viva presentation slides usm

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Information for Oral Presentations

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• Prepare a presentation that is 10-12 minutes long . Be prepared to answer a few questions from the audience during the three-minute Q&A session that will immediately follow your talk.
• Concentrate on the main points . You will not have time for details that the audience may not be able to appreciate, anyway! You may not be able to present your entire project.
• Avoid as much as possible discipline-specific jargon that few, if anyone in the audience will understand and make them lose interest in your presentation. Be sure to define any key terms.
• Ask your mentor for advice and solicit constructive criticism . Your mentor will be able to guide you with respect to logical flow and transitions between arguments or main points, appropriateness of conclusions drawn and of language used, etc. in your presentation.
• Practice your presentation several times , preferably in front of a friendly audience (e.g. friends, relatives, especially your mentor) and obtain feedback about clarity, flow, speed, etc. The Southern Miss Speaking Center can help you develop an effective presentation.
• Time yourself so that your talk is not too long or too short. If you are using slides, the rule of thumb is no more than one slide per minute.
• You MUST have at least one Powerpoint slide with your name and the title of your presentation. Even if slides are not customary in your discipline, consider using a few Powerpoint slides that guide the audience through the main points of your presentation.
• Long (> 20 min), very informative video
• Short (approx. 4 min), very funny video by comedian
• How Not to Give a Presentation by Richard Smith
• Ten Simple Rules for Effective Presentation Slides by Kristen M. Naegle
• Ten Simple Rules for Making Good Oral Presentations by P.E. Bourne
• Dress professionally for your presentation . Please consult this Guide to Professional Dress Codes . Business casual, academic casual, or academic formal attire is appropriate.
• Do not leave the panel immediately after your talk . As a courtesy to the other presenters, please take a seat and listen to the remaining presentations in your panel.
• Try to enjoy the experience! UGS offers a friendly, supportive environment for your professional academic presentation.
• Your presentation will be assigned a category that will give you a 1 in 3 to 1 in 4 chance of winning an award.

Dr. Bakhtiar Affendi Rosdi

School of electrical and electronic engineering, usm, guide to prepare power point presentation (for viva, seminar conference etc.).

To all students under my supervision, please follow the following guide when you prepare the slides for presentation.

• Create the story of the overall presentation first before you start work in power point or other tools
• Minimum size of the font is “28”
• Choose sans-serif type of font such as Arial, Calibri and Helvetica
• Use light color background with dark font/graphics
• Estimate to explain one slide in one minute
• Bare in mind that you are going to explain the slide and not read the slide
• Write in point form and not in full sentence
• Use lots of images and diagrams instead of text in the slide
• The title for each slide must represents the contents for that slide
• Every slide must have its own conclusion
• Put citation if necessary

Prepared by : Dr Bakhtiar Affendi, USM

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Ace Your Viva Presentation: Tips and Tricks

The thought of an oral presentation can be a huge source of stress and anxiety for many students, while some just blossom in such situations. If you’re one of the former, though, don’t panic. With decent preparation and practice, you too can successfully master your viva presentation.

But first: what is a viva presentation?

Viva voce is a Latin phrase most often translated as “by word of mouth.”  In academic circles, a viva presentation is an oral exam in which you defend your thesis.

After the thesis is defended, it’s discussed by a small panel. Among those present are the examining professors, but there may also be research assistants, members of the relevant department or even fellow students.

The purpose of this defense is to show examiners how knowledgeable you are on your research topic, that you have internalized what you have learned and know how to apply it.  In effect, it shows that you are well prepared to enter into academic discussion.

In principle, the viva presentation won’t make an entire grade’s difference, but it can tip the proverbial scale in your favor. It does offer some major advantages: You can clear up any ambiguities, assuage any doubts your examiners may have, and show that your stand by your research.

Preparation is key

After months or even years of hard work, the thesis is finished, the last formatting mistakes corrected, the bibliography painstakingly checked one last time and hooray, it’s finished! Time to celebrate! And then you get an invitation to the viva …

So, the wine bottle is re-corked and it’s back to the desk. But the good news is: you’ve actually already done most of the preparation. That’s what all the in-depth research you did to create your thesis was. You’re already an expert on your topic, so now you just need to explain it to your examiners clearly and calmly. That’s why it doesn’t make sense to start preparing for your viva before your thesis is finished and you’ve answered all your own questions.

Your supervisor should already know what to expect and the purpose of the viva is to present your results. Some people just hand in their thesis with huge relief and then put the whole thing out of their mind for a while.

This isn’t necessarily a problem but when the viva presentation is due, you really need to give yourself time to familiarize yourself with the topic again. Re-read your thesis a few times to get your results and methods fresh in your mind and you’ve already done much of the prep work for your viva.

Organizational details

You need to check the examination regulations of your institution to find out what will be required of you during your viva presentation. How long should the presentation last? Who will be present? How will the discussion group be structured at the end? Studies have shown that anxiety is significantly lessened if you know exactly what to expect. Don’t ignore these details.

Make sure you have the right power supply for the projector and whether your slide format is compatible with the projector. An article on slide formats and the difference between 4:3 and 16:9 can be found here .

Know how long your presentation should be. This often depends on what type of work you’re presenting. Be sure to keep this in mind as you create your slides.

Also, think about whether or not you want to provide a handout. Even if it isn’t explicitly required, examiners will often use a handout as a guide when asking their questions, allowing you to better control the discussion that follows.

You can find helpful tips on handouts here .

Lastly, think about what you’re going to wear for your viva presentation. If you’re not sure, take a cue from your examiners. If they wear a suit or dress to other viva presentations, it’s safe to assume that the dress code for your viva will be on the formal side. It’s important to look neat and tidy, but you should also feel comfortable. The wrong shoes or clothing that is too tight can negatively impact the way you present. You can find more helpful tips on clothing here .

Technical details

The most popular tool for giving a viva presentation is PowerPoint. On the day of your presentation, get there early to make sure your devices are working. It also helps to be familiar with PowerPoint’s features, such as Presenter View. This fantastic tool will help you stay on track during your viva presentation. For more information on Presenter View, click here .

In general, the rule for viva presentations is: Keep It Simple . This is a defense of your academic research and your slides should express that. Keep it classic and factual. Use a uniform font and a neutral, preferably white, background. You can use backgrounds from PresentationLoad:

In principle, you should use as little text and as few key points as possible, but it’s also essential to document your research accurately. Room for interpretation can be very dangerous here.

Naturally, it depends on the preferences of the examiners, but a little more text than in normal presentations is definitely allowed. If the nature of your work allows, graphics, photos or flowcharts are a good way to offer some variety and to clearly present complex issues.

How to structure a successful viva presentation

Like your thesis, your viva PowerPoint presentation should follow a certain structure. It is advisable to follow the structure of your thesis. After all, you have already given it a lot of thought and made sure that everything is in a logical context.

This way you can save yourself additional work. But remember – the presentation is not about retelling your thesis word for word. Just give the most important and interesting aspects.

Follow these points to create a solid structure for any viva presentation:

1) Relevance

Your thesis dealt in depth with a particular question, a specific aspect of research. In the first part of your viva PowerPoint presentation you introduce it and explain why it is relevant. What is the benefit for academic understanding, the general public, a specific avenue? Why this question in particular?

This allows you to show your audience why you chose your topic and why they should pay attention to what you have to say. All this needs to be supported by a professional introduction. You can find tips on how to do this here .

2) Background

This is where you set out the background of your research question in more detail, i.e. the most important theories and approaches that already exist on the topic, or which prompted your question. This helps your listeners prepare for any complex interrelationships, and clarifies the basis on which you have built your work.

In this part you set out how you approached your work. Was your research qualitative or quantitative? Did you conduct interviews, analyze data, evaluate a particular body of literature? This is your chance to show your examiners how carefully you worked and explain why you chose this particular method.

4) Findings

Now to present the results of your research. Were there any surprises? If so, how did you deal with them? Are the results consistent, where did you encounter difficulties, and how did you solve them? Use this section to talk about your research in a transparent and honest way. It’s an opportunity to show that you have dealt with the topic seriously and in depth, rather than just choosing the easiest way.

5) Conclusion

At the end, summarize your work clearly and concisely, and answer the research question posed at the beginning. You can also express your personal opinion as to whether you have achieved the result you expected or whether your research has come to a surprising conclusion.

Finally, you will need a well-rounded conclusion to your viva presentation. You can read tips for the perfect presentation ending here .

Whether you have to present your sources at the end of your viva is something to discuss with your supervisor or read up in the regulations. If in doubt, however, it’s better to be on the safe side with a list of sources.

Viva presentation: example

Since every viva is different, there is no one example of a great PowerPoint viva presentation. In our blog you will find numerous examples of how a well-structured and appealing PowerPoint presentation can look. For example, here . These should serve as a guide; it’s important to adapt the presentation to your personal requirements and your audience.

Make sure your narrative is clear and consistent throughout your presentation (as it was in your thesis).  It might be a good idea to ask your supervisor to show you good viva presentation example from previous years or to give you tips on where you should focus your attention.

General tips for a successful presentation

Almost there! You’ve created and double-checked your PowerPoint viva presentation and you’re feeling confident about your research work. For many people, though, creating the content is the easy bit; it’s the thought of speaking in front of others that terrifies them. It’s just a fact that in order to defend a thesis, you first have to be attacked .

1. Be prepared for critical questions and comments. Think through what possible aspects of your work might attract criticism, and prepare your rebuttals in advance. It helps to let friends or family read your work and ask questions.

2. The same friends and family can be amazingly useful as a practice audience. Deliver your presentation a few times in front of others and in a relaxed environment. This will help you feel more confident when it comes time for your viva presentation. Your trial audience may discover inconsistencies you’d missed, and can often provide valuable feedback on how your slides look, your speaking style or your body language.

3. Body language is very important when you’re giving your presentation; it can affect your persuasiveness. Stand upright (or sit if you need to). A small amount of movement can emphasize your engagement with the subject, but try not to look restless.  Getting your words across means you mustn’t turn your face away from the audience. Small gestures can underline your words, but too much fidgeting will look like nerves. 

Practising giving your presentation will soon get your body language expressing ease and confidence. To learn how to best prepare for a presentation, read our blog article on the right body language

4. Many people tend to speak far too quickly in presentations, probably to get the whole thing over as quickly as possible. While this is understandable, it means the audience misses half your words! Try to breathe calmly and speak evenly.

Time can seem to speed up when you’re in a stressful situation, so speak more slowly than you think right. And taking a proper breath in between phrases will help ground you.  You can find tips on how to prepare your speaking voice for your viva presentation in this blog post .

Your test audience can give you very good feedback here. When you practice your presentation, use a stopwatch to make sure that you stay within the given limits. Once you know that you won’t overrun even when speaking calmly, you can avoid the temptation to rush during the official presentation.

5. Pro tip: Do you have to give your viva presentation online? If so, some things will of course be different, starting with what program you use to stream your presentation. You can find out what options you have in this blog post . Click here to read more about what to pay attention to when giving an online presentation.

While knowing what you want to say is important, DON’T try to learn your entire presentation by heart. Even if you somehow did manage to, it would end up sounding artificial and you could be easily thrown off track if you miss a word or someone interrupts with a question. The best strategy is to memorize a few key points and speak freely.

Take a deep breath before you start and remember that you have no reason to be nervous. Nobody knows your work as well as you do; you’ve done all the research and can consider yourself an expert on your topic.

And if a mistake does happen, here are some tips on how to react to it with confidence.

If the examiners seem receptive to it, a little small talk before you start can help you to relax. And once you start, remember that you’ve practiced hard and are well prepared to give an impressive viva presentation. Good luck!

Any questions about this article or need help creating a viva presentation? Feel free to contact us at [email protected] for tips. We’d love to help.

We’ve already shared a lot of links with tips on how to improve your presentation . Here are some more that may interest you:

• PowerPoint animations
• PowerPoint Morph
• Humor in presentations
• Add images to your presentation with an app
• PowerPoint slide master
• The right presentation background
• How to create flowcharts

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Abstract for oral presentation should be submitted based on the " ICSDG2019_-_Abstract_Template " via conference  online submission system .     1. Time Allocation The time allocated for each presentation is 20 minutes (15 minutes for your presentation and 5 minutes for Q&A). All presenters are requested to start and done their presentation on time. A warning alarm will be given by the Session Chair when 3 minutes left.      2. Preparation before the Presentation  - Laptops equipped with Windows 10, Microsoft Office 365  ProPlus  (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Adobe Reader are provided.   - LCD projectors, screens, laser pointers and microphones are provided.   - Presenters who have not sent/give the presentation in PPT/PDF format to the ICSDG2019 Secretariat earlier should have their presentation ready in a USB thumb drive and copy it to the laptop in the session room about 15 minutes before the start time, and make sure it could be normally displayed.   - All presenters should inform the Session Chair (before the start of your Session) that you are present.      3. Presentation Requirements - Presenters should be well knowledgeable and expert in the area of presentation for a better exchange.   - No commercial advertisements are allowed during the presentation.    - All communications should be in English.      4. About the Conference Awards  Best Paper and Best Presenter Awards will be selected from the submitted full papers and the presentation sessions, respectively. Please ensure your Paper ID (ICSDG-2019-xxx) is shown correctly in the first or last page of your presentation slides.  

Notes:  Each presentation will be reviewed  by the panel of judges. The selections will be based on the  professionalism of the presentation, verbal communication skills and the technical merit of the topic. An  announcement of the winners will be made during the closing ceremony.

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GUIDELINES FOR VIDEO PRESENTATIONS

The presentations will be pre-recorded and then included in a repository of MNRG 2022 oral presentations. Presenters are required to prepare a presentation file with voice narration (aka Voice over PPT). Your video file must be in the MP4 format for proper upload. 

To record your presentation, please refer to the following two (2) helpful resources: 

1) Microsoft PowerPoint “Record Slide Show” feature to record audio along with your presentation:

2) Helpful instructions on saving a voice-over-PowerPoint as an mp4 can be found here:

Please note that all Questions and Answers will be held 100% offline. All presentations will include necessary contact information, and authors can reach out with potential questions via email. This will be managed by the Technical Program Chair.  

• Plenary & Keynote presentations not to exceed 40 minutes
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Kindly prepare FULL Paper using the attached template. Please note that the number of pages should be 8-10 pages in length (max 10 pages), including table, figure, and list of references in a single column and double spacing.

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How to create an Impactful PhD Viva-Voce Presentation

• Posted On July 11, 2023

Introduction:

• Creating well-organized slides and delivering a polished presentation within the allotted time is of utmost importance for a successful PhD viva-voce examination.
• This aspect significantly impacts the impression made on the research scholar, supervisor, or mentor by the examiners or moderators.
• Before designing the presentation slides, the scholar must carefully determine the content to include, taking into account what they should emphasize and what they can omit.
• The challenge lies in selecting the most significant research findings and key contributions, considering the extensive amount of data accumulated over the course of the research program (typically spanning 4 to 5 years).
• It is crucial for the scholar to exercise time management , ensuring that the presentation focuses on the essential aspects.

To assist in this endeavor, we have compiled a blog outlining simple yet valuable tips for preparing PhD viva-voce presentation slides.

Example Structure for a Ph.D. Viva-Voce Presentation Slides:

1: Title Slide

2: Presentation Outline

3: Introduction

4: Identification of Research Gaps or Rationale for the Research Study

5: Problem Statement

6: Objectives of the Study

7: Methodology

8: Results and Discussion

9: Conclusion

10: Publications

11: References

12: Acknowledgements

13: Thank You Slide

Please note that you can modify this general structure according to the specific requirements of your Ph.D. viva-voce presentation.

Tips for Preparing an Effective Ph.D. Viva-Voce Presentation:

1. provide a concise introduction to the background of your study:.

• Begin your presentation with a brief overview of the research topic, highlighting its significance and relevance in the field.
• Present the background information in a concise manner, using bullet points instead of lengthy paragraphs.

2. Highlight research gaps and clearly state the problem statement:

• Emphasize the research gaps or the need for your research study, demonstrating the gap in knowledge or existing limitations.
• Clearly articulate your problem statement to establish the focus of your research.

3. Clearly outline the objectives and methodology of your study:

• List the specific objectives of your study, outlining the goals you aimed to achieve.
• Present the methodology you employed, using neat schematics or flowcharts to visually represent your research approach.

4. Present research findings and data effectively:

• Present the important research findings and data from your thesis in a simple and concise manner, using bulleted points instead of paragraphs.
• Reserve the detailed explanations and scientific evidence for your oral defense presentation, and use the slides to highlight key results.

5. Connect your findings with relevant literature and emphasize novelty:

• Connect your research findings with existing literature, highlighting how your work contributes to the field and addresses the research gaps identified.
• Emphasize the novelty and originality of your research, showcasing its unique aspects or approaches.

6. Utilize schematics, graphs, and tables for data representation:

• Use visual aids such as schematics, graphs, and tables to present data and experimental conditions effectively.
• Avoid using detailed statements and opt for visual representations that can convey information more efficiently.

7. Summarize research objectives and conclude with societal benefits:

• Summarize the results of your research objectives, highlighting the key outcomes and their implications.
• Conclude your presentation by emphasizing the broader societal benefits or potential applications of your research.

8. Use hyperlinks for presenting extensive data or references:

Incorporate hyperlinks at appropriate places in your presentation to provide easy access to extensive data, datasets, experimental procedures, or relevant literature.

9. Ensure high-quality and readable images:

Pay attention to the quality of images used in your presentation. Ensure they are clear, visually appealing, and easily readable for the audience.

10. Keep the number of slides limited and maintain flow and connectivity:

• Limit the number of slides to around 50 to 55 to maintain a concise and focused presentation.
• Ensure a smooth flow and logical connectivity between each slide, allowing the audience to follow your presentation effortlessly.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, a well-organized and polished presentation is crucial for a successful PhD viva-voce examination. The presentation has a lasting impact on the research scholar, supervisor, or mentor as observed by the examiners or moderators. When preparing the presentation slides, the scholar should carefully select the content, emphasizing the most significant research findings and key contributions while managing the extensive amount of data accumulated over several years.

To assist in this endeavor, we have provided a general structure for PhD viva-voce presentation slides that you can modify to meet specific requirements. Additionally, we have outlined valuable tips for preparing an effective presentation.

The tips include providing a concise introduction , highlighting research gaps, clearly stating the problem statement, outlining objectives and methodology, presenting research findings and data effectively, connecting findings with relevant literature, utilizing visual aids, summarizing research objectives, and concluding with societal benefits. It is also recommended to use hyperlinks for extensive data or references and ensure high-quality, readable images.

Furthermore, it is important to keep the number of slides limited and maintain flow and connectivity throughout the presentation. By following these guidelines, research scholars can create compelling presentations that effectively communicate their research and make a strong impression during their PhD viva-voce examination.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to create an impactful phd viva-voce presentation.

Creating well-organized slides and delivering a polished presentation within the allotted time is of utmost importance during the PhD viva-voce examination. For detailed guidance, you can read our article on Impactful PhD Viva-Voce Presentation .

What are the key steps in writing a successful PhD thesis?

Writing a successful PhD thesis involves careful planning, thorough research, clear organization, and effective writing. For detailed guidance on each step, you can read our article on Key Steps in Writing a Successful PhD Thesis .

How to manage research stress and stay motivated?

Managing research stress and staying motivated during your PhD journey is essential. We’ve compiled some helpful tips in our article on Managing Research Stress and Staying Motivated for PhD Students .

Introduction: To assist in this endeavor, we have compiled a blog outlining simple yet valuable tips for preparing PhD viva-voce presentation slides. Example Structure for a Ph.D. Viva-Voce Presentation Slides: 1: Title Slide 2: Presentation Outline 3: Introduction 4: Identification of Research Gaps or Rationale for the Research Study 5: Problem Statement 6: Objectives of…

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Home » Free Academic Presentation Templates

Free Academic Presentation Templates

In this post, I’m sharing presentation templates from ‘ Awesome PhD Presentations’ workshop held recently. The free Viva slides templates are handcrafted for a viva-voce presentation. Rather than distracting the audience, the clean and simple templates will let your key messages shine. Where less is more…

With further edits, they may be used in any academic and/or professional presentations. Normally, such templates cost between RM100-180.

To my blog readers, the templates are FREE to download, just scroll to the end of this post =)

Check out these Canva and PowerPoint tutorials on Skillshare!

Check out and download THREE more FREE academic presentation slides: the latest MAYA (2021), SHINE and FEARLESS .

CC BY-NC 4.0: Modify as you wish and give credit where it’s due

The templates are licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 which means that you may modify etc them for non-commercial use. That is, you may edit the slides anyway you want for a presentation during viva, proposal defence, conferences, grant applications/evaluation, assignments and so on. For as long as they are not used for any commercial, sales or profit-making effort and/or situations.

All I ask from you is to kindly give credit when you use them – as indicated in Viva slides . Spread the word, share the free templates and happy presenting!*

Read Me… Notes about the templates:

Editable slides.

All slides are readily editable and can be customised to your presentations.

Work best in latest versions of Powerpoint2016 and Keynote. However, I’m afraid I’m unable to say if the templates would work in earlier versions.

Drag & drop your own images

Most of the (fern) images can be replaced with your own images. Click on the image, delete it and drag & drop a new image. The new image can be re-sized accordingly.

To edit the ‘Distribution…’ slides, modify:

(i) gradient fill (change ‘position’ % accordingly, the pink box). Please see the screengrab below. (ii) edit the red ‘doughnut’ chart via linked excel form. Double-clicking it will take you to the excel form.

Researchers – Grab editable Canva templates in clean and modern designs.

Say ‘No’ to bullet points

Present your points in a visually attractive manner so that your audience can quickly grasp what you’re presenting. Use the ‘Research Objectives’ slides to replace bullet points.

Powerpoint Templates (~3MB): Available for PC/Mac as PPTX file (i) Widescreen** and (ii) On-screen 4:3*** Fonts: Arial, Calibri. Keynote Templates for Mac only (~11MB): On-screen 4:3*** Fonts: Avenir New (my favourite).

Download the free presentation templates

Click on the following GoogleDrive links to download the templates. There are 7 files in each shared folder.

Powerpoint-Widescreen**

Powerpoint-4:3-On screen***

Keynote(MacOnly)***

Hope you’d find them useful in helping you presenting your work. And if I get new ideas, I do hope to share a couple more templates in the near future. Watch this space 😉

Level up your PowerPoint design skills with Skillshare! FREE for 2 months.

Further notes: *If you’re wondering about minimalist slide/presentations, do read Presentation Zen and Elevate books. Uncluttered, clean designs let your audience focus on what matters the most i.e. your message. **suitable for a presentation on a flatscreen TV, monitor (rectangle shape). ***suitable for a projector screen.

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The examiners' main objective is to ascertain that you've written your own thesis, so if you have and are ready to talk through how you completed it, there's no need to panic. You may even enjoy the viva voce. In addition to assessing your thesis, the examiners are also there to assist you in deciding how and where this research might be published. There are various results between a 'pass' and 'fail' but it's very rare to slip up at this point of a PhD. Most Doctorate awards will be made upon the condition that several minor corrections are made, with re-submission requests far less common. However, while the pass rate is high, the viva exam itself can still be intellectually demanding. This is because you'll be debating issues that are conceptually complex, so preparation is crucial to your success. At the end of it, whatever the outcome, be prepared to take on board any advice, as the examiners are there to help you improve your argument or the presentation of your thesis.

Make sure you understand what you did

While you can be sure this isn't a memory test - as you're fine bringing notes and a copy of your thesis with you to the PhD viva - it's still important to gain a good understanding of what you've written and knowledge about your field of study. You'll need to think carefully about where this original piece of work would be placed in the context of the wider body of research carried out in this field. Questions will surely be asked about this, as well as whether the project could possibly be developed further through any future research.

As you'll be explaining parts of the document to the examiners (who'll also have a digital or physical copy), make sure the pagination is the same in your version as the one they're looking at to avoid any issues regarding everybody being on the same page. If you get stuck at any point during the viva exam, you can use looking at the thesis as an excuse to re-focus and gather your thoughts.

Anticipate the viva questions

The examiners will have prepared a series of questions for you to answer at the viva voce, but this is nothing to get too concerned about. The questions will all be based on your thesis - what it's about, what you did, what you found out and why these matters in relation to your field of study.

Get to know who your examiners are

The senior and well-respected academics who'll be reading your thesis will have their own ideas on conducting PhD standard research. Therefore, it's worth to find about their academic profiles to discover if there's any correlation with the research they've had published and your own work.

From this, you should be able to gain a better idea of their motivations, their possible views on your thesis and the kinds of questions they might wish to discuss after having read through it.

It's also necessary to check the policies and practices in place at your university and be sure of what the roles of the examiners are and how the viva panel will be structured. In many cases, Doctoral students can choose the examiners conducting the PhD viva.

Be sure to check that you have everything you wish to take with you, including the thesis, plus any notes or other materials that will help support your claims. The PhD viva can last between one and four hours - usually two - so it's necessary to pace yourself to get off to the best possible start.

Remember, the examiners aren't trying to trip you up, they want you to pass and are primarily there to hear you talk about your project. So, after the polite introductions they'll typically start with an ice-breaker to put you at ease and help calm the nerves. It's meant to be an open and honest conversation about your work, so feel free to politely disagree with the examiners, especially on areas you feel strongly about. Don't forget to use examples from your thesis to back up what you're saying, remembering to be clear and concise.

By Daniel Higginbotham, Prospect, December 2020

Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang ,Selangor

Contact List by Unit Staff and Services

03 October 2015

Viva presentation.

Assalamualaikum.. maaf nak tanya.. untuk ppt (phD student) boleh ke masukkan animasi atau transition? Adakah lagi elok buat yang simple2 atau bercorak2 dan berbunyi2 ? Terima kasih banyak

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