For anyone who has been through a PhD viva - or is about to go through one!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8IPs-nHqXM

As this site

http://www.earlymodernweb.org.uk/emn/index.php/archives/2005/01/the-final-hurdle-getting-through-the-phd-viva/

notes, it's different in the US. You generally have to pass a written exam and then do an oral exam at the candidacy point, i.e. at the beginning, on general knowledge, and that can be rough — the committee members tend to ask things until they reach a point that you can't answer anymore. The actual oral defense is no walk in the park, but your advisor should not let you get to that point if there are problems with the thesis.

There's no time limit in the US is there? (there isn't for some in the UK, but physics is now 4 years to submit after starting) It's the same here with the supervisor should not let you get that far if you're going to fail!

Not as far as I know. I've heard stories of degrees taking 10 or 11 years to complete, though that includes the (usually) 2 years prior to taking the preliminary oral.

There's no time limit in the US is there? (there isn't for some in the UK, but physics is now 4 years to submit after starting) It's the same here with the supervisor should not let you get that far if you're going to fail!

 

 

Technically, there is a time limit: 10 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Philosophy#Time

Technically, there is a time limit: 10 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Philosophy#Time

 

It'll depend on the school. Most have rules about how much time can elapse if you are no longer enrolled (a prof will only keep you on the research grant for so long as you write your thesis). There are horror stories of students working for a few years and then losing funding or having the professor retire or die, and having to basically start over from the written comprehensive exam stage.

It'll depend on the school. Most have rules about how much time can elapse if you are no longer enrolled (a prof will only keep you on the research grant for so long as you write your thesis). There are horror stories of students working for a few years and then losing funding or having the professor retire or die, and having to basically start over from the written comprehensive exam stage.

 

OK, a bit OT, but if anyone's interested, please see my posts in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology forum here.