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Passing your PhD viva is a momentous achievement. But for most PhD students, it doesn’t mean the work is over. Most candidates leave the examination room with a list of required corrections following the viva. Some of these are minor corrections, others major, and some are a mixture of both. These viva corrections must be addressed before the thesis can be formally accepted.
This stage catches many students off guard. The viva is over, the pressure has lifted, and yet there’s still significant work to do. How you respond to the examiners’ feedback in the weeks that follow can have a major impact on the final quality of your thesis.
It’s wise to consider such feedback from your examiner(s) as a helpful series of signposts on your road to success. The observations they make are specific pieces of advice to help you over the line. Responding effectively to such feedback is, therefore, a crucial step in improving your thesis and showing your commitment to complete it.
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Here’s a structured approach to help you respond effectively to suggested corrections from your viva.
1. Acknowledge the required viva corrections
Begin by expressing gratitude for the feedback you have received. Acknowledging the examiners’ insights shows respect both for their expertise and time.
Example:
“Thank you for your valuable feedback during my viva. I appreciate the time and effort you took to review my work.”
2. Summarise key points of the viva corrections
Briefly summarise the main points of the feedback. This shows that you have understood their comments. It also sets the stage for your response.
Example:
“I understand that you highlighted the need for further clarification in my methodology and suggested additional literature to support my findings.”
3. Address each point
Go through the feedback point by point. For each comment, explain how you plan to address it. This may involve revising sections of your work, conducting further research, or providing further evidence.
Example:
“In response to your comments on my methodology, I will revise the relevant section to include a more detailed explanation of my approach, as well as the rationale behind my choices.”
4. Provide evidence of changes
Mention any changes you have already made or plan to make. This demonstrates your enthusiastic approach to improving your thesis in line with their observations.
Example:
“I have already begun reviewing the suggested literature and will incorporate relevant studies into my discussion to strengthen my arguments.”
5. Invite further discussion
Conclude your response by inviting any further comments or suggestions. This shows that you’re open to ongoing dialogue and willing to learn. It also gives your examiner(s) the opportunity to mention any other improvements that you need to make that they forgot to mention or that occurred to them since the viva.
Example:
“I welcome any additional thoughts you may have on my revisions and look forward to your guidance as I refine my work.”
6. Maintain a professional tone
Throughout your response, keep a professional and respectful tone. This reflects your maturity and dedication to your academic responsibilities.
By following this structure, you can create a thoughtful and comprehensive response to the feedback that addresses their concerns and enhances your work.
Understand the type of suggested viva corrections you have received
Minor corrections usually involve typographical errors, referencing inconsistencies, small clarifications, or formatting issues. These corrections are generally expected to be completed within three months. Major corrections require more substantial revisions, such as rewriting sections, adding further content, strengthening arguments, or addressing flaws or shortcomings in the methodology, and may allow up to six months or more. In rare cases, you may be asked to entirely revise and resubmit your entire thesis.
Before you do anything else, read your examiner’s feedback carefully and categorise each point as to whether it requires “minor” or “major” corrections. Putting a shape on what they require will help you plan your time and prioritise accordingly.
Don’t underestimate the editing challenge
Making appropriate corrections to a large, complex document can be surprisingly difficult to do well. When you revise one section, it can affect the coherence of other paragraphs. Rewriting an argument in chapter three, for example, may create inconsistencies with how the same point is framed in your introduction or conclusion. Adding new content can disrupt your word count, your formatting, and even your pagination.
By the time you have worked through all the examiner’s comments, your thesis may be patched and revised in ways that are not immediately obvious but that a person reading it for the first time would notice immediately.
Where our professional editing makes a difference
This is where many post-viva students find genuine value in working with a professional editor. Once you have made all of your substantive corrections, a professional proofreader can review the revised document as a whole.
An experienced thesis editor will check that you have integrated your corrections smoothly and consistently, that no new errors have been introduced, that your formatting and referencing remain accurate, and that the overall document reads coherently from beginning to end.
Think of it as a final quality check before you resubmit. After everything you have invested in your thesis, it’s your last opportunity to ensure that it reflects the very best of your work.
A final word on timing
Most universities require post-viva corrections to be submitted within a fixed timeframe. Factor in time for professional editing when you plan your revision schedule. Don’t leave it as an afterthought in the last few days before your deadline.
Irish Writing Services works with PhD students at every stage of the thesis process, including post-viva revision. Get in touch with us today to discuss how we can support you. Contact us using the form below, or simply give us a call on 085-818 9922.