What Questions Are Asked in PhD Viva? A Complete Guide for Doctoral Scholars
The most important stage of your doctoral life is a PhD viva voice. The habilitation process then requires years of study, writing, revision and submission and when it comes to the test, you face a team of professionals and show them your comprehension, novelty and input to the discipline.
Most PhD candidates are nervous due to the fact that they are not confident about the type of questions that are posed during a PhD viva. This blog gives a detailed account of the most frequently-asked questions during the viva doctoral dissertation, divided into easy-to-prep categories, and tips on how to prepare, plus some of the best advice on how Writing tree can get you ready to face your viva.
What Is a PhD Viva?
A PhD viva (viva voce) is an oral examination where the candidate defends their thesis before a panel, usually consisting of external and internal examiners. The objective is to assess:
- Depth of subject knowledge
- Research originality and contribution
- Methodological understanding
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Awareness of limitations and future scope
General PhD Viva Questions
These questions test your overall understanding of your research:
- Why did you choose this research topic?
- What is the main research problem you addressed?
- What are the key objectives of your study?
- How is your research original?
- What is the significance of your research to your field?
- Can you summarize your thesis in 2–3 minutes?
- What were the biggest challenges you faced during your PhD?
👉 Tip: Be clear, concise, and confident. Avoid memorized answers.
Literature Review–Based Viva Questions
These questions check your theoretical foundation and domain knowledge:
- Why did you select these particular studies for your literature review?
- Which author or theory influenced your research the most?
- How does your research differ from existing studies?
- What research gaps did you identify?
- Are there any recent studies you would like to add now?
Research Methodology Questions
This is one of the most important sections in a PhD viva:
- Why did you choose this research design?
- Why is your methodology suitable for this study?
- What sampling technique did you use and why?
- How did you ensure reliability and validity?
- What tools or software were used for data analysis?
- Why didn’t you choose an alternative methodology?
🎯 Examiners want to know if you truly understand the “why” behind your methods.
Data Analysis & Results Questions
These questions test your analytical clarity:
- How did you analyze your data?
- Why did you choose these statistical tools or models?
- Can you explain your key findings?
- Were there any unexpected results?
- How do your results support or contradict previous studies?
- What is the practical implication of your findings?
Thesis-Specific & Technical Questions
Examiners often pick questions directly from your thesis:
- Why did you structure your thesis this way?
- Can you explain Chapter ___ in brief?
- What does this table/figure represent?
- Why did you exclude certain variables?
- How do you justify this assumption?
📌 Know your thesis inside out—every table, graph, and argument.
Limitations & Future Scope Questions
No research is perfect, and examiners expect honesty:
- What are the limitations of your study?
- How could this research be improved?
- What future research can be conducted in this area?
- If given more time, what would you do differently?
Contribution & Impact Questions
These questions assess your academic contribution:
- What is the key contribution of your research?
- How does your study benefit industry/society/policy?
- Can your model or findings be applied practically?
- Have you published or plan to publish from this research?
Publication & Ethics-Related Questions
Especially common in recent years:
- Have you published any papers from your PhD?
- Which journals did you target and why?
- How did you ensure plagiarism-free work?
- Did you follow ethical guidelines in data collection?
How Writing Tree Helps You Prepare for PhD Viva
Preparing alone can be overwhelming. Writing Tree provides expert-led, end-to-end PhD viva preparation support, including:
- One-to-one viva preparation sessions
- Chapter-wise viva questions & answers
- Mock viva with real examiner-style questions
- Research methodology & data analysis clarity
- Thesis presentation & defense strategy
- Support for publications & revisions
With Writing Tree, scholars gain confidence, clarity, and structured preparation—so you don’t just answer questions, you defend your research convincingly.
Final Tips to Crack Your PhD Viva Successfully
- Revise your thesis multiple times
- Prepare short & long answers
- Be honest about limitations
- Stay calm and professional
- Remember: You are the expert of your research
Frequently asked questions
PhD viva questions focus on your research objectives, methodology, literature review, data analysis, findings, limitations, and overall contribution.
Revise your thesis thoroughly, understand your research methodology, practice explaining key findings, and prepare for examiner-style questions.
A PhD viva typically lasts between 1 to 3 hours, depending on the university, subject area, and depth of discussion.
It is acceptable to admit uncertainty. Examiners value honesty, logical thinking, and your ability to explain your reasoning over perfect answers.
Complete failure is rare. Most candidates pass with minor or major corrections if they demonstrate strong understanding and ownership of their research.
Writing Tree offers mock viva sessions, chapter-wise Q&A, methodology clarification, and expert guidance to help scholars face their viva confidently.
