phd viva pass without corrections

• PhD Viva Voces – A Complete Guide
• Doing a PhD
• A PhD viva involves defending your thesis in an oral examination with at least two examiners.
• The aim of a PhD viva is to confirm that the work is your own , that you have a deep understanding of your project and, overall, that you are a competent researcher .
• There are no standard durations, but they usually range from one to three hours, with most lasting approximately two hours .
• There are six outcomes of a PhD viva: (1) pass without corrections (2) pass subject to minor corrections, (3) pass subject to major corrections, (4) downgrade to MPhil with no amendments, (5) downgrade to MPhil subject to amendments, (6) immediate fail.
• Almost all students who sit their viva pass it, with the most common outcome being ‘(2) – pass subject to minor corrections’.

What Is a PhD Viva?

A viva voce , more commonly referred to as ‘viva’, is an oral examination conducted at the end of your PhD and is essentially the final hurdle on the path to a doctorate. It is the period in which a student’s knowledge and work are evaluated by independent examiners.

In order to assess the student and their work around their research question, a viva sets out to determine:

• you understand the ideas and theories that you have put forward,
• you can answer questions about elements of your work that the examiners have questions about,
• you understand the broader research in your field and how your work contributes to this,
• you are aware of the limitations of your work and understand how it can be developed further,
• your work makes an original contribution, is your own and has not been plagiarised.

Note: A viva is a compulsory procedure for all PhD students, with the only exception being when a PhD is obtained through publication as opposed to the conventional route of study.

Who Will Attend a Viva?

In the UK, at least two examiners must take part in all vivas. Although you could have more than two examiners, most will not in an attempt to facilitate a smoother questioning process.

One of the two examiners will be internal, i.e. from your university, and the other will be external, i.e. from another university. Regardless, both will be knowledgeable in your research field and have read your thesis beforehand.

In addition to your two examiners, two other people may be present. The first is a chairperson. This is an individual who will be responsible for monitoring the interview and for ensuring proper conduct is followed at all times. The need for an external chairperson will vary between universities, as one of the examiners can also take on this role. The second is your supervisor, whose attendance is decided upon by you in agreement with your examiners. If your supervisor attends, they are prohibited from asking questions or from influencing the outcome of the viva.

To avoid any misunderstandings, we have summarised the above in a table:

Note: In some countries, such as in the United States, a viva is known as a ‘PhD defense’ and is performed publicly in front of a panel or board of examiners and an open audience. In these situations, the student presents their work in the form of a lecture and then faces questions from the examiners and audience which almost acts as a critical appraisal.

How Long Does a Viva Last?

Since all universities have different guidelines , and since all PhDs are unique, there are no standard durations. Typically, however, the duration ranges from one to three hours, with most lasting approximately two hours.

Your examiners will also influence the duration of your viva as some will favour a lengthy discussion, while others may not. Usually, your university will consult your examiners in advance and notify you of the likely duration closer to the day of your viva.

What Happens During a Viva?

Regardless of the subject area, all PhD vivas follow the same examination process format as below.

Introductions

You will introduce yourselves to each other, with the internal examiner normally introducing the external examiner. If an external chairperson is present, they too are introduced; otherwise, this role will be assumed by one of the examiners.

Procedure Explained

After the introductions, the appointed chair will explain the viva process. Although it should already be known to everyone, it will be repeated to ensure the viva remains on track during the forthcoming discussion.

Warm-Up Questions

The examiners will then begin the questioning process. This usually starts with a few simple opening questions, such as asking you to summarise your PhD thesis and what motivated you to carry out the research project.

In-Depth Questions

The viva questions will then naturally increase in difficulty as the examiners go further into the details of your thesis. These may include questions such as “What was the most critical decision you made when determining your research methodology ?”, “Do your findings agree with the current published work?” and “How do your findings impact existing theories or literature? ”. In addition to asking open-ended questions, they will also ask specific questions about the methodology, results and analysis on which your thesis is based.

Closing the Viva

Once the examiners are satisfied that they have thoroughly evaluated your knowledge and thesis, they will invite you to ask any questions you may have, and then bring the oral examination to a close.

What Happens After the Viva?

Once your viva has officially ended, your examiners will ask you to leave the room so that they can discuss your performance. Once a mutual agreement has been reached, which can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, you will be invited back inside and informed of your outcome.

PhD Viva Outcomes

There are six possible outcomes to a viva:

• Immediate award of degree: A rare recommendation – congratulations, you are one of the few people who completely satisfied your examiners the first time around. You do not have to do anything further at this point.
• Minor amendments required: The most common recommendation – you obtain a pass on the condition that you make a number of minor amendments to your thesis, such as clarifying certain points and correcting grammatical errors. The time you have to make these changes depends on the number of them, but is usually one to six months.
• Major amendments required: A somewhat uncommon recommendation – you are requested to make major amendments to your thesis, ranging from further research to collecting more data or rewriting entire sections. Again, the time you have to complete this will depend on the number of changes required, but will usually be six months to one year. You will be awarded your degree once your amended thesis has been reviewed and accepted.
• Immediate award of MPhil: An uncommon recommendation – your examiners believe your thesis does not meet the standard for a doctoral degree but meets the standard for an MPhil (Master of Philosophy), a lower Master’s degree.
• Amendments required for MPhil: A rare recommendation – your examiners believe your thesis does not meet the standard for a doctoral degree, but with several amendments will meet the standard for an MPhil.
• Immediate fail: A very rare recommendation – you are given an immediate fail without the ability to resubmit and without entitlement to an MPhil.

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What Is the Pass Rate for Vivas?

Based on an  analysis of 26,076 PhD students  who took their viva exam between 2006 and 2017, the PhD viva pass rate in the UK is 96%; of those who passed, about 80% were required to make minor amendments to their thesis. The reason for this high pass rate is that supervisors will only put their students forward for a viva once they confidently believe they are ready for it. As a result, most candidates who sit a viva are already well-versed in their PhD topic before they even start preparing for the exam.

How Do I Arrange a Viva?

Your viva will be arranged either by the examiners or by the chairperson. The viva will be arranged at least one to two months after you have submitted your thesis and will arrange a viva date and venue that is suitable for all participants.

Can I Choose My Examiners?

At most universities, you and your supervisor will choose the internal and external examiners yourselves. This is because the examiners must have extensive knowledge of the thesis topic in order to be able to examine you and, as the author of the thesis in question, who else could better determine who they might be than you and your supervisor. The internal examiner is usually quite easy to find given they will be from your institution, but the external examiner may end up being your second or third preference depending on availability.

Can I Take Notes Into a Viva?

A viva is about testing your competence, not your memory. As such, you are allowed to take notes and other supporting material in with you. However, keep in mind that your examiners will not be overly impressed if you constantly have to refer to your notes to answer each question. Because of this, many students prefer to take an annotated copy of their thesis, with important points already highlighted and key chapters marked with post-it notes.

In addition to an annotated copy of a thesis, some students also take:

• a list of questions they would like to ask the examiners,
• notes that were created during their preparation,
• a list of minor corrections they have already identified from their viva prep work.

How Do I Prepare for a PhD Viva?

There are several ways to prepare for a PhD viva, one of the most effective being a mock viva voce examination . This allows you to familiarise yourself with the type of viva questions you will be asked and identify any weak areas you need to improve. They also give you the opportunity to practise without the pressure, giving you more time to think about your answers which will help to make sure that you know your thesis inside out. However, a mock viva exam is just one of many methods available to you – some of the other viva preparation methods can be found on our “ How to Prepare for a PhD Viva ” page.

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Thesis outcomes and corrections

There will usually be a bit more work to do after the viva. Each institution will have its own regulations about viva outcomes and how to inform the candidate of them. Find out before you go into your viva so that you know what to expect. In the UK they typically they fall into one of the following categories:

• Outright pass. Your work needs no corrections
• Minor corrections. Your examiners have a few minor suggestions that they would like you to incorporate
• Major corrections or resubmission. The thesis needs further work to be of doctoral standard. This might include more research, rewriting sections or including new literature
• Suggestion that you resubmit for, or are awarded, a lower degree (MPhil or MSc). Research is of good quality but too narrow for a doctorate
• Outright fail. Usually used only in cases of plagiarism or where the examiners judge that the candidate will never be able to complete a doctorate.

Most candidates fall within the minor or major corrections categories. This means that you will have some corrections to complete. However, regardless of the number of corrections that you have to do most people who reach the viva stage do  go on to get their doctorate relatively quickly.

Thesis corrections

After your viva you are likely to have some corrections to complete before you are awarded your doctorate. The extent can range from a few spelling mistakes to rewriting or adding complete chapters. You may be given a deadline by your examiners or your institution but regardless of this, it is best to aim to complete your corrections as soon as possible to use the momentum acquired during thesis writing.

In order to be sure that your corrections make the right changes:

• take notes during the viva and write them up immediately after
• meet with your main supervisor to discuss the changes that you need to make
• analyse the examiners' report carefully to make sure that you have dealt with all of the issues that they raise
• proofread your work again.

Thesis resubmission

Your examiners, or often just the internal examiner, will check that all corrections have been incorporated, and then you can resubmit your thesis. Your institution will have regulations on the format of the final submitted thesis copy of your thesis, which will usually be deposited in the institutional library. It has become more common for institutions to request the submission of an electronic copy for ease of cataloguing and searching.

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How to Avoid Major PhD Corrections | Lex Academic Blog

18 November 2021

In the UK, PhD students usually pass their viva voce – that is, an oral defence of their thesis – with minor or major corrections. As a follow-up to our recently published how-to guide to avoiding minor PhD corrections , we thought it would be useful to produce a post on avoiding major corrections. Whereas minor corrections encompass relatively straightforward issues like typos and formatting (for which we keenly recommend our PhD proofreading service ), as well as small amounts of rewriting, major corrections involve substantial rewriting and restructuring. Passing with minor corrections shows that your thesis is at the right standard. Passing with major corrections, as the University of Sheffield explains, means that ‘the thesis has the potential to merit the award of the degree for which it has been submitted, but does not yet satisfy the requirements for award and contains deficiencies that are in excess of editorial or presentational corrections’. Because major corrections entail more work, then, students are usually given six months, rather than three, to resubmit their thesis.

Despite this, passing with major corrections is by no means a bad result. The key word is ‘passing’, not ‘corrections’, and, in the UK at least, corrections are unlikely to have a long-term impact on your academic career or profile. In the short term, though, there are some very good reasons to try to avoid major corrections. If, in the time between submission and your viva , you’ve managed to obtain your first academic job, the difficulty of juggling major corrections with a full-time post could mean correcting your thesis on a part-time basis and resubmitting after twelve months rather than the usual six. To avoid this, you might solicit help from us, so that we can edit the corrected thesis, and ensure you’ve adequately addressed your examiners’ comments. Additionally, even if it’s not a bad outcome in the long term, passing with major corrections can feel like a blow. Amending typos is relatively painless, but having to make corrections that involve reworking entire sections of prose is daunting and tiring after the years you’ve already put in to reach this point. Here, then, is some advice for avoiding major corrections.

Some of the points in our post about avoiding minor corrections are equally relevant here. Firstly, your literature review – the part of the thesis where you critically analyse the major contributions to and trends within your field – should be complete and up-to-date. Secondly, at your viva , it’s essential to react to constructive criticism positively, rather than defensively. Regarding major corrections specifically, though, this award usually means that, although the research is satisfactory, it has not been articulated clearly or fully enough. One excellent way to assess how well you articulate ideas is to present parts of your thesis at conferences. If your papers regularly elicit questions (the more probing, the better), your ideas are probably clear, since this demonstrates that listeners were able to follow your paper. Take particular note of questions that imply a flaw in your argument or that ask for clarification, then address the relevant sections the next time you sit down to write. Similarly, it’s worth trying to publish a section of your thesis as a journal article (note, however, that publishing too much of your thesis may make publishing it as a book harder, since publishers prefer to publish original material). If you can successfully get an article through peer review, this suggests that your thesis is at the right standard and therefore doesn’t require major corrections. If your article is rejected, the reviewers will (hopefully) explain how to improve it. The point is that feedback from a variety of sources – not just your supervisor(s), who are almost as close to the subject as you are by the end – is valuable if you aim to avoid corrections.

Another common reason for major corrections is that the thesis lacks a clear main argument, structure, or method. Examiners often begin the viva by asking the student to explain the rationale for their thesis and to summarise its main argument or findings. When preparing for your viva , prepare answers to general, predictable questions like ‘why this topic?’, ‘what is your main argument?’, ‘why this methodology?’, and ‘why this structure?’. You should also reflect on why you haven’t used an equally valid alternative structure or methodology. It’s easy to dismiss such questions as too easy and focus instead on the nitty-gritty. But in fact, being able to answer these questions clearly and concisely suggests that, broadly speaking, your thesis is sound – in other words, there’s no reason it should require major corrections. If you don’t have answers to these questions, this implies a fundamental problem. As implied earlier, what you say in your viva can determine the level of corrections imposed.

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10 Keys to preparing for your PhD Viva: A comprehensive guide to a successful PhD Defense

The PhD viva, commonly referred to as the PhD defense in the USA, is an oral examination whereby a PhD candidate "defends their thesis".  A bit of background info: viva is short for viva voce, which is a Latin word that means “by live voice”.

The PhD viva is often considered one of the most daunting aspects of the doctoral journey. This final hurdle can induce anxiety and apprehension, even among the most confident candidates. The prospect of defending years of research in front of expert examiners is intimidating. Fear of facing challenging questions, potential gaps in knowledge, or critiques of methodology can contribute to pre-viva stress. Additionally, the high-stakes nature of the examination, where the culmination of extensive research efforts is scrutinised, adds to perceived pressure.

It is important to remember that reaching this stage is an achievement in itself, and thorough preparation can help alleviate much of the anxiety associated with the viva experience and is crucial for successfully defending your doctoral research.

Thorough preparation makes you more confident and shows your deep understanding of the subject matter and ability to articulate your research contributions effectively. Well-prepared candidates are better equipped to engage in meaningful academic discourse with their examiners, showcasing their critical thinking skills and ability to contribute to their field of study. Comprehensive preparation for the PhD defense serves a dual purpose: it not only boosts the probability of a favourable outcome but also facilitates individual and professional advancement.

Understanding the PhD Viva or PhD Defense Process

The format of the PhD viva differs from institution to institution and country to country. The format of a PhD viva may be in-person or online, and it may be a public or private event. The duration of a PhD viva can vary significantly, ranging from 1-3 hours or more, depending on the institution and nature of the research. It typically involves two common approaches: the traditional question-and-answer session and presentations.

Traditional question-and-answer format

In the traditional question-and-answer format, examiners engage the candidate in a detailed discussion of their research, probing various aspects of the thesis. This format allows for an in-depth exploration of a candidate's work, methodology, and findings. Examiners may ask for clarifications, challenge assumptions, and assess candidates’ ability to defend their research choices.

Presentation format

Some institutions incorporate a presentation component into the viva. In this format, the candidate typically delivers a short presentation (usually 15-30 minutes) summarising their research, key findings, and contributions to the field. A question-and-answer session then follows this presentation. The presentation format allows candidates to showcase their communication skills and provides a structured overview of their work before delving into more specific questions.

After the viva

Regardless of the format, the viva typically concludes with examiners deliberating privately before informing the candidate of the outcome. There are six potential outcomes, although most people walk away with minor corrections.

The outcomes of a PhD viva typically fall into one of the following categories:

• Pass without corrections: This is the ideal outcome, where your thesis is deemed to be of doctoral standard without requiring any further modifications.
• Pass subject to minor corrections: Your thesis is considered to be of doctoral standard, but there are a few minor issues that need to be addressed, such as typos, formatting errors, or minor clarifications.
• Pass subject to major corrections: This means that your thesis requires significant revisions or additional work to meet the doctoral standard. These corrections may involve rewriting sections, adding new data or analysis, or addressing significant methodological or theoretical issues.
• Downgrade to MPhil with no amendments: In this case, your work is considered a good standard but not quite at the level required for a PhD. You may be offered an MPhil degree without any further corrections.
• Downgrade to MPhil subject to amendments: Similar to the previous outcome, but you may be required to make minor corrections to your work to be awarded an MPhil degree.

A few days or weeks after the viva, you’ll get a written report of the corrections that need to be done. Work through this report, consult with your supervisor as needed, and get cracking as soon as your schedule allows.

The PhD viva is a critical examination where examiners rigorously evaluate the candidate's research, commonly one internal (from your university) and one external (from a different university) examiner and potentially a chairperson.

The chairperson

The chairperson is responsible for the structure of the oral exam and for ensuring that the process goes according to plan. The internal examiner may, at some institutions, take on this role.

The examiners

The examiners' primary responsibility is to determine whether the candidate's work meets the required standards for a doctoral degree in terms of quality, originality, and significance. They would have read your work beforehand and during the viva, examiners inquire about various aspects of the research, such as the theoretical framework, methodology, data analysis, findings, and implications. They may challenge your assumptions, probe the depth of your knowledge, and assess your ability to defend your research choices.

Examiners may also explore the broader context of the research, its contribution to the field, and potential future directions. Their questions are designed to evaluate not only the content of the thesis but also the candidate's critical thinking skills, research competence, and ability to engage in scholarly discourse. In essence, the objective is to verify that you have independently completed the work and possess a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

Your supervisor(s)

Your supervisor(s) may or may not be allowed to take part in the viva. In some cases, they may be allowed to observe.

10 key areas to focus on when preparing for your PhD viva

1. take a guilt-free break.

One’s viva is often a few months after you submit your written thesis for examination. Take time off without feeling guilty about doing so. Not thinking about your PhD for a month or two is not necessarily a bad thing. Depending on your time commitments, you can start preparing for your viva 4-6 weeks before the big day.

2. Read the guidance from your university

Have a good read through the guidance document from your university so that you know what to expect and that you follow the instructions. Just doing this will already give you a head start. If your university provides courses on how to prepare, tap in!

3. Know your thesis

Read through your thesis, be it in hard copy or digital format. Make notes of potential questions and criticisms of your work by thoroughly examining your research from various angles. You are allowed to have these notes with you during the viva. Keep the following in mind as you go through the thesis:

• Ensure you can explain your research question's significance and relevance to the field.
• A thorough understanding of the chosen methodologies is crucial, including explaining why it was chosen and discussing potential limitations.
• Familiarity with the study's findings is essential, as examiners will likely probe the interpretation and implications of the results.
• Know your research contributions to advances in the field, highlighting the originality and impact of the work.
• Be aware who the key researchers in the field are and who contributed what.

Developing robust counterarguments is crucial. Some of the decisions you made in your thesis were made years ago, so you need some time to remind yourself of why you decided what. Confidence in defending one's work comes from a deep understanding of the research and the ability to contextualise it within the broader field.

4. Be on top of the developments in your field

You submitted your thesis months ago and completed your literature review a month or three before that. There may be a new consensus statement or clinical practice guideline published since then. Do a quick search, download and read the latest key papers.

5. Know your examiners' work

Read the papers your examiners published; the ones you cited in your research, and especially their more recent ones. Familiarise yourself with their area of expertise, the arguments they make in their publications and their way of thinking.

6. Practice presentations and do mock vivas

If your institution requires you to do a presentation of your research, rehearse your presentation a few times, carefully timing yourself to ensure you stay within the allotted time frame. Practicing will boost your confidence.

Simulate the viva experience with fellow PhD students or your supervisor(s) to gain confidence and identify areas for improvement.

Hone your oral communication ability to present your research clearly and persuasively. This involves articulating complex ideas concisely and well-structured and using appropriate academic language and terminology. Equally important is active listening, which enables you to fully comprehend and respond to questions the examiners pose. Active listening involves hearing the words spoken and understanding the underlying intent and context of the questions to engage in meaningful academic discourse.

Avoid rambling and stick to the point. Sometimes, when we are stressed, we keep talking. Remind yourself to stop once you have given the examiners enough information to work with.

Also, although you’ll admit when something could have been done differently, don’t shoot holes in your research.

7. Prepare for common questions

As you read through your thesis, make notes of potential questions about your methodology, data analysis, and conclusions. Practise answering these questions out loud so that you hear yourself talking. Create a mind map or outline to structure your answers where relevant and appropriate.

Remember, it’s the examiners’ job to ask questions to test your critical thinking. These may come across as criticism; see it as constructive, and you won’t become defensive. Different humans also ask their questions differently – some are diplomatic, and others don’t know that word exists! Just embrace their questioning as part of the process and use the opportunity to show off what you know.

Also, sometimes, a question can appear quite loaded. Pause, take a deep breath, and if needed, ask for clarification. Don't rush your answers. If you don't know the answer, admit it and offer to look into it further.

Example questions

Your examiners can ask a variety of different questions. Here are 10 typical questions to help you get an idea of what to expect:

• Methodological Rigor: "How did you ensure the validity and reliability of your research instruments? Can you discuss any potential biases that might have influenced your findings?"
• Theoretical Framework:  "How does your theoretical framework contribute to existing knowledge in the field? Could you elaborate on the specific theoretical underpinnings of your research questions?"
• Data Analysis: "What alternative statistical methods could you have used to analyse your data? How would the results have differed, and why did you choose your current approach?"
• Ethical Considerations: "How did you address ethical concerns related to your research, particularly in terms of participant consent and data privacy?"
• Interdisciplinary Connections: "How does your research connect with other disciplines or fields? Could you discuss potential collaborations or interdisciplinary applications of your findings?"
• Limitations and Future Research: "What are the primary limitations of your study? How would you address these limitations in future research, and what new research questions could arise from your findings?"
• Policy Implications: "What are the potential policy implications of your research? How can your findings be used to inform decision-making and social change?"
• Critical Thinking: "If your main findings were contradicted by a subsequent study, how would you reconcile this discrepancy? What would it mean for your research?"
• Unanticipated Findings: "Did you encounter any unexpected findings during your research? How did you interpret these findings, and what implications do they have for your overall conclusions?"
• Personal Reflection: "How has your understanding of the research topic evolved throughout the process? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?"

Come up with further questions as you read through your thesis. There will be loads more that you can dish up!

At the end of the viva, the examiners may give you a chance to ask a question, be ready with a question you’d like to ask your examiners. Some examples include asking where they see the development of the field is going or their thoughts about a certain aspect of your thesis.

8. Conquer the logistics

Do everything under your control to set yourself up for success. Find the room (or online link) and get the outfit ready beforehand. Arrange to be at a spot with reliable wifi if you are going online (and, of course, take your laptop’s power cable with you). Decide what you’ll take with you (or position close by in case of an online viva). I’d say your thesis with your notes, a functional pen and a bottle of water. Go to bed early the night before.

9. Decide on the best way to deal with anxiety

Feeling anxious during the viva is natural. Practice relaxation techniques to manage stress and anxiety before and during the viva. Breathing in for four seconds and out for five helps calm the nervous system. You can also try out a few visualisation skills, such as visualising how you respond to questions calmly and confidently.

10. Reframe it

See your viva in a positive light and try to make the most of it. See what you can learn and allow the experience to build your character. What does not kill us makes us stronger.

Thorough preparation is paramount for a successful PhD viva. Preparation involves mastering your research content, honing your presentation skills, anticipating potential questions, and cultivating confidence. Preparing for your viva may take a bit of time, but you’ll learn a whole lot from the process and will refine the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely – a skill that will become useful in many situations inside and outside academia.

As you approach your viva, maintain a positive mindset and trust in the depth of your knowledge and the strength of your research. Your dedication and hard work have brought you to this point, and with proper preparation, you are well-equipped to showcase your expertise and defend your thesis successfully.

Embrace the uncertainty, make the most of the opportunity and have fun!

We'd like to acknowledge RDNE Stock project for the image of the coffee cup and notebook used in this blog post.

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How to deal with post-viva PhD thesis corrections

Jun 1, 2019

We like to think that the viva is the end of the doctoral process; the final step in the long journey to a PhD. However, for most, it isn’t the final hurdle. The outcome of the viva in most cases is another three to six months work to deal with corrections (which may range from correcting typos, to rewriting or adding entire chapters). This means you need to preserve some energy and be prepared to exert some considerable post-viva brainpower. 

Wait for the committee’s report

You’ll leave your viva with a good understanding of what revisions you’re going to be required, and, no doubt, many, many notes summarising the main discussion points and areas for improvement. However, as tempting as it may be to start picking apart particular sections or chapters, wait until your examination committee send over their report, which will be the formal record of the revisions that they recommend. 

Read through it carefully several times. I left mine for a day or so and then came back to it to reread it. I found this an effective way to pick up on some of the more nuanced aspects of their suggestions.

When you first receive it, you may be alarmed at its length and the detail that the examiner has gone into. Try not to be disheartened; in some ways, having detailed feedback on each suggested revision can help you, as it is providing you with clear (hopefully) instructions on how to proceed. 

Try not to be disheartened

Either way, you may feel disheartened. It’s   hard to have someone critique our work , especially when we’ve put so much energy into it in the first place. However, critique is part of the academic process. It is not intended to shame you for any real or perceived shortcomings, but instead to make your work as effective and academically rigorous as it can be.

There are two things to bear in mind. First, through engaging with such critique and making the necessary changes (or refuting them, where appropriate) you are developing not just the quality of your study, but also your critical thinking skills. The process of receiving, digesting and responding to reviewer critique in this way is a valuable skill and, in some ways, a necessary part of the doctoral journey. 

The challenge you will have is in understanding which of the reviewer’s comments are practical, appropriate and based in an accurate reading of the thesis and the wider discipline, and which are refutable or that you don’t agree with. When you submit your revised thesis, you are within your rights to exclude a particular revision, but you need to very carefully and convincingly justify your decision to do so. Perhaps your examiner has misunderstood something or has failed to take something into consideration that renders their suggestion mute. Point this out diplomatically, drawing on your own text and the wider literature to back up your response.

How to deal with unhelpful feedback

Sometimes though you may have more serious grievances with the nature of the examiner’s comments and you may feel unfairly treated. In these instances, it is vital that you talk to your supervisory committee and department leads. They will be able to offer you advice tailored to your context and institution.

The fantastic ’Thesis Whisperer’ blog has written a useful post on how to deal with unhelpful or conflicting feedback. You can find it   here .

Only do what the examiners ask for

When you sit down to work on your revisions, it is easy to spot additional problems and flaws with your thesis. As you approach completion, your critical thinking skills are very well developed, so it is only natural that you will be critiquing your own work. It is tempting to change things that aren’t listed in the examiner’s report in our ongoing quest for perfection. Do not do this. Only do what the examiner asked for.

Why? Two reasons. First, you may be limited for time. Two, you may be created additional problems.

You’ll have plenty of time to iron out any additional changes in a post-doc.

Your PhD thesis. All on one page. 

Use our free PhD structure template to quickly visualise every element of your thesis. 

Don’t freak out

Just because you get major corrections, isn’t the end of the world. Examiners have subjective views on what classes as each type of correction. Some may think that problems with page numbering or typos constitute minor corrections, some may turn a blind eye. While most universities have guidelines on what should be classed as, say, a major or minor correction, often the lines can be blurred. I have known students be told they have minor corrections to make to then be presented with twenty pages of suggested revision. Conversely, I have seen students successfully address major corrections in less than one week.

I’ve also seen outstanding PhDs be awarded major corrections just because the examiner wanted to push the student to turn a brilliant piece of research into something world-class.

I’ve also seen weaker PhDs awarded minor or even no corrections.

Every examiner is different, and some will be expecting more of students than others. This is particularly the case if your examiner has particular expertise in a particular approach your thesis is taking (of course, examiners will be subject-experts, but in some cases, they may be leading experts on, say, a particular theoretical approach too, or your methodology). In these cases, they might be more liable to call you out on things that the other examiner may have missed or not realised the significance of.

One upside of this is that a strict examiner can push your research to a higher level. This is useful if you plan on turning it into a book, or carry on research in a post-doc.

Create a matrix

You should list all of the suggested revisions in a spreadsheet, together with your notes. This will allow you to create an audit trail as you work through them.

To start, create a spreadsheet with three columns. In column one, you list each revision listed in the report on a separate row. In column two, you can write your notes or, where relevant, the final text that will make it into your revised thesis. In the third column, note the priority that that particular revision has (more on this below).

This serves four purposes. First, you can easily see every single step required and track your progress, making sure you don’t miss anything out. Second, it lets you break down longer, more detailed comments into manageable chunks. Third, you can create an order of priority, so you know what to focus on first. Fourth, you can use the table to write up your response to the examiners (more on this below).

When you have finished your revisions, you can use the matrix to double check that you have dealt with everything listed in the report.

Get started quickly

Decide which amendments you have to do, and which you won’t. You may not agree with a particular suggestion, or you may be able to explain any misunderstanding. In these cases, you shouldn’t just change things to satisfy your examiners. Instead, you need to stand your ground when you think it necessary but, importantly, you need to argue your case. Like a Doctor. Tell the examiner exactly why you have chosen not to make a suggested revision, in as much detail as possible and with reference to both the existing thesis and, if necessary, the wider literature.

However, there may be comments that you don’t understand. If that’s the case, you should talk to your advisory committee or department administrators to see what the protocol is for contacting the examiners to seek further clarification.

Check the paperwork

There may be a lot of final paperwork that you need to submit alongside your corrected draft. Check what your institution requires well in advance of resubmission. 

Read through the entire thesis

Once you have finished your revisions, read through the entire thesis one final time. When you do, try not to focus on the revisions you have just made, but instead on how the document reads.

This serves two purposes: first, you can make sure the flow has been maintained after your changes, and that you have avoided repetition. Second, it’s a chance to deal with any stray typos. If you struggle to proofread your work, reading it out loud may help.

Create a cover letter

It is likely that your institution will require you to prepare a cover letter to submit alongside the revised thesis. This document summarises your response to every comment, detailing what changes you made and, importantly, which of the suggestions you haven’t taken on board, and why.

Make sure to maintain a polite tone, even if you disagree with some of their suggestions. You should thank them for their hard work, and respond thoroughly to each suggestion that they made. It isn’t enough to simply say, ‘I made change number 1 on page 50’. Instead, you should spend some time talking about the nature of the change, and offer any other comments or thoughts you have.

If you can, summarise the changes you made in a table, complete with page numbers. This will make the examiners’ life easier by allowing you to quickly show how you responded to each comment and where exactly the changes are in the thesis. They may not have time to read through the entire thesis again, so providing them with an easy-reference guide to where each change can be found can speed the whole review process up considerably.

When creating this cover letter, use the matrix we discussed above to keep track of your revisions.

The corrections your examiner suggests are not a personal attack; they are instead a reflection of the process of peer review that characterises modern academia. Yet, academia is also characterised by ongoing debate. That means you are within your rights to contest particular suggestions, but in a rigorous, logical and, where appropriate, evidence-based way. You have pushed the frontiers of knowledge in your PhD and now have authority to speak as an expert.

If you’d like some on-to-one support to help you make sense of your corrections, we offer one-to-one coaching. It’s your chance to work with an experienced supervisor to develop a plan of attack and feel more confident in your abilities. Find out more by clicking here . 

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15 comments.

Hello everyone, I really enjoy your work and your site is quite interesting. I must appreciate your work and efforts . It is extraordinary.

King regards, Thompson Duke

Hello all, Very amazing reading through. All aspects helpful to do excellent corrections for my dessertation I am really grateful..

Thanks Dzidzor Atsakpo

You’re welcome. Thanks for reading.

Thank you ever so much.

Very helpful indeed.

Thanks Charles.

This is an incredibly helpful post. It has helped me to stop stressing about my corrections and see them in a properly academic sense rather than as a personal failure. After the hard work of writing a PhD, followed by the anxieties of the viva, it can be hard to maintain a sensible perspective! Thank you.

Thanks for your lovely words Colette. I’m glad you found it useful. Means a lot.

This is probably the best PhD thesis advise I have come across in my very long doctoral journey. It just gives me a lot of hope!

An insightful piece of work. Very much appreciated.

Thank you so much Max. It is hard to keep going with corrections. This helped me keep perspective.

Thank you so much for this post. I have recently received major amendments and was so disheartened. What you’ve written about major amendments is incredibly reassuring, not to mention very helpful. Thank you!

Succinct and very helpful advice: puts the work required into perspective – a preparation for responding to reviewers’ feedback with regards to future publications. Thanks.

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you found it useful.

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