Viva Voce
The oral examination of a thesis, standard in British and Commonwealth systems, where examiners question the candidate, usually in a closed session.
Viva voce, Latin for "with the living voice," is the oral examination of a research thesis, usually shortened to viva. The term is standard in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth systems, where the examination is typically a closed session between the candidate and a small panel, often an internal and an external examiner, sometimes with an independent chair.
Unlike some public defense formats, the viva is primarily a sustained questioning of the written thesis, probing the candidate's understanding, the originality of the contribution, and the soundness of the methods. Length varies from about an hour to several hours.
For candidates, the useful mindset is that the viva examines the thesis you actually submitted. Rereading it shortly beforehand, listing its weakest points, and preparing honest answers about them is better preparation than new reading. Examiners generally respect a candidate who can defend choices while conceding genuine limitations.
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