While submitting your dissertation is a huge step, it is not the last destination for doctorate students. Once you've submitted, you'll need to prepare for the next intellectually-gruelling hurdle: a viva.
Students will have the opportunity to present their work and get feedback from faculty during this oral exam. Its official objective is to guarantee that there's no plagiarism involved, and that the student understands and can defend their argument. It's notoriously scary, full of deep, probing inquiries and intricate philosophical arguments.
 

How can aspiring Ph.D. candidates best prepare themselves? We sought advice from experts in the field as well as recent survivors.
 

The Viva Prep Process
 

1) Investigate the norms and procedures of your organization
Organizational norms and procedures might differ greatly. Determine who will be present during your viva (your supervisor, a separate chairperson, etc.) and what their responsibilities will be.
The Doctoral examination procedure is a handbook written by Penny Tinkler, Carolyn Jackson, and others in the field.
 

2) Read through your thesis again and make sure you're up to speed on the latest findings.
Keep in mind that your examiners have probably given your thesis a lot of thought, but don't forget that you're still the "expert in the room" on this subject. Verify whether any new articles of interest have been published after you handed in the thesis, and if so, read them.
University of Reading's Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Dianne Berry
 

Thirdly, while conducting an examination, you often steer the line of inquiry toward areas in which you have particular expertise.
Directly or indirectly, your field of knowledge is directly or indirectly tied to your field of competence. Knowing the external examiner's published contributions, particularly those that are relevant to your thesis in any manner, is crucial since they are the ones making most of the calls and firing most of the bullets.
Ph.D. Bhavik Physical and analytical chemistry professor Anil Patel
 

4) Think about what you will or won't defend
Consider carefully what you will defend to the hilt in the viva, and what you are willing to surrender. The thesis's uniqueness and its contribution to knowledge must be defended. However, no study is flawless, and indicating that you have examined what may have been done differently, or even better, is not a negative thing.
The Doctoral examination procedure is a handbook written by Penny Tinkler, Carolyn Jackson, and others in the field.
 

Five, Make a list of questions you could be asked, including the ones you fear the most.
I collected questions from several sources (shown below) and adapted them to fit the needs of my dissertation. A coworker suggested I compile my 10 terrifying inquiries as well. Writing down and considering my terrifying inquiries made them seem less daunting; it was almost as if I'd slain the dragon.
In most cases, I had an inkling of what would be demanded of me. A number of them caught me off guard, but they were more abstract arguments or references to works of literature I wasn't familiar with.
Richard Budd, a research assistant at the University of Bristol, wrote about his experience taking his viva in the summer of 2014.
It's not like typing on a computer, where you can go back and fix mistakes as you go.
 

By the time you complete your PhD you'll know your thesis inside out. One of the things you won't be as practised at is talking about it. I did some vocal warmups in preparation for my viva. It's not that you have to memorize your answers (that would only help if you knew for sure how the examiner would phrase a question), but you should give some thought to the wording you'll use. A viva voce isn't like editing a phrase while sitting at a laptop during a viva.
Richard Budd, a research assistant at the University of Bristol, wrote about his experience taking his viva in the summer of 2014.
 

Helpful hints for the viva voice,

 how to make a good impression on your examiners, 

how to express yourself clearly, 

how to defend your research, 

and how to speak with assurance
 

Maintaining professionalism and composure throughout the Viva;

 Clearly and confidently presenting your research;

 Addressing questions and criticisms with thoughtful responses; 

Engaging in a constructive dialogue with the Examination Panel; 

Demonstrating a thorough familiarity with your field and its contributions; 

•Make sure you and your supervisor have a printed copy that is identical to the one your examiners have (with the same pagination). This is requirement number seven. Tab the most relevant portions and mark the statements and topics you will want to look back on later. Paraphrased from a key4sheets.com forum post: "I'm having trouble reading the key4sheets.com key4sheets.
• The examiner could want to see some experimental data, software, or other proof, albeit the likelihood is low. Keep everything organized and easily accessible. After submitting, you will have this option.
Anthony Finkelstein, dean of the UCL college of engineering sciences who has written on surviving vivas

To put the examiners at ease throughout the viva, it's important to get off to a strong start in the first 15 minutes by displaying your expertise and providing extensive descriptions of your thought processes. The tone of the whole viva might be established by the first few answers given, therefore it's important to provide thorough, detailed responses. This can be prevented.
Defending a Thesis in an Oral Examination. Rowena Murray, author of How to Survive Your Viva.
Nine) Get ready for the icebreaker The dreaded icebreaker, meant to ease students into the viva, frequently ends up being the source of much tension. Due of its simplicity, many learners overlook it. In most cases, you'll need to present a brief (5-10 minute) overview of your project and its main results. It would be foolish to not anticipate this inquiry.
 

Ph.D. Bhavik Senior professor in physical and analytical chemistry Anil Patel says: • No news is good news.
 

Don't think that you'll be told the viva's conclusion before it even begins. Examiners may or may not provide feedback on the thesis at this time, and applicants shouldn't see the absence of feedback as a reflection poorly on their work. Institutional policy may prohibit this in certain instances.
The Doctoral examination procedure is a handbook written by Penny Tinkler, Carolyn Jackson, and others in the field.
 

Don't bring out your own flaws
Being too modest (e.g., "I didn't think this would be an acceptable piece of research given the way I handled x or y") or pointing out what you "failed to achieve" or "did not manage to carry out in a robust manner" etc. could be fatal to your thesis. Examiners don't require your aid picking out such details in the reading.
Queen's University Belfast management professor Dr. Mariana Bogdanova