PostDoc Discussion Forum

I posted on here 14 months ago about my first viva and the issues around that, so thought i'd do the follow up in case anyone in the same situation as me finds it one day. My examination was a bit weird as there were some pretty substantial accusations against my examiner due to a conflict of interest and bias. He was internal so it's possible the uni had a word with him or he just realised he cocked up when he read my 20 page long rebuttal letter highlighting the issue.

The good news is that i passed with minor corrections in a viva so easy it has left me feeling like i didnt achieve anything. it lasted 50 mins and they only asked me questions about the choice of words. At no point did I have to defend the contribution to knowledge, its place in the literature, etc.

It all feels like a massive anti-climax, but hopefully when i get the certificate i will feel the sense of achievement that is so far lacking. I spent a whole year preparing to fight the dragon and take the treasure, only to find the dragon had already died, leaving me feeling like a bit of a fraud walking off with the treasure i'm not sure I deserve.

My first viva was a bit of a joke. 4.5 hours of going through everything asking why a graph was a specific shade of blue rather than a slightly darker shade, and trying to force his own rejected unpublished work into the thesis (which later turned out was based on fake data and fabricated results).

It was a very weird experience, but I hope that anyone else who gets 12 months revise and resubmit can take some encouragement from the fact that my story had a good ending!

The viva had an independent chair so it may be that he wanted to behave himself then, but when i get the examiner's report with the corrections perhaps he will sneak something into there, but seems unlikely.

I want to ask if we got phd with major corrections and time given is 12 months for resubmission, do we get the extension from university?

Congratulations on passing your viva, despite the challenges you faced! It sounds like you've been through quite the journey, from accusations against your examiner to a lengthy preparation process. While it's understandable to feel a bit anticlimactic after such an intense experience, passing with minor corrections is a significant achievement.

Your story serves as a source of encouragement for others who may find themselves in similar situations. It's reassuring to know that even with obstacles along the way, success is possible. Keep your head held high and take pride in your hard work paying off. Best of luck as you await your certificate and move forward with your academic journey!