Research Matters 16 - Aberystwyth University

we’re asking the candidate to
demonstrate its strengths.
Other questions can include asking
about the nature of the contribution the
thesis makes to the field, why a
particular methodology or text was
selected, and even—something learnt
from my own external examiner—
picking up on rhetorical nuances.
Being asked ‘Do you feel that your use
of the paralogical word ‘suggests’
weakened your argument?’ was
intimidating, but it demonstrated the
level of scrutiny that an examiner
brings to the thesis. The purpose of the
viva is, after all, to examine the entire
thesis, and such attention to detail is
invaluable later in re-writing the thesis
as a monograph.
Finally, the act of sending the
candidate out at the conclusion of the
viva may often seem unnecessary, but
it allows the examiners to confirm (or
amend) their initial recommendations
and gives them the opportunity to
agree formal comments on the
candidate’s viva. Interestingly, in the
institution I examined in, this period
also included the chair commenting
upon the conduct of the examination.
That is, both the internal and external
examiners had their viva performance
commented upon. This ensured that
nothing untoward had occurred, and
served to reassure me too.
After the viva
One of the most pleasant aspects of
being an external examiner is the time
after the viva (assuming all has gone
well). For me, the purpose of the
external is to both examine the project
and offer the candidate advice for the
future. I imagine I’ll be contacted in
due course regarding a monograph
deriving from project, and expect to act
as a referee for both academic jobs and
6
postdoctoral funding applications. In
order to do be able to do this
knowledgeably, and after an hour-anda-half
examination, post-viva ‘coffee
and cakes’ or an evening meal is a
must, to informally chat with both
candidate and supervisors. As much as
this is an opportunity to catch up with
colleagues in the field, however, it is
vital to remember, as Jeremy Hardy
says, ‘It’s not about you.’ This is the
candidate’s day, and although externals
are treated like royalty (albeit not like
Charles I or Edward II), we’re only
there because of the candidates; I think
it’s worth getting to know them a little.
Acting as an external examiner carries
responsibilities to both the discipline
and the candidate, and it takes time,
care, and more time and care. Yet were
anybody to ask me to do it again, my
answer would be simple: ‘Yes.’
Will Slocombe
Will Slocombe is Lecturer in Twentieth-
Century Literature at Aberystwyth University.
His research interests are diverse, and he is
always happy to discuss issues such as the
above. He thanks all the relevant parties at the
institution in which he examined for making
his first external examination so
straightforward.
Surviving your Viva
(and Mock-Viva)
Asked to provide a report
on one’s Viva Voce
barely a month after the
actual event, I suppose
the first response is a
faint feeling of nausea,
intermixed curiously with pride. There
is no getting away from the fact that
the impending viva is alarming; many