The viva/oral examination

Find out about the process and format of the viva/oral exam.

If you have presented your work at seminars, workshops, and conferences during your doctorate, you should be well prepared for the viva/oral examination of your thesis. This part of the exam is an opportunity for you to talk with academics who are interested in your research and have read your thesis closely. You have been working on your doctorate for three to four years and will have developed unique expertise in your field. Your thesis should demonstrate your ability to carry out independent research and should make “a significant and original contribution to knowledge or understanding”. Explain how it does this. Be confident – no one knows your topic better than you.

You can watch a recorded information session from the Dean about what happens at the viva and how to prepare.

Examiners’ reports

You can expect to receive your examiners reports and confirmation of your viva/oral examination five working days prior to the scheduled date, earlier if they are available. If we cannot give you the required number of days’ notice, then the viva/oral will be postponed and another date will be scheduled.

Take time to consider and reflect on the examiners’ feedback. You should arrange to discuss the reports with your supervisors and decide how best to respond to the examiners’ comments and criticisms.

Avoid using the time between receiving the examiners’ reports and the oral to revise your thesis. Wait until you have heard what the examiners have to say in person. They may be able to assist with the resolution of some of the issues identified in their reports. Other issues they have commented on in their reports may disappear altogether following your examination.

Bringing material into the exam

You may bring notes (for reference only), data sheets (if you have had to reanalyse scientific data), your laboratory book or equivalent, and, of course, a copy of the thesis. Please do not bring pre- written responses to read out or submit to the examiners—this is not permitted.

If you want to use PowerPoint (or similar) for your presentation, please bring this on a USB stick and the Exams Team will load it onto the examination room computer. If you require specific software to demonstrate your presentation, would like to check you presentation works, or just want to view the room before your exam, email the Exams Team to make an appointment.

Audio recording

You may ask to have your exam audio-recorded.—simply email the Exams Team to request this.

People present

The oral will be chaired by a senior and independent academic from the University—the Chair may be from your Faculty but will not be from your School.

Usually, the internal examiner will be present in person, the New Zealand examiner will attend via videoconference, and the overseas examiner will not attend but will have provided questions to be asked. Occasionally, there may be variations to this.

Your Victoria University of Wellington supervisor is expected to attend, and your other supervisors will be invited. Supervisors do not take part in discussion during the oral, though they may make a statement to the examiners at the end of your exam.

You may ask for a small number of support people to attend your oral. Please email the Exams Team to let them know your requirements as early as possible, so that they can make the necessary arrangements especially if you would like more than two support people as this may necessitate a larger room to be booked. Any support people in attendance will not have speaking rights.

Format of the viva/oral exam

  • The chair will commence with a welcome and introductions of all present.
  • You will then have an opportunity to address the examiners for 10 to 15 minutes without interruption. Most candidates use a PowerPoint for the presentation, but this is not compulsory.
  • The examiners will question you on your thesis and engage you in discussion about your research.
  • The chair may invite you to make a closing statement.
  • The chair will ask you and any support persons or observers to leave the room.
  • Your supervisors will be given an opportunity to make a statement to the examiners and will answer any questions the examiners wish to pose.
  • The supervisors will then leave the room.
  • The examiners will discuss your thesis and agree on what recommendation to make to the Dean WFGR.
  • The chair will recall you to the room, and you will be advised of the examination committee's recommendation.

Addressing the examiners

At the start of the oral, you will be invited to address the examiners for 10–15 minutes without interruption, but please be aware that the Chair may stop you if you go over this time. There is no University requirement that you handle the presentation in any particular way. It is acceptable to not use any visual aids and simply talk about your research or, if you prefer, you can start straight into the examiners’ questions.

Remember that the examiners have already read the thesis, so use your 10–15 minutes to ‘add value’. You may:

  • provide an overview of your research
  • explain the major contributions you make in the thesis
  • highlight certain claims
  • respond to the key points made by the examiners in their written reports
  • give a reflective account of your research journey
  • indicate where your thesis takes you intellectually

Questions from the examiners

Following your presentation, the examiners will ask questions and engage you in discussion. They may wish to clarify issues arising from your thesis, check your understanding of particular points, or query your methodological approach. You may be asked to locate your research in a wider context or to discuss matters tangential to your thesis. The examiners may also wish to discuss the scope and detail of any required revisions.

If your thesis is clearly acceptable, the exam can become a reasonably informal discussion of ways in which your research might be developed or how your thesis could be prepared for publication.