Revise and Resubmit with Another Viva

[shernjerner]

Last year, I had a difficult viva that resulted in a "revise and resubmit" outcome, which, according to my university rules, comes with sitting another viva. The experience was overwhelming: right at the start, the examiners told me that the viva would be very challenging, and that the outcome might be reserved if they couldn’t reach an agreement. This immediately knocked my confidence. The grilling lasted nearly two hours, followed by another hour-long private discussion between the examiners, after which I was called back in and the horrible outcome was announced.

While both of my supervisors had been happy with my thesis and expected only minor corrections at worst, the examiners explained that the thesis needed significant additions, not changes to the existing work, but new material, amounting to many thousands of extra words. They felt this required extensive new reading and work, and so gave me an R&R. When I asked them if another viva was necessary, they clarified that it was mandatory under university rules, and hence, they will have to go for it. Also, I had a publication in a reputed journal before I submitted the thesis earlier, and I have another upcoming publication from another chapter of that thesis, in a top-ranked journal of my field.

I revised the thesis over the past year and resubmitted it recently. I am to have my reviva in less than two weeks from now, and I am very, very nervous considering what happened to me in the same setting last year. I am so scared that I am not even able to read the thesis in preparation for the viva. I am most scared about the outcome of getting an MPhil or failing this time, knowing that this is my absolute final opportunity for securing a doctorate. I have invested more than five years and a lot of resources into this degree, and I can't afford not to get it after coming this far. I am barely eating or sleeping, as the memories of my previous viva keep replaying in my mind, leaving me too anxious to function properly or prepare for the upcoming one.

I could really do with some reassurance from anyone who has been in, or heard of, a similar situation. From what I know, I am the first to have this outcome from my supervisor's cohort of PhD candidates so far (they have supervised a considerable number of PhDs); knowing this makes me feel even worse. On top of it all, seeing those who started with me graduate before me makes the blow even harder. I feel very alone in this, and I’m worried about what I’ll tell people if I don’t succeed. Everyone around me is wishing me luck for this viva; most of them don’t even know that this is actually my second one. I just can’t think of telling them if I fail this time. Not finishing a PhD feels like such an unusual situation, since everyone I know who started one has gone on to graduate as a doctor.

Didn’t happen to me but I examine PhDs and have done some second vivas due to major corrections. All have passed in my experience.

This may not be overly helpful but - in case you hadn’t already noticed this - not reading your thesis is really not going to help matters. I understand you’re nervous but at this point you may as well either throw yourself in there and give it your best shot, or withdraw. You say you can’t afford to fail, so get going and prepare. You risk making a self-fulfilling prophecy. If it feels overwhelming just read your abstract and tell yourself you’ll make notes for 15 mins, no longer. Once you’ve got going you’ll probably feel a lot better. Come on OP, you can do this. Head out the sand and crack on.

You’re right. I should focus on reading the thesis and their reports closely, instead of just sulking over the outcome. It’s really difficult to get myself to do that given the constant stress I’m experiencing but I’m trying.

Thanks for the motivation. Much appreciated!