{"id":2190,"date":"2026-09-26T09:33:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-26T09:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/assignmentmaster.org.uk\/blog\/?p=2190"},"modified":"2026-09-26T09:39:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T09:39:32","slug":"dissertation-viva-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assignmentmaster.org.uk\/blog\/dissertation-viva-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens in a Dissertation Viva? Complete UK Student Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

A PhD <\/span>dissertation viva<\/b> (short for viva voce) is an oral examination where a doctoral candidate defends their submitted thesis in front of a panel of academic experts (like an internal examiner, external examiner, supervisor, and the chairperson). These doctoral examiners discuss your thesis, research method, <\/span>dissertation methodology <\/b>and findings, arguments, and contributions to the field.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Doctoral students begin with a 10-20 minute short presentation about their topic, then the examiners begin to ask different questions relevant to your study and to study the broader context of your contribution to the field.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the UK, the PhD dissertation viva process depends on the specific university guidelines and requirements. The examiner\u2019s format, structure, requirements, deadline and possible outcomes all depend on the institution\u2019s regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this guide, we will discuss the common aspects of what happens in a PhD viva. So if you are about to complete your PhD thesis and appear for the dissertation viva, this guide draws attention to everything you need to know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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