Doctor of Philosophy: PhD Meaning and PhD Viva Explained

Thu, 26 May, 2022

What does PhD mean?

PhD means Doctor of Philosophy and is derived from its original Latin phrase philosophiae doctor. It is the highest academic degree awarded by universities in most countries and despite its name, it is not linked to philosophy alone. Instead, it covers a wide range of topic areas such as science, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and more. It is a postgraduate academic degree that requires the completion of significant research in a chosen field of study.

So for those asking the internet, what does the 'Ph' in PhD stand for? The answer is 'Philosophiae'.

What is a PhD and how do you get one?

A PhD, in simple terms, means that the holder of the degree has completed a significant amount of original research in a particular field of study typically equivalent to 70,000 to 100,000 words. It is an academic degree that is awarded to individuals who have successfully completed doctoral programmes at universities around the world. PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy 

What are the types of doctoral degrees?

There are many different types of doctoral degrees, including professional doctorates including Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), and more.

These degrees focus on applied research and are designed to prepare individuals for professional practice in their respective fields.

A traditional PhD degree requires students to complete original research and produce a thesis or dissertation based on their research findings. This degree is more focused on academic research and prepares students for careers in academia or research.

PhD programmes are usually designed to be completed in three to five years, depending on the field of study and the institution. During the programme, students are required to complete coursework, research projects, and defend their research proposals and dissertations.

PhD students are expected to conduct significant research in their field of study and make a valuable contribution to the body of knowledge in that field. They work closely with advisors and mentors who guide them through the research process and provide support and feedback.

PhD Programmes available with NSIRC include our full-time Industrial PhD Programme, and the part-time Innovation and Management PhD.

Completing a traditional PhD degree

A PhD is a significant accomplishment and requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. The first step is to choose a field of study and find a university that offers a PhD programme in that field.

When applying for PhD programmes, many universities require applicants to submit a personal statement. This statement is an opportunity for applicants to showcase their skills, experience, and motivation for pursuing a PhD.

Once enrolled, students are required to complete coursework, research projects, and write a research proposal. The proposal outlines the research that will be conducted and the methodology that will be used to carry out the research.

After the research proposal is approved, students begin conducting their research and collecting data. Once the research is complete, they write a dissertation or thesis based on their findings and defend it before a panel of experts in their field.

 

What is a PhD Viva? - Meaning & Advice

The official name for a PhD Viva is Viva Voce, which is Latin for 'living voice' and it is an oral examination, comprising 20% towards the evaluation of a doctoral degree. The other 80% of the doctoral degree is allocated to the research work. Both are compulsory components of any doctoral programme. In the United States of America, it is often referred to as a doctoral defence or an oral doctoral thesis evaluation.

Once the doctoral thesis has been submitted, the viva examination takes place at the awarding university in front of a panel comprising of internal examiners and external university academics. It is this environment of being in front of your peers that can cause some understandable anxiety for any PhD candidate. But, it is important to remember that the chances of failure are low. According to an analysis of over 26,000 PhD candidates in the UK (2006-2017) the PhD Viva pass rate was 96%, with only 4% failing.

At this moment, it is important to reassure yourself because you are a subject expert in your PhD field, and you are going to be answering questions about a subject in which you are extremely knowledgeable. Take this opportunity to network and get into an interesting, non-confrontational debate with experts and enjoy the experience.

To help you take control of the situation, here are a few things that you can add to your preparation list, and if everything is done in the right way, then there will be far less chance of something catching you by surprise.

In a rare case, some feedback is given that happens to invalidate research or render it suitable for M.Phil. level. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to how you are preparing for your Viva, so that you give yourself the best chance of passing.

Remember to enjoy the process, as your hard work will pay off!

How to Prepare for Your PhD Viva...

So you have submitted your thesis and now it is time to focus on your viva exam.

The first thing to do is to speak to your PhD supervisor about any worries or concerns that you may have regarding the Viva process. Online you will find many helpful guides that can help you manage your expectations, but googleing everything from viva thesis to dissertation viva, is not the answer. The best thing to do is to speak to those in the know and that you trust. 

Now it is time to make a plan and just like every successful plan, it is important that you strategies your oral exam in stages, starting with preparation, make a checklist with a tentative deadline to keep everything organised, followed by the execution phase during the viva and post-viva checklist.

How you should prepare for viva three months ahead of the examination date:

Preparation phase...

The first thing you need to know is, that your supervisor can not participate in the examination, he or she can only act as an observer. You will be alone in the examination, therefore you need to prepare everything in advance. Secondly, post-graduation viva is equal to an event for many institutes, sometimes they ask students enrolled in MSc. Or MPhil to participate. However, in the UK, the oral examination is conducted in a closed room with restricted access. Also, the policy may vary depending on your university.

Apart from being an observer, the supervisor plays an important role in the timely completion of your doctoral degree, from the very beginning of your thesis submission and selection of examiner. Also, he or she is responsible for making all the arrangements such as coordinating availability, venue selection, and mode of viva - onsite or online – for both student and external examiner.

Viva date allocation and external examiner selection takes place a maximum of three months from the date of submission. In that time, it is recommended to read your thesis at least three times and prepare a presentation that addresses key aspects of your research. It should also include a summary of each chapter.

The most significant preparation step is to research your examiner and read through their research work to familiarise yourself with the examiners' expertise and style.

Another thing that you can do is to request your supervisor to arrange a mock viva to practice your doctoral speech. In between, you can note down questions and points raised by the mock examiners and also enlist the good and bad points about your response. It will help you improvise and improve your delivery.

Lastly, invest your time in creating a checklist of frequently asked by external evaluators.

Typical Viva Exam questions asked by external examiners

1. Summarise PhD thesis in two or three minutes.
2. What is your rationale for selecting a particular subject?
3. What original contribution has your research made to the subject matter?
4. What limitations did you encounter during the research degree
5. What future recommendations do you suggest?
6. If you take on the same research project in future, what changes you would make in it?
7. What recent development has been made in your field, and how does your study contribute to it?

 

Execution phase...

Often PhD students think the viva is a rapid-fire round in which you need to answer quickly. Contrary, it is completely the opposite. Therefore, you must take your time to understand the question and ask the examiner for any clarification if needed. Also, it is of equal importance to provide an answer in the same format.

Remember, during viva doctorate assessment, your examiner is obliged to provide a constructive critique of your research, it can address both the weaknesses and strengths, one encounters while reading through your work. This does not mean to take it to heart, rather, it means to provide a logical argument backed by your findings or the literature. Additionally, PhD viva is an open-book examination and you can bring supportive material such as your reference material or notebook along with you.

Post-Viva Actions...

The final stage is to invest time in making amendments, major corrections or simply just minor corrections to the thesis, and then proceed to resubmitting your work. Afterwards, you can celebrate with your loved ones that you have passed your PhD viva and achieved the highest level of education.

We are Recruiting for our PhD Programmes!

The Industrial PhD programme at NSIRC is a unique opportunity for PhD graduates and degree holders to pursue an academic degree while working on real-world industrial research projects. This programme offers professional doctorates and advanced degrees in multiple fields, including business administration and engineering.

This programme is available full-time, allowing students to immerse themselves within the industrial setting of TWI. Designed by academics and industry, it provides students with the opportunity to engage in academic research while also gaining practical industry experience. 

To be eligible for the Industrial PhD programme at NSIRC, specific requirements must be met, including holding a master's degree and meeting the types of doctoral degree requirements. NSIRC offers several types of doctorate degrees, including the Doctor of Philosophy degree. 

The industrial PhD provides a unique opportunity for students to work on cutting-edge research projects in collaboration with leading industry partners. This collaboration between academia and industry provides an opportunity for students to develop research skills and experience that are in high demand in today's job market.

The programme at NSIRC offers an excellent opportunity for students to gain advanced degrees while also engaging in practical, real-world research. A unique blend of academic and industry experience, NSIRC is an excellent choice for those looking to advance their careers in today's competitive job market.

NSIRC also offers a part-time Innovation and Management PhD programme. This programme is designed for students who are interested in the intersection between innovation, technology and management. This programme provides students with a unique opportunity to develop their research skills and expertise in the areas of innovation and management while working on real-world industrial research projects.

This degree allows students to engage in research related to innovation and management, while also gaining practical industry experience. This programme is an excellent choice for those who want to pursue a career in innovation management, technology transfer or other related fields. The programme offers a unique blend of academic and industry experience, providing students with a competitive edge, and would be ideal for those in positions of senior management.

Learn more about both degrees via the PhD programme page and begin your PhD journey today!