Frequently Asked Questions
Do you proofread my thesis?
No I don’t intend to give you any feedback on the thesis or dissertation itself. By the time we talk, I expect you will have already submitted your thesis so my feedback would be worth little to you.
Do you use AI to prepare for the mock viva?
No I don’t use AI to help me prepare for our mock viva. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, the thesis is your work, and I don’t presume to share it with either other humans or AI platforms. Secondly, if I did use AI then your data and your story would be part of that AI platform’s database which could jeopardise your intellectual property.
Do you ask other academics to review my work?
No I don’t, for the same reasons as above. It’s your thesis and you have an agreement with me, which I respect. The privacy of your work is guaranteed.
Do you read all of my thesis?
I will read some or all of every chapter. I need to get enough information from your thesis to give you an authentic mock viva. That means a discussion that covers most aspects of your work. In your real viva it is highly unlikely that you will cover every aspect of your work – there is never enough time, unless you really want a 6 hour viva!
Is it academic misconduct to get your help?
No, absolutely not. I have analysed the academic conduct pages of many major UK universities and none of them says that you can’t prepare for an exam by practising a viva with a 3rd party. You are completely above board.
How quickly can you set up a viva with me?
Please contact me with details of your viva date. If I don’t think I can give you an authentic and thorough mock viva in time then I will be honest with you and say so. Typically, if you were to email me less than 2 weeks before a viva then I expect I would already have commitments that would prevent me from assisting you.
What do you do with my thesis afterwards?
When we are done, I undertake to return the thesis you have sent me if it has any annotations on it that help you remember our viva. I will retain the file for 60 days (or until after your viva) at which point I will delete it from my hard drive. If I have printed any or all of the thesis (which I occasionally do) then when we have finished I will shred the paper prior to adding it to my kerbside recycling.
What feedback will I get?
You will get immediate verbal feedback and follow-up written feedback. I will do this just as PhD examiners would do by asking you to leave our Teams call for 5-10 minutes whilst I collect some principal notes. Then I will get you back on the call for a brief verbal summary.
Do you guarantee I will pass?
No, I cannot guarantee that. Much as I would like to, there is a close analogy here to a driving instructor. I can help you prepare, but I can’t guarantee your success on the day – that is up to you. But I can make sure your mock viva and your personalised feedback prepare you better for the real exam by giving you as authentic an experience as possible.
I’m really nervous, will that be an issue?
I’d be surprised if you weren’t a little nervous. The performance element of an assessment is always the hardest to do, so I will do my best to make sure you at put at ease before we start.
Can I record the viva?
Yes of course you can. You are the customer here, and if you wish to record then I will simply ask you to see up the Teams call so that the recording is in your library by default.
How do I raise a concern with you?
I’m hoping you won’t have one, but if you do then please reach out to me with respect and I will respond in kind to help with whatever issue you are raising.
Can I get in touch with you afterwards if I have some questions?
This all depends on the time I have available, and the nature and number of the questions. I will always try to respond to requests for more information subsequently, but will be honest with you if I feel that this goes beyond my normal service level.
What subjects do you cover?
I've viva-ed students in biological sciences, biochemistry, pharmacology, biophysics, molecular modelling and so on. If I don't think I can provide you with an authentic experience I will let you know and won't pretend otherwise.