Since the doctorate was first introduced in the 12th century, the final examination has been oral, i.e. a viva. The purpose or aim of this workshop is to help you to prepare for your viva. It will seek to address the key questions of:

• why is the doctorate examined by a viva?
• what happens before, during, and after the viva?
• what do examiners look for in the viva?
• how can I plan for my viva?
• how can I go about preparing for my viva?

In terms of process, the workshop will consist of a mixture of short presentations and group work and will include the use of video materials. By the end of this session you should be more aware of the purposes and procedures and what examiners are looking for in the viva. This will enable you to plan and prepare for your own viva.