should follow the terms and conditions of your funding body and seek advice from your supervisor and the relevant programme manager.

Please see further information in the funding section below.

When do I need to submit my RD1 form if my expected submission deadline has changed?

The RD1 form should be submitted a minimum of four months before your intended submission date. Download the RD1 form .

I am already in the process of completing my thesis corrections. Will I receive an extension?

If you are in the process of completing your thesis corrections, you will not receive an automatic extension. Submitting corrections is a critical point involving a number of individuals such as external examiners. Students are therefore encouraged to complete and submit corrections within their current deadline if at all possible. However, if you absolutely cannot complete your corrections due to COVID19, please apply for an exemption. Upon approval, the research degrees team will communicate this decision to your examiners.

I am a visiting research student. Will my visit get extended automatically by three months?

We are not automatically extending such visits.

Does the three month extension affect upgrade deadlines?

No, it doesn't. The vast majority of PGRs successfully complete the upgrade process well within the timeframe of 9-18 months, as set out in the academic regulations. We have therefore decided that there is no need to institute a blanket extension to the upgrade process at this point.

I am an international student. Do I need to extend my visa because of this extension?

Please get in touch with the Student Advice & Guidance Team for help and support.

Do I have to use the additional three months granted by the university?

No. For example, if you are a full-time PGR student, you can still submit your thesis within four years. The extra three months, which extends your deadline to four years and three months, just gives you more time if you require it.

Will I have to pay extra fees for this three-month period?

No extra fees will be applied.

I need more time to pay my tuition fee, can I access any help?

If you need more time to pay your fee, please complete and submit the following form .

I have received the 3 months submission deadline extension. Does this mean my stipend payments will automatically be extended by 3 months?

Unfortunately not. The extension of submission deadline does not guarantee additional stipend payments. This is dependent on your research degree funding body and they will be able to advice you on any funding extensions (UKRI funded students please see contact details below). If your funding body is not able to provide additional support, please see the Financial Support section below.

I am funded by UKRI, who do I contact?

If you are part of the Doctoral Training Centres or Partnerships please contact your CDT or DTP Director or Manager, or your PGR faculty contact.

For general UKRI queries please contact [email protected]

Financial support

Can i access any financial support.

If you have been directly affected financially by the COVID-19 crisis, you may be eligible for financial support through the PGR Financial Aid scheme . This scheme is administered by the Centre for Doctoral Studies and involves a simple application form being submitted along with any relevant supporting documents. Please find full details on the Student Funding webpage .

For covid related financial support for students arriving in the UK, please visit Student Services Online .

Can I access any financial support for my visa extension?

Yes, currently PGR students whose Tier 4 (General) student visa expires on or before 31 July 2022can apply for assistance with their visa extension. See the PGR Financial Aid scheme guidance for further details.

Can I make a claim for additional stipend payments through this scheme?

The scheme will not replace or provide additional stipend payments (see questions in the ‘Funding’ section for more information) . The PGR Financial Aid scheme is designed to help those currently directly affected financially by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. If you are in this situation, we encourage you to apply to the PGR Financial Aid scheme and also to seek advice from the Advice & Guidance team .

Recording disruption to progress

What records will i need to keep in order to apply for funding extension in the future.

In order to make a case for additional funding in the future, all funded students are advised to:

• Keep a record of how your project is being impacted, including copies of any supporting evidence. Examples of supporting evidence include notes of cancellation of a scheduled research visit, cancelled experiments abroad/field trips.
• Working with your supervisors, review your progress objectives on the online progress reports.
• Depending on what stage you are on the PhD trajectory, consider what you can practically and constructively do towards your PhD right now, to minimise the impact caused by COVID-19, and to continue to make progress. You might adjust objectives accordingly, to include new tasks which can be more easily carried out in your current working environment.
• In your online progress reports, record any impacts and time delays which are unavoidable (evidenced as per (1) above), and provide a description of what you have done to continue to progress (as described in (3)).

Where do I record my lack of progress due to COVID-19?

If your progress has been disturbed by this the current situation we ask you to record this your online progress reports.

We are expecting you to record your delays in:

• Question 1.2b – Briefly describe any issues/problems which have prevented you from achieving your targets
• Question 1.2c – Explain how these have been addressed and your plans to meet any unmet targets .

How can I explain the impact of COVID-19 to my thesis examiners?

We are giving all PGRs the option of including an Impact Statement alongside their thesis. This will enable you to explain to your examiners how you have modified your research in the light of COVID-19.  Find out more .

King’s College London recognises the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PGR students. Students are expected to adapt their research activities to mitigate, as far as possible, the disruptions caused by COVID-19 restrictions. Nevertheless, the impact of disruptions on the research may merit explanation in the thesis. Examiners should consider the student’s COVID-19 impact statement in relation to the scope and volume of the research student’s work whilst always upholding the academic requirements for a research degree award.

Read the full Impact Statement Policy.

Upgrade and viva examination

Can my viva voce examination go ahead.

From 1 September 2021 the following oral examination formats are available to students:

• Face-to-face examination
• Fully remote examination
• Hybrid (partially remote) examination

For more information on oral examinations please refer to the Guidance for Oral Examinations document

Is there any guidance for online viva examination?

Yes, the Research Degrees Examination Team have provided a guidance document for everyone who is involved in setting up, conducting, participating, and managing the oral examinations for research degrees. You can find this document on the Research Degrees website .

Will my upgrade viva or MD presentation go ahead?

Yes, these are essential assessments. They can be conducted virtually. Please discuss with your supervisor and see local faculty or department advice.

My home environment is not suitable for online examination, what are my options?

If your home environment is not suitable for online examinations, such as upgrade viva and oral examination please get in touch with your supervisor for other onsite alternatives for you.

We are giving all PGRs the option of including an Impact Statement alongside their thesis. This will enable you to explain to your examiners how you have modified your research in the light of COVID-19. Find out more about the COVID-19 Thesis Impact policy on the Research Degrees website .

Interruption

Do i need to interrupt my studies if i am ill and self-isolating with symptoms.

Students who are not well, self-isolating with symptoms of Coronavirus, can apply for an interruption of studies , even if they are close to submission.

Do I need to interrupt my studies if I am self-isolating without symptoms?

We acknowledge that this situation will be disruptive and engagement with your studies may be difficult. If you are self-isolating without symptoms we would not anticipate that you interrupt your studies. However we recognise that individual circumstances may vary and, if you feel your studies will be impacted by self-isolation, we encourage you to discuss this with your supervisor.

International travel

Can i travel abroad for my research.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the university continues to update its travel policies, with additional authorisation requirements to ensure that staff and students are able to travel safely for the purposes of conducting College business, research or as part of a course.

The travel policy has now been updated to reflect changes in UK travel restrictions as a result of Step 4 of the government roadmap and individual vaccination status. Students can potentially travel, subject to appropriate risk assessment and approval by a Head of Department or designate. King’s travel insurance will be issued on approval of the risk assessment.

Risk assessment guidance is available on the Health & Safety Services’ SharePoint site and information about King’s travel insurance is available on the Finance website. If you have any questions about travelling on your student visa, please contact the Advice and Guidance team.

Fit to Fly : KCL TEST now offers free Fit to Fly certificates to King’s students and staff. KCL TEST is a convenient, non-invasive saliva test to check for coronavirus for those who do not have symptoms (asymptomatic). You can pick up a PCR test kit and return your completed sample during opening hours at hubs across all campuses. Find out more about Fit to Fly certificates .

Researcher development and training

What training and development opportunities are available to me.

Whilst no workshops or training courses are running on site during this time, the Centre for Doctoral Studies (CDS) and other training providers have worked hard to make sure that development opportunities are still available to our PGR community. In most cases we are delivering courses virtually, via platforms such as KEATS or Zoom. A large number of online courses are already available to PGRs.

In light of the ongoing restrictions and the uncertainty around travel in the coming months, King’s has taken the difficult decision to postpone the in-person graduation ceremonies due to take place in winter 2022. Please visit Student Services Online  for more information about future ceremonies .

Degree certificates

You can find more information about obtaining your degree certificate on the Student Services Online website .

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Your PhD Viva and How to Prepare

At the end of the long road of your PhD research, lies the viva examination . Just as every PhD is different, then every viva is different. But there are some things that all PhD candidates can do ahead of time to prepare academically, mentally and physically for the viva examination. Handing in your thesis at the first submission as it gets passed to the examiners feels like a huge weight has been lifted. However, it can be some weeks, even months between that hand in date and the viva. What this time gives you is distance and a chance to prepare.

Re-read your thesis

No matter the length of time between submission and the day of the viva, good preparation is key. In the first instance, as the viva date approaches giving yourself plenty of time, read your thesis, from cover to cover. This seems obvious, but that distance between submission and viva date allows you to step back from your research and allows you to read over it again with a more critical eye. In the midst of the final weeks of research and writing, ensuring all referencing is correct, all figures are identified, and getting copies printed and bound, PhD candidates are so close to their work that it is difficult to see the full picture of the thesis. Re-reading with some distance from submission will help to familiarise yourself with your work again, and to see it as a whole cohesive piece of research.

So what to keep in mind when you are re-reading? In addition to taking in the whole thesis, during the re-read go over your methodology again, in good detail. Make sure that you know your research design and the reasons for that methodology inside and out. A common viva question, regardless of discipline, will be centred on your methodological design. Why did you design it in the way that you did? What were the benefits of your methodology, and were there any problems along the way?

When you have read your thesis, have a think about and form succinct answers to these questions.

• What is your contribution to your field? Why is your study important?
• What was the inspiration for the study and what is it about? It can be a useful exercise to write a one page summary of each chapter.
• What did you do – be able to explain your methodology and how you went about doing it.
• What did you find, what were your outcomes?

Think about and prepare answers to these questions, write them down and importantly, practice saying them out loud. This is a preparation point that everyone should do. In much the same way that you might practice giving a speech or a conference paper, practice – with these questions as a guideline – talking about your thesis out loud. This will help you to avoid getting tongue-tied, and you will be able to answer your examiners’ questions smoothly. You can take these notes into the viva with you.

Know about developments in your field

Another thing to be up to date on is other developments in your field that occurred during the process of your own PhD research. And crucially, where would you position yourself and your work in your field? This is essential to the viva examination, as knowing your position in your particular academic field shows that you understand the past and current academic frameworks and contexts around your own thesis subject. It is also helpful to think about where your research will take you next. Does your thesis open doors for more research ? Development into a publication ?

Practicalities

Make sure that you know in advance where the viva will take place, where the building is and what room number. Have your journey planned, taking into account public transport access, parking or avoiding busy rush hours. Nothing will add to pre-viva stress than being late. Get a good nights sleep the night before, and make sure that you eat before you begin your viva.

What to take with you

Take a bottle of water in with you. It is also useful to take in with you a notebook and pen. Write down the questions as your examiners ask you, or make notes as you discuss your work. This way you can refer to what they have asked and what is being discussed with confidence.

It is perfectly acceptable to ask for clarification on anything that your examiners ask you, and you can and should take time to think before you answer. Even write down your points before you start to answer. It is good practice to take a printed copy of your thesis into the viva with you. The examiners will have their copies, your own copy to refer to will be helpful. You can also prepare some questions that you might like to ask of your examiners.

Feel positive

The viva can seem incredibly daunting and makes all PhD candidates nervous. But your viva can actually be a hugely enjoyable and rewarding experience. Your examiners have been chosen as the ideal professionals in the field to read and feedback on your research. They want to see you do well, they are not there to make problems or to try and trip you up. Remember, your PhD examiners are on your side and they are interested in your work and they want to hear you talk about it.

Research your examiners

Take some time to do a little background research on your examiners. What are their interests, and what are they working on. A relaxed and fulfilling viva often becomes more of a mutual discussion between yourself and the examiners, rather than them only firing questions at you. Of course, there can be no guarantee what questions the examiners might ask you and what they might not. As long as you are very familiar with your own research, your methods, your outcomes and results, and your contribution to the knowledge of your field, the viva will go smoothly. You might even enjoy it.

Post PhD, Where Do I Go From Here?

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Stella Gaynor

Dr Stella Gaynor is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Salford in the Broadcast Media Department, with eight years teaching experience in Higher Education. She completed her PhD thesis on the horror genre and the US television industry and is developing this into a monograph. She has written a chapter in the forthcoming edited collection Global TV Horror, an article for the Revenant journal, and regularly blogs for Critical Studies in Television. She is also a freelance copywriter.

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Are PhD vivas still fit for purpose?

The viva, the final hurdle to gaining a phd, is labour-intensive, not conducted to any national standard and is dreaded by students who fear an examiner will capriciously halt their career. is it still fit for purpose asks elizabeth gibney.

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One candidate left the viva ‘feeling as if I had been hit on the head’ and burst into tears with a sense that her years of research had been a waste

On a December day last year, Lauren Roffey breathed an enormous sigh of relief. She had passed her PhD oral examination, or viva voce , the experience she had dreaded for months rushing by in a 90-minute blur.

She was anxious about the event despite having been, she believes, “luckier than most”: Roffey benefited from extensive advice from a supervisor, three mock vivas, and she had a hand in picking an examiner suitable for her interdisciplinary thesis.

“In the build-up to the viva you hear such horror stories and get such conflicting advice from friends and colleagues,” she explains. “You go into it feeling ‘I’ve done all I can’, but given that you’ve worked for the best part of four years to finish your thesis, it is daunting that it’s such a vague examination you’re about to have.”

Her account highlights a problem faced by doctoral students across the country: too often, relatively little is known about what to expect in the final, essential hurdle in gaining a PhD, and the process can feel fraught.

In many countries, the viva is a formality, but in the UK it is designed to explore how the candidate’s research makes a contribution to knowledge, to examine an individual’s ability to defend and clarify the thesis (helping to ensure that the work is the candidate’s own) and, ultimately, to ensure that the student is worthy of a doctorate.

Generally two examiners, one internal and one external, make independent assessments of the thesis. They usually compare these before they conduct the oral exam, which sometimes takes place in the presence of a supervisor or independent chair.

After the viva, which can last anything from 90 minutes to a gruelling five hours, outcomes range from outright pass to outright fail. In between these two extremes, examiners can request that the candidate submit corrections, resubmit the thesis entirely or be awarded a lower degree.

The PhD oral examination is overseen by the student’s own institution and there is no common UK standard, says Louise Morley, professor of education at the Centre for Higher Education and Equity Research at the University of Sussex . The process may vary depending on both the institution and the individual examiners involved.

“The viva seems to have escaped some of the quality assurance mechanisms around assessment,” she says.

The viva experience is often said to go on behind closed doors. Although some institutions now employ independent chairs and create a written record of events, traditionally this has not been the case. The lack of transparency can lead to fruitless appeals in which “one side says ‘you said this’, the other says ‘no I didn’t’”, Morley says.

According to Barbara Crossouard, senior lecturer in education at Sussex, another potential problem is the sometimes “macho” and “muscular” nature of the test itself.

The process is designed to challenge and engage students, but examiners’ language and behaviour could contribute towards making the experience both stressful and emotional, Crossouard discovered from interviews with PhD candidates in a range of disciplines.

Such a process can disadvantage less confident students, as well as those from outside the UK, who may not have as much experience of such an environment, says Morley.

Indeed, the worst situations described in Crossouard’s research document “bullying” behaviour from examiners. One candidate, who in fact passed with minor corrections, reported leaving the viva “feeling as if I had been hit on the head” and bursting into tears with a sense that her years of research had been a waste of time.

Writing in Times Higher Education last year, Chris Hackley, professor of marketing at Royal Holloway, University of London , highlighted the emotional burden that the current system places on individuals. “The unbridled power of the external examiner to dismiss years of work as irrelevant, misguided or simply wrong seems highly anachronistic in an era of sky-high student fees and much-trumpeted student charters,” he argued. “Do we care enough about our students to protect them from the rogue examiner?” he asked.

Apart from the possibility of tensions between the student and examiners, says Ron Barnett, emeritus professor of higher education at the Institute of Education, University of London, other matters can get in the way.

Few would wish to repeat the process, but rigour is something we demand for what is effectively a ticket to practise in higher education

“Often there are issues around power relationships in a viva…and sometimes the relationship might be a bit awkward between the two examiners,” he says. In the worst cases, the viva can become an opportunity for academics of often different experience and rank to show off and parade their own opinions, he warns.

Nor are the standards on which to judge a PhD viva clearly set out, he says. “Regulations typically talk about producing work of publishable standard, adding to knowledge or understanding of the world, but that’s more or less it. Examiners are usually left to judge the matter for themselves, and I think some will set the bar much higher than others.”

So how widespread is the problem of the “bad viva”? Barnett estimates that issues relating to “quirky, maverick examiners” will arise in about 5 per cent of cases.

Others, such as Vernon Trafford, emeritus professor of education at Anglia Ruskin University, believe the scale of the problem is likely to be smaller. “The vast majority I’ve attended have been fair and they have fulfilled the purpose of the viva,” he says.

He can count just four instances, out of the 115 he has attended, where the viva failed to do its job. One was the fault of the student, who had managed to submit two different versions of his thesis, while two involved inappropriate, “off the wall” examiners. In the fourth, the examiner had obviously not read the thesis.

Despite occasional problems, Trafford and Morley point out that when the process is conducted well, the experience can be very valuable to the candidate. Examiners often go out of their way to guide them through the process; they might also apply their experience in suggesting conference or journal outlets for the candidate’s work. “Looked at that way, vivas are a helpful and developmental process,” says Trafford.

Equally the viva can be a chance to “save” a student who has produced a weak thesis, says Peter Hartley, professor of education development at the University of Bradford .

“As an examiner, I was involved with one viva where we had to fail the student. The viva was to see if we could get something out of it, but we couldn’t. It still sends a shiver down my spine when I talk about it,” he says.

Outright failures are rare. Based on his experience and that of colleagues, Trafford estimates that about 70 per cent of candidates pass with minor corrections. Some 10 per cent have to make major corrections, while similar proportions fail outright or pass with no alterations.

When things do go wrong, the first port of call is the university’s appeals process, the nature of which can also differ between institutions because they may grant their appeals panels varying levels of independence and power, says Barnett.

The internal nature of appeals means there is little national data on the frequency of complaints about the viva process. Candidates can only take their case to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, the body that reviews student complaints, once this internal route is exhausted and only if a concern relates to procedure, rather than academic judgement.

Data from the OIA show that PhD students, like other postgraduates, are over-represented in the complaints it receives. They made up just 3.7 per cent of students in England and Wales in 2011-12 but accounted for 6.5 per cent of the OIA’s 1,605 complaints in 2011.

But although the body does not keep records on complaints referring specifically to vivas, a spokeswoman said it would be “reasonable to say that the number that relate purely to vivas will be very small”, falling within just 70 complaints during 2011 made in total in the broad category of “academic status”.

Nonetheless, the process of the viva is beginning to receive attention from sector-wide bodies. Janet Bohrer, assistant director at the Quality Assurance Agency, says the organisation, whose remit it is to safeguard standards and quality in UK higher education, has plans to convene a group to look at the research degree examination process next year.

Although concerns such as Barnett’s are generating discussion, Bohrer says she is yet to see any “groundswell” of opinion that would point strongly to problems in the area. The job of the group convened by the QAA will be to look at whether guidance from the body, possibly in collaboration with the Higher Education Academy, would be useful, she says.

So what could be done to improve the process? More training and guidance for examiners is one way in which the viva could be refined, says Barnett. “By and large [a viva examiner] is one of the few professional roles in higher education for which one appears to not need any kind of formal training or development.”

To boil an egg you can set the timer for four minutes and it will usually do, but you can’t do the same with a PhD

The use of independent chairs, who attend the viva, are also thought to help minimise, although not mitigate, problems. However, says Morley, this adds to the already high labour costs of the viva process, which is a growing problem given the rise in the number of postgraduate research qualifications awarded, up 24 per cent between 2007-08 and 2011-12, according data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Some suggest getting rid of vivas and assessing theses on the text alone, she says. At US institutions, the role of external examiners in vivas is usually smaller, whereas in Australia there is usually no viva at all.

A further option, which could potentially help to put the candidate at ease and reduce the impact of the power-playing examiner, would be to employ the open and public defence of the thesis in front of family and friends, as occurs in most of Europe.

But as Trafford points out, this “defence” is rarely any more than a “public event”, coming as it does once the text has already been reviewed and corrections received. “It is unlikely that the candidate could fail - the only way of doing so would be to get up and hit one of the examiners. They can’t fail because they’ve already had the viva as we know it, just purely on paper,” he says.

Stan Paliwoda, the recently retired director of the postgraduate research programme at the marketing department of the University of Strathclyde , believes that the rigour of the UK viva and its one-to-one examination process is something to be preserved.

He fears that the PhD could become devalued without such a challenging process. “To boil an egg you can set the timer for four minutes and it will usually do, but you can’t do the same with a PhD,” he says.

Paliwoda sees the external examiner’s role as a counterbalance to departmental pressures to increase the number of PhD graduates, which often stem from assessments such as the research excellence framework. “Universities have an interest to maximise their PhD graduation numbers, particularly at this time. So a concern should be voiced here that says ‘back off and leave the external examiners to do their job’,” he says. “I’ve met few people who would wish to go through the process a second time, but rigour is something we demand [for] what is effectively a…ticket to practise in higher education.”

Trafford accepts that although there will be occasions when problems arise that are the fault of examiners, similarly it may be that the candidate has not been properly prepared “to recognise that the viva is an opportunity to engage in a scholarly discussion”, he adds.

Although candidates’ fear and apprehension often stems from unfamiliarity with the viva process, university regulations are almost without exception clear and readily available, he says. Not only that, but most viva questions are also generally of a similar type and, as a consequence, predictable.

At Bradford, Hartley has used this fact to create mock viva software that he hopes will demystify the process. The program, developed with Gina Wisker from the University of Brighton , asks candidates to respond not to the detailed questions of the PhD but “the more general overarching questions that I’ve seen students struggle with”, he explains.

“They know the detail, but they can’t necessarily step back and say, ‘What makes this a PhD? What’s really significant about the research and how does it fit into previous work?’,” he adds.

Preparation and familiarisation also feature in the advice of Nathan Ryder, a recent PhD graduate who now offers freelance skills training for PhD candidates. He has produced Viva Survivors, a series of podcasts designed to get people talking about their experiences.

He says that after some four years of work, usually including annual reports and presentations and an increasing emphasis on students discussing their research, it is rare for a viva to go badly. “People always say ‘it happened to a friend of a friend’, but I think horror stories are actually very few and far between.”

Thinking back to her viva, Roffey says that although the experience felt like a “grilling” at the time, it was not nearly as horrific as she had thought it would be.

“At the time I would probably have preferred not to do it, but actually it was a great opportunity to talk to two people who’d read the whole thing from beginning to end,” she says. “If I’d just submitted it and got a pass, it might have been an anticlimax.”

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King’s Outstanding Thesis Prize 2021

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2021 King’s Outstanding Thesis Prize!

Twenty awards are given across the year to celebrate truly outstanding research and theses completed by King’s doctoral students. The prizes are nominated by the external examiners and are judged by a panel consisting of the College’s Director of Research Talent and the Chair of the Research Degrees Examinations Board.  

We have an exceptional community of postgraduate researchers at King’s. Each year we recognise 20 of the very best, who have been nominated by their examiners. The standard is incredibly high, in terms of the quality and impact of the research and the clarity and skill of the written thesis. Most winners have published multiple papers and won prizes at conferences, some are already shaping their fields, forging new avenues of research and changing national policy, whether in the UK or abroad. It is definitely one of the most inspiring and enjoyable part of my role to read the submissions from the examiners and the supervisors’ supporting statements. -Dr Nigel Eady, Director of Research Talent & King’s Outstanding Thesis Prize panellist.

Take a look at some reflections from the 2021 winners:

Thesis: The legal nature of export credit insurance and export credit guarantee: a comparative study between the UK and China.

I feel greatly honoured to be awarded this prize. I would like to thank Prof Özlem Gürses and Prof Eva Lomnicka QC (Hon), my dear supervisors at King’s, for their endless support. I am also grateful to King’s for offering me a generous PhD scholarship and various conference and research allowances. My PhD is a pleasant and unforgettable journey in my life. I enjoyed a number of interesting training courses organised by the Centre for Doctoral Studies, which substantially improved my academic skills. I also benefit from my internship research project at the International Union of Credit & Investment Insurers, where I was able to examine whether the legal theory fits the practice in the real commercial world. For those who are about to submit, I encourage you to keep a health daily routine. Do work hard, but also eat well, sleep sound and get some exercise every day. And always take notes when you come up with some fresh ideas even if they are not directly related to your thesis. Happy research and good luck!

Thesis: Informing the knowledge gap of implementation of the World Health Organisation Surgical Safety Checklist in sub-Saharan Africa.

I loved every minute of my PhD at King’s and am indebted to my supervisors Dr Andy Leather and Prof Nick Sevdalis for their constant guidance and encouragement. They created an atmosphere that was both intellectually stretching and supportive. For me, writing my thesis was a way to express all that I had discovered and become passionate about over the last three years, which meant it was an enjoyable experience rather than a chore. I would encourage anyone interested in doing a PhD to find subject you love and supervisors who you can connect with – then you will have some of the best years of your life.

Dr Luis Medina, Faculty of Arts & Humanities

Thesis: Where are the Borders? (Re)Imagining the Nation in Contemporary Ecuadorian Literature.

I remember my PhD years at King’s as some of the happiest of my life. I can’t help but smile when I think that I was privileged enough to spend so many hours reading and writing about the literature that I love. One of the most decisive aspects of my doctoral experience was my fantastic supervision team. I’ll be forever grateful to Dr Elisa Sampson Vera Tudela and Professor Catherine Boyle from the Department of Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American Studies. Their unconditional academic and emotional support helped me to produce a thesis that won three prizes and is already being edited for publication. After receiving my award in August 2020, I held a teaching position at the University of Manchester, and I’m thrilled to share that, from September 2021, I’ll be joining the University of Birmingham on a permanent lectureship in Modern Languages (Spanish).

Dr Emma Kinnaird, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoology & Neuroscience

Thesis: Beyond the stereotypes: characterising the unique features of underresearched eating disorder populations, and implications for treatment.

I feel incredibly lucky to have spent three years researching a topic that I feel passionate about, supported by two wonderful supervisors who really took time to adjust the project to my strengths and interests. I’m now taking the skills I’ve learned in my PhD and putting them into practice as I train as a clinical psychologist at Oxford University.

Dr Pablo Lopez-Custodio, Faculty of Natural & Mathematical Sciences

Thesis: Design of Reconfigurable and Mobility-Variable Linkages with Singularity Analysis and Kinematic Analysis Using Generated Surfaces

I dedicate this prize, and the thesis itself, to the loving memory of my dad Sigfrido Lopez-Zamudio, who passed away during my first year of PhD in King’s College London. Thank you having been an ever-present inspiration.  

Dr Jessica Dafflon, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

Thesis: Machine Learning Methods in Neuroimaging.

I feel honoured and grateful to have been awarded the King’s Outstanding Thesis Prize. I would like to thank the Center for Doctoral Training in Smart Medical Imaging for this opportunity, my PhD advisors Prof. Federico Turkheimer and Dr. Peter Hellyer. But above all, I would like to thank Prof. Robert Leech, Dr. Walter Hugo Lopez Pinaya, and Pedro Carvalho De Paula Ferreira da Costa for the support during the hard times and the brilliant discussions we had. Lastly, I would like to congratulate Thomas Helfer on also winning the King’s Outstanding Thesis Prize and on making my time at King’s College an unforgettable experience.

Dr Thomas Helfer, Faculty of Natural & Mathematical Sciences

Thesis: Exotic Compact Objects in Numerical Relativity.

I am delighted to win this thesis prize, which was only possible with the help of the fantastic people that surrounded me during my Ph.D. journey. They not only helped me foster my passion and love for numerical relativity, but they were also there to share a coffe or beer during the challenging times. Thanks especially to Eugene Lim, my excellent supervisor, who always had time for questions and discussions, and shaped me into the scientist I am today. I would also like to thank Jessica Dafflon for being present during the difficult times and congratulations on also winning the KCL thesis prize.

Thesis: The timing of key events and mutational processes in tumour evolution.

I was really delighted to be nominated for this prize – it feels pretty surreal to write up four years’ work into one thesis, and definitely takes a bit of stamina! I have so many great memories from my time in the lab, where I was working on a project trying to reconstruct the evolutionary history of cancer from genome sequencing data. While I was based at the Francis Crick Institute, I was also affiliated with King’s, and definitely appreciate the great support I received from both during my studies.

Dr Jaffar Khan, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine

Thesis: Novel transcatheter electrosurgical laceration of heart valve leaflets to prevent blood flow obstruction from transcatheter heart valve implantation.

I am thrilled to be awarded the Kings’ Outstanding Thesis Prize for my work on novel cardiovascular interventions. It is so unbelievably gratifying knowing that the techniques described in my thesis have already helped treat thousands of patients worldwide.

Dr Cristina Fernandez Turienzo, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine

Thesis: Evaluation of the introduction of a midwifery continuity of care model for women at increased risk of preterm birth.

I am delighted to receive this prestigious award in recognition for my PhD work. I will always be in debt to my amazing supervisors Prof Jane Sandall, Prof Andy Shennan and Dr Kirstie Coxon, thesis committee members and many other people within Kings (and outside!) who supported me in one way or another. Thank you also to my examiners for such a positive online PhD viva experience. I have recently received a NIHR DSE award and I am looking forward to enhance my learning of clinical trials in global health.

Dr Tiago Rua, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

Thesis: The economics of implementing new clinical pathways across community and hospital-based care.

As part of my PhD I have tried to bridge the gap between the economics and medical imaging fields by applying health economics methodologies across multiple clinical conditions and imaging modalities. Currently, I am working as a Programme Manager of the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Elisa Bruno, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

Thesis: Wearable non-EEG sensors for seizure detection

My experience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, has been fantastic during my PhD, and has helped me to develop professionally in a very inspiring way. It is a great workplace where I’ve found contagious positivity, enthusiasm and knowledge.

Dr Rosina Matilde, Social Science & Public Policy

Thesis: Deterrence and international migration: The criminalisation of irregular entry and stay in Italy and France.

It’s an honour to be awarded the King’s Outstanding Thesis Prize. I would like to thank all my interviewees, for agreeing to share their knowledge and experiences with me. A special thanks also goes to Professor Simona Talani, and to my examiners Professor Henk Overbeek and Dr Anna Sergi. Since finishing my PhD, I have joined the European Institute at LSE as a fellow, and look forward to continuing my work on migration.

Full list of 2021 winners:

Dr Bryony White,  English Language & Literature, A&H

Dr Luis Medina, Latin American Studies, A&H

Dr Jonah Miller, History, A&H

Dr James Rakoczi, English Literature and Medical Humanities, A&H

Dr Vinod Patel, Clinical Dentistry, FoDOC

Dr Tiago Rua, Health Economics, IoPPN

Dr Jessica De Faria Dafflon, Neuroimaging, IoPPN

Dr Emma Kinnaird, Psychological Medicine, IoPPN

Dr Elisa Bruno, Clinical Neuroscience, IoPPN

Dr Clemency Jolly, Cancer Genetics, FoLSM

Dr Jaffar Khan, Cardiovascular Sciences, FoLSM

Dr Cristina Fernandez Turienzo, Women and Children’s Health, FoLSM

Dr Michelle White, Surgery (Global Health and Implementation Science), FoLSM

Dr Thomas Helfer, Physics, NMS

Dr Pablo Lopez-Custodio, Kinematics, NMS

Dr Kristina Kubiliute, Mathematics, NMS

Dr Matilde Rosina, International Political Economy, SSPP

Dr Adam Day, War Studies, SSPP

Dr Rajan Basra, War Studies, SSPP

Dr Cheng Lin, Law, DPSoL

About the awards

Each King’s Outstanding Thesis Prize winner is awarded £250 and receives a certificate endorsed by the Principal.

Impact PGR PhD Writing

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• Meet the winners of the second round of the 22/23 King’s Outstanding Thesis Prize
• Announcing the winner of the 2022 Tadion Rideal Prize 
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What disability adjustments can be made when taking viva examinations?

How can I inform my viva examiners about my disability & request reasonable adjustments?

How can I inform my viva examiners that I have a disability?  

When you enter for a viva examination, you can request to inform your examiners of your disability by contacting Disability Support and requesting a “disability note for examiners” within your email. The Disability Support Team will contact you to arrange a discussion about what should be included in the disability note.

How can I request reasonable adjustments in a viva examination?

What type of adjustments can be made for me?

You can request different arrangements are made to the adjustments listed below, but all requests will need to be supported by medical evidence.

The evidence you provide can be from a medical practitioner or Disability Support .

What viva adjustments can be made for research students with Specific learning difficulties (SpLDs)?

Possible viva adjustments for students with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD's) can include:

Requests to repeat information and questions if needed.

Use of notes and prompt cards by the student (brief aide memoirs rather than exhaustive notes).

Students can note questions before answering.

Rest breaks for fatigue or attention issues.

Examiners can be requested to redirect/prompt students if they stray off topic (ADHD).

The use of a digital recorder for the part of the viva where corrections are discussed.

What viva adjustments can be made for research students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) / Asperger's Syndrome?

Possible viva adjustments that are made for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) / Asperger's Syndrome can include:

Opportunity for students to meet the examiners beforehand (online).

Examiners to be made aware of the potential for ticks, repetitive behaviours, or other ASD related behaviours in advance (if applicable)

Examiners to be made aware that the student may not be able to make direct eye contact when answering questions and engaging in discussion.

Examiners to avoid the use of metaphorical language, to be prepared to re-phrase/ask questions in more explicit concrete terms if requested.

Examiners to be requested to redirect/prompt the candidate if they stray off topic or have difficulty judging how much information is required.

Requesting permission for an appropriate person to attend in a supportive capacity; it should be made clear that this person is not permitted to participate in the viva by, for example, interpreting the examiners’ questions for the student.

What viva adjustments can be made for research students with mental health difficulties?

Possible viva adjustments that are made for research students with mental health difficulties can include:

Request consideration of scheduling (e.g., morning or afternoon start).

Examiners to be made aware the student is likely to experience greater anxiety than would typically be expected.

Students can request permission for an appropriate person to attend in a supportive capacity; it should be made clear that this person is not permitted to participate in the viva by, for example, interpreting the examiners’ questions for the candidate.

What viva adjustments can be made for research students with hearing impairments?

Possible viva adjustments made for research students with hearing impairments are as follows:

Arrangements to facilitate the student’s use of communication aids – this could include hearing support systems compatible with hearing aids (infra-red/loop systems installed in the room, or portable individual technology).

Arrangements to ensure examiners wear/use a microphone can be made in advance.

Arrangements for communication support such as British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters.

Students can request for examiners to speak clearly without covering mouths (for students who lip read).

What viva adjustments can be made for research students with visual impairments?

Possible viva adjustments for research students with visual impairments can include:

The use of assistive technology for reading, writing and note taking (e.g., to access an electronic version of the PhD thesis).

Printed documentation in an accessible format (students must state the required format in advance).

Examiners are informed in advance if students will be accompanied by a sighted guide or a registered assistance dog.

Correspondence between examiners and the student following the exam (for example receiving a list of agreed corrections) sent in an electronic format.

What viva adjustments can be made for research students with chronic medical conditions and unseen disabilities?

Possible viva adjustments for research students with chronic medical conditions and unseen disabilities can include:

Comfortable / ergonomic seating.

Rest breaks.

What viva adjustments can be made for research students with physical disability and mobility impairments?

Possible viva adjustments for research students with physical disabilities and mobility impairments can include:

Viva to be located in an accessible room (An approved Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is required)

Ergonomic seating.

Examiners to be informed in advance if the student will be accompanied by a personal care / study support assistant.

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