The document provides advice on various aspects of completing a PhD, including selecting a topic, writing a thesis, being a good PhD student and supervisor, and completing the viva. It recommends selecting a topic that addresses gaps in existing research and adds to the knowledge base. A good thesis introduces the problem well, demonstrates expertise, and shows how the problem was solved. Being a good PhD student requires intelligence, creativity, hard work, and endurance. A good supervisor provides guidance, timely feedback, and inspiration. Writing up takes longer than expected, so chapters should be reviewed early. Meeting deadlines is important to avoid graduation delays. The viva involves a presentation and questioning from examiners.

1. How to Survive a PhD:A Personal View“Show us your medals”Selecting a TopicWhat makes a good topic?What makes a good PhD thesis?What makes a good PhD student?What makes a good supervisor?Writing upThe viva!

2. “Show us Your Medals”Supervised 11 completed PhD studentsThree in the NCG – Ricardo; Seamus; PaulCurrently supervising four PhD students – Carson; Wenbai; Maryam and PamelaWill be employing 2 PhD students starting Sept on Marie Curie ITN grantHave been external on over 20 PhD examinations (Lausanne; Uppsala)

3. Selecting a TopicDifferent methods to go about doing this...

4. Selecting a TopicDifferent methods to go about doing this... One extreme – science labs where topic is dictated by your supervisor and you basically follow instructions...

5. Selecting a TopicDifferent methods to go about doing this... One extreme – science labs where topic is dictated by your supervisor and you basically follow instructions... Other extreme – you come in with your own topic already to go

6. Selecting a TopicDifferent methods to go about doing this... One extreme – science labs where topic is dictated by your supervisor and you basically follow instructions... Other extreme – you come in with your own topic already to goCompromise – your supervisor gives you guidance on a general area but you come up with the topic yourself (with iterations with your supervisor) from lots of reading.

7. So what makes a good PhD topic?

8. So what makes a good PhD topic?READ!!! Look for discrepancies in the literature; areas where research questions are left open; areas where you think we lack knowledge m!!!!

9. So what makes a good PhD topic?READ!!! Look for discrepancies in the literature; areas where research questions are left open; areas where you think we lack knowledge Universities are ‘knowledge factories’ – your thesis MUST add to our knowledge base

10. So what makes a good PhD topic?READ!!! Look for discrepancies in the literature; areas where research questions are left open; areas where you think we lack knowledge Universities are ‘knowledge factories’ – your thesis MUST add to our knowledge baseResearch is cumulative – “we all stand on the shoulders of giants” “we stand on top of a heap of existing research ... but every once in while somebody kicks the heap over”

11. So what makes a good PhD topic?READ!!! Look for discrepancies in the literature; areas where research questions are left open; areas where you think we lack knowledge Universities are ‘knowledge factories’ – your thesis MUST add to our knowledge baseResearch is cumulative – “we all stand on the shoulders of giants” “we stand on top of a heap of existing research ... but every once in while somebody kicks the heap over”Build your case – state the problem!!!!

12. So what makes a good thesis?

13. So what makes a good thesis?Has to be well-written. Don’t assume everyone knows everything you do – they don’t!!!

14. So what makes a good thesis?Has to be well-written. Don’t assume everyone knows everything you do – they don’t!!!Introduce the problem well – get people interested

15. So what makes a good thesis?Has to be well-written. Don’t assume everyone knows everything you do – they don’t!!!Introduce the problem well – get people interestedYou have to demonstrate you are a world expert.

16. So what makes a good thesis?Has to be well-written. Don’t assume everyone knows everything you do – they don’t!!!Introduce the problem well – get people interestedYou have to demonstrate you are a world expert.You should know more than your supervisor on this topic

17. So what makes a good thesis?Has to be well-written. Don’t assume everyone knows everything you do – they don’t!!!Introduce the problem well – get people interestedYou have to demonstrate you are a world expert.You should know more than your supervisor on this topicDemonstrate how you have ‘solved’ the problem or shed new light on something

18. So what makes a good thesis?Has to be well-written. Don’t assume everyone knows everything you do – they don’t!!!Introduce the problem well – get people interestedYou have to demonstrate you are a world expert.You should know more than your supervisor on this topicDemonstrate how you have ‘solved’ the problem or shed new light on somethingDon’t overstate your case

19. So what makes a good PhD Student?

20. So what makes a good PhD Student?Intelligence

21. So what makes a good PhD Student?IntelligenceCreative

22. So what makes a good PhD Student?IntelligenceCreativeHard working

23. So what makes a good PhD Student?IntelligenceCreativeHard workingTo be able to express yourself well

24. So what makes a good PhD Student?IntelligenceCreativeHard workingTo be able to express yourself wellEndurance – A PhD is a marathon not a sprint. There will be moments of crisis. Realise that everyone has them

25. So what makes a good PhD Student?IntelligenceCreativeHard workingTo be able to express yourself wellEndurance – A PhD is a marathon not a sprint. There will be moments of crisis. Realise that everyone has themHave confidence in yourself and your supervisor

26. So what makes a good PhD Student?IntelligenceCreativeHard workingTo be able to express yourself wellEndurance – A PhD is a marathon not a sprint. There will be moments of crisis. Realise that everyone has themHave confidence in yourself and your supervisorObsessive and possibly mildly autistic!

27. So what makes a good Supervisor

28. So what makes a good SupervisorSomeone who knows where the research frontier is

29. So what makes a good SupervisorSomeone who knows where the research frontier isSomeone with whom you are comfortable working recognising there are different modes of working.

30. So what makes a good SupervisorSomeone who knows where the research frontier isSomeone with whom you are comfortable working recognising there are different modes of working. Can be tightly regulated or very loose. No one size fits all.

31. So what makes a good SupervisorSomeone who knows where the research frontier isSomeone with whom you are comfortable working recognising there are different modes of working. Can be tightly regulated or very loose. No one size fits all.Can give advice and guidance on topic and way forward

32. So what makes a good SupervisorSomeone who knows where the research frontier isSomeone with whom you are comfortable working recognising there are different modes of working. Can be tightly regulated or very loose. No one size fits all.Can give advice and guidance on topic and way forwardResponds to submitted chapters in a timely manner and gives good feedback both on content and writing style

33. So what makes a good SupervisorSomeone who knows where the research frontier isSomeone with whom you are comfortable working recognising there are different modes of working. Can be tightly regulated or very loose. No one size fits all.Can give advice and guidance on topic and way forwardResponds to submitted chapters in a timely manner and gives good feedback both on content and writing styleGives you inspiration. Remember that – inspiration just as valuable as perspiration when it comes to joint publications

34. Writing up

35. Writing up Estimate how long it will take you to write up – and then double it!

36. Writing up Estimate how long it will take you to write up – and then double it!Get supervisor to read chapters as you do them to get feedback on writing style and content.

37. Writing up Estimate how long it will take you to write up – and then double it!Get supervisor to read chapters as you do them to get feedback on writing style and content. While this is going on, select external and internal examiners in conjunction with your supervisor.

38. Writing up Estimate how long it will take you to write up – and then double it!Get supervisor to read chapters as you do them to get feedback on writing style and content. While this is going on, select external and internal examiners in conjunction with your supervisor.Have a time line to graduation – there are various documents that need to be submitted well in advance e.g. Name of external has to be approved by Science and Engineering Faculty meeting. Missing these deadlines can delay graduation by 10 months!

39. Writing up Estimate how long it will take you to write up – and then double it!Get supervisor to read chapters as you do them to get feedback on writing style and content. While this is going on, select external and internal examiners in conjunction with your supervisor.Have a time line to graduation – there are various documents that need to be submitted well in advance e.g. Name of external has to be approved by Science and Engineering Faculty meeting. Missing these deadlines can delay graduation by 10 months!Once thesis is submitted to Graduate School, they organise viva

40. The Viva

41. The Viva Once external and internal examiners have read your thesis, a viva is set up by an independent chair appointed by the Graduate school. This is usually within three months of submission.

42. The Viva Once external and internal examiners have read your thesis, a viva is set up by an independent chair appointed by the Graduate school. This is usually within three months of submission. The viva usually consists of you giving a 20-30 minute presentation of your work followed by questions from the two examiners. The Chair is silent. Your supervisor can request to be present but he/she is also silent.

43. The Viva Once external and internal examiners have read your thesis, a viva is set up by an independent chair appointed by the Graduate school. This is usually within three months of submission. The viva usually consists of you giving a 20-30 minute presentation of your work followed by questions from the two examiners. The Chair is silent. Your supervisor can request to be present but he/she is also silent.The questions will range from very broad to very specific. Don’t worry if you can’t answer all of them. The examiners want to test whether you have written the thesis and also to probe you on certain aspects.

44. The Viva Once external and internal examiners have read your thesis, a viva is set up by an independent chair appointed by the Graduate school. This is usually within three months of submission. The viva usually consists of you giving a 20-30 minute presentation of your work followed by questions from the two examiners. The Chair is silent. Your supervisor can request to be present but he/she is also silent.The questions will range from very broad to very specific. Don’t worry if you can’t answer all of them. The examiners want to test whether you have written the thesis and also to probe you on certain aspects.The outcome is generally a pass with some minor modifications which you do within a month or less and are passed by your internal examiner. Very unusual to fail at this stage!!