Your PhD defence is the oral presentation and discussion of your thesis.
We've compiled the top pieces of advice from recent PhD graduates and PhD defence chairs to help you ensure you're prepared to defend.
Preparing for your defence
Start learning about your defence timelines early on
Many students want to complete their degree by a certain term, or in time for a specific convocation ceremony. Learning about timelines can help make things go more smoothly before and after your defence. In particular, make sure you’re aware of timelines around the approval of your thesis for defence, submission of your thesis for defence, applying to graduate, revisions (after your defence), and your final thesis submission to UWSpace.
Go to other defences
Most defences at Waterloo are open to the public and you can find a list of upcoming defences in Waterloo’s online Daily Bulletin and in the graduate e-news. Going to another PhD defence is a great opportunity to see how the defence works and what types of questions are typically asked.
Consider taking a notebook with you to write down questions that are asked. Try to rephrase the questions for your own thesis topic, and practice writing out your answers.
Schedule a mock defence
Consider doing this with your lab mates and colleagues, but also with people outside your discipline.
You might be surprised by the interesting, but relevant, questions you get from those outside your discipline. And remember, you have an internal-external examiner who is from outside your department.
Look at your thesis with a critical eye
What are the issues you would critique if you were an examiner? For example, think about the limitations of your study – what you did and what you consciously did not do.
Think about each chapter – what contribution does each chapter make to the whole? Are there weaknesses in the data in some chapters? Can some of your conclusions be challenged?
It’s actually easier than you think to predict questions.
Think about the bigger picture
Where does your work fit in with the literature in your field? What is your contribution to the field?
The very purpose of the defence is to assess your scholarly contribution, and to evaluate your ability to engage in scholarly discourse in your discipline. So, always keep the bigger picture in mind.
Planning day-of logistics
Don't forget your thesis!
Bring a copy of your thesis to the defence and mark main sections or chapters with post-it notes or flags. You don’t want to be scrolling through your computer when you’re supposed to be conversing with others.
You should also bring a notebook, because you will receive some great advice at the defence about how to improve the thesis for final submission, or for a future publication. You want to be sure you remember what the examiners tell you!
Plan your transportation
Plan in advance of the day how you will get to the defence including thinking about how much time you might need to get there.
Make sure you plan to arrive early to ensure that all of the technology is functioning as expected.
Plan your outfit
Plan your outfit several days in advance. Be sure you are comfortable, but try to look professional, too.
Familiarize yourself with the technology you'll be using
If possible, get access to the virtual or physical location of your defence to make sure figures, videos and text show up well on the projector, screen or streaming platform. Also, get comfortable with the controls of any projecting systems.
If you’re showing a presentation, it’s also a good idea to have backup copies of your file. For example, have one on a jump drive and have another copy in email.
Spend some time relaxing
You need that time to get perspective. And the night before the defence, be sure to get a good night’s sleep!
Defending successfully
Keep the presentation simple
Recognize that if anyone has questions, they will ask them during the examination period. Save the small details for the questioning period.
Show you can think critically about your own work when you answer questions
The best kind of answer is “Here’s what I did, and here’s why I did it”, followed by acknowledging how you could have done it differently.
Not everything needs to be defended
The defence is not designed to prove you can “stand your ground.” Sometimes the best answer is “that’s a very good point, I’ll change that.”
Ask for clarification
Asking for clarification doesn’t make you look “less smart.” It is worse to just start talking, pretending that you know what you’re talking about.
Don't treat the questions like a speech
Long answers are typically weak answers. The question period is meant to be an informed conversation between colleagues, so the best defences are conversations in which there’s an exchange of information in both directions.
Remember what you've accomplished
As you prepare for your defence day, take advice from a recent PhD graduate who said – “be prepared for tough questions,” but “be confident in your research and work… take comfort in knowing you are the expert on your own project.”