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The top 10 thesis defense questions (+ how to prepare strong answers)

Crafting a thesis is significant, but defending it often feels like the ultimate test. While nerve-wracking, proper preparation can make it manageable. Prepare for your thesis defense with insights on the top questions you can expect, including strategies for answering convincingly.

Mastering the thesis defense: cultivate a success mindset

Confidence enables you to present your research with conviction, while composure allows you to navigate any challenges with grace and clarity.

Remember, you know your thesis best, so trust in your expertise.

Stay composed and focused, relying on your thorough preparation. If you encounter a question you can’t answer, gracefully guide the conversation back to familiar topics.

By embracing these principles and staying confident and adaptable, you’ll navigate your thesis defense with ease.

Question 1: Why did you choose this particular topic for your research?

Moreover, discuss the gaps you identified in the existing literature that motivated you to contribute to your field. What deficiencies or unanswered questions did you observe? How did these gaps inspire you to embark on your research journey with the aim of filling these voids? By articulating the specific shortcomings in the current body of knowledge, you demonstrate a nuanced understanding of your research area and underscore the significance of your work.

Question 2: How does your research contribute to the existing body of knowledge?

This question delves into the vital role your research plays within the existing body of knowledge, urging you to articulate its significance and impact. It’s not merely about the subject matter you’ve studied, but also about the unique contributions and advancements your research brings to your field. To effectively respond, delve into the intricacies of your work and its implications for the broader academic landscape.

Illuminate how your findings could influence future research trajectories. Explore potential avenues for further inquiry that emerge from your research findings. Consider how your work opens up new questions or areas of exploration for future researchers. By identifying these potential research directions, you demonstrate the forward-looking nature of your work and its potential to shape the future trajectory of your field.

Question 3: What are the key findings of your research?

Furthermore, relate these findings to the broader implications they hold for your field. Articulate how your research contributes to advancing knowledge or addressing pressing issues within your academic discipline. Consider the potential impact of your findings on theory, practice, or policy, highlighting their relevance and significance within the larger scholarly community.

Question 4: Can you defend your research methodology?

Defending your research methodology entails a comprehensive understanding of its rationale, alignment with research objectives, and acknowledgment of potential limitations. It’s not merely about explaining the methods employed but also justifying why they were chosen over alternative approaches. To effectively respond, delve into the intricacies of your methodology and its implications for the study.

Be prepared to discuss the limitations inherent in your chosen methodology and how you mitigated them. Acknowledge any constraints or shortcomings associated with the selected approach, such as potential biases, sample size limitations, or data collection challenges. Demonstrate your awareness of these limitations and discuss the strategies implemented to address or minimize their impact on the validity and reliability of your findings.

Question 5: How did you analyze the data and what challenges did you encounter?

Begin by outlining the techniques used for data analysis. Describe the specific methods, tools, and software employed to process and interpret the data collected. Whether it involved quantitative statistical analysis, qualitative coding techniques, or a combination of both, provide insights into the analytical framework guiding your study. Additionally, discuss the rationale behind the chosen analytical approach and how it aligns with the research objectives and questions.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about data analysis, consider the following key points:

Question 6: What theoretical frameworks or references underpin your research?

Begin by naming the key theories and seminal works that guided your research. Identify the theoretical frameworks that provided the conceptual scaffolding for your study, as well as the seminal works that shaped your understanding of the research area. Discuss how these theories and references informed your research design, methodology, and analytical approach, providing a theoretical lens through which to interpret your findings.

Elucidate on how these frameworks shaped your hypothesis and analysis. Describe how the theoretical perspectives and insights gleaned from seminal works informed the development of your research questions, hypotheses, and analytical framework. Discuss the ways in which these theoretical frameworks guided your data collection and interpretation, influencing the selection of variables, measures, and analytical techniques employed in your study.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about theoretical frameworks, consider the following key points:

Question 7: How did you address ethical considerations in your research?

When addressing ethical considerations in your research, it’s essential to demonstrate a commitment to upholding ethical standards and protecting the rights and well-being of participants. Responding to inquiries about ethical protocols involves explaining the steps taken to ensure ethical conduct throughout the research process, describing the consent process and data protection measures implemented, and mentioning any institutional review board (IRB) approvals obtained.

Mention any institutional ethics review board approvals you obtained. Highlight any formal ethical review processes or approvals obtained from relevant regulatory bodies, such as IRBs or ethics committees. Discuss how the research protocol was reviewed for compliance with ethical guidelines and standards, including considerations of participant welfare, informed consent procedures, and data protection measures. By acknowledging the oversight and approval of institutional review bodies, you demonstrate your commitment to ethical integrity and accountability in conducting research involving human subjects.

Question 8: In what ways does your research contribute to the field?

Begin by detailing the novel insights your thesis provides. Articulate the key findings, discoveries, or perspectives that distinguish your research from existing literature and contribute to advancing knowledge within your field. Discuss how your study fills gaps in current understanding, challenges established assumptions, or offers innovative approaches to addressing pressing issues, highlighting its potential to generate new avenues of inquiry and broaden the scope of scholarly discourse.

In summary, when addressing inquiries about the contributions of your research to the field, consider the following key points:

Question 9: How did you ensure your research was free from bias?

Describe any blind or double-blind procedures employed in the study. Explain how blinding techniques were used to prevent bias in data collection, analysis, or interpretation. This may involve withholding certain information from researchers or participants to minimize the potential for conscious or unconscious bias to influence the results. Discuss how these procedures were implemented and their impact on enhancing the credibility and impartiality of the research outcomes.

Question 10: Where can future research go from here?

When considering the potential trajectory of your research topic, it’s essential to identify areas where further investigation could yield valuable insights, discuss unexplored questions that emerged from your research, and reflect on the limitations of your study as starting points for future research endeavors. Responding to inquiries about the future direction of research involves suggesting fruitful areas for further investigation, highlighting unresolved questions, and leveraging the limitations of your study as opportunities for future exploration.

Reflect on the limitations of your study as starting points for future research. Acknowledge any constraints, biases, or methodological shortcomings that may have influenced the outcomes or interpretations of your study. Discuss how these limitations provide opportunities for future research to refine methodologies, address confounding variables, or explore alternative theoretical frameworks. Consider how addressing these limitations could enhance the validity, reliability, and generalizability of future research findings within your field.

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• Presentations

How to Start and Give a Great Thesis Defense Presentation

To complete a graduate degree, you'll likely need to create a thesis defense presentation. You must complete a thesis to finish many graduate degree programs. 

A thesis is a paper where you explore a topic in depth that's related to what you’ve studied. After completing your thesis paper, you will be asked to defend it through a presentation.

You give this thesis defense in a meeting with a panel of two or more professors in your program. The panel could include other professionals related to your field.

In your thesis defense presentation, you will be asked questions about your topic. The purpose of the questions is to get you to think deeply about your work, so the questions could be open-ended.

To create a thesis defense presentation, you need to know how to make a thesis presentation and how to start your thesis defense. Keep reading to find out more about thesis defense presentations.

How to Structure Your PPT for Thesis Defense

Thesis defense presentations can vary in length. They can be 20 minutes long or two hours long. It depends on how much time is allowed for your presentation and questions.

Talk to your professor to find out how much time is set aside for your presentation. Your thesis defense presentation will be unique to your thesis. But a good presentation includes the following structure:

• Title . You need a title just as your research paper needed a title. The title slide will include the information that you’d include on your paper title. This information can include the title, your name, your school, and course name.
• Introduction . Just like most presentations, your thesis defense presentation should include an introduction slide. This slide should have the topic of your thesis and the question that your presentation answers. It should also include any objections to your research and the answer you’ll be defending in your thesis presentation.
• Literature Review . Next, create two or more slides with a review of the literature used in your research. It doesn’t need to be a complete bibliography. Although you do need to cite your sources, these slides should include your most relevant sources.
• Methodology . These slides in your thesis presentation are where you describe what method you used and an explanation of why you chose that method. If you've got some original research, include the details of that research and how you analyzed the data that you got from that research.
• Results . Some of the most important slides of your PPT for thesis defense contain the results of your research. This should include a description of the data you collected by researching and the results of your data analysis. You also should highlight what your most noteworthy finding was.
• Discussion . These slides of your PPT for thesis defense need to include your research results. Also, show how the results support your argument and how it relates to your original question.
• Conclusion . The conclusion thesis presentation slides should restate your original research questions, show the results of your research, and suggest future research and any final recommendations.
• Ending Slide . The ending slides of your thesis defense presentation are where you add an interesting fact, quote, gif, or hypothetical question. The point is to get your audience to continue to think about your topic while also grabbing their attention. You want your presentation to be memorable.

How to Make a Thesis Presentation

After you’ve seen what the structure of a thesis defense presentation is, there are some more tips that you can follow. Here are tips on how to create a thesis defense presentation:

1. Define Your Concept

After choosing which template to use, the next step is to choose the concept of your thesis defense presentation. Your concept should be relevant to your thesis. To have a fully rounded concept, try to make your presentation templates design relevant to your thesis topic.

Before working on your defense, think about the message you want to convey. This will help you choose elements such as font images and a theme that'll be cohesive.

2. Know Your Audience

Most people give their thesis defense presentation to an academic panel. This panel will look to see if you've developed a thorough understanding of your topic and thesis. They’ll also be looking to see if you've got a solid foundation for your argument.

This is why your presentation is important. You don’t want a sloppy presentation because it can give the impression of laziness and that you don’t care about your presentation. So, choose all aspects of your presentation carefully.

3. Keep Your Slides Focused   

Part of giving a good thesis presentation is to have focused slides. This means that you don’t want to have too much information on a slide. It’s best to follow the rule of one point per slide. If you've got too much on a single slide, it can be hard for the audience to follow you.

4. Structure Your Presentation

After you’ve chosen your concept, it's time to structure the content of your thesis. When structuring your information, you want to show that you understand the subject matter and that you're organized.

5. Less Is More

Each slide should have enough information that you can make your point. It’s important that your audience listens more than they read. By speaking, you show your audience that you know the topic you’re presenting on. So, when creating your slides, remember that less is more.

6. Consider Your Typography

After choosing your thesis presentation subject, consider what typography to use. Your typography should create an impact without distracting from your topic.

When considering your typography, consider your text's colors. Your text's colors should contrast with your slide's background. If the text doesn’t contrast well, it can distract the audience, causing them not to pay attention as you speak.

7. Stick to Important Data

Include data that'll strengthen your argument. Your data should also show that you’ve researched your thesis. If you can, add visuals that are relevant to your data. Visuals stimulate your brain and can increase how fast you process information. So, including relevant visuals can make your data easier to process and remember.

8. Consistency Is Key

When thinking about how to make a thesis presentation, think about consistency. For an impressive presentation, your presentation should flow well. It’s easier to have consistency when using a template because it’s already designed by a professional.

Check your finished presentation for consistency. This means making sure all your titles on slides are the same font and font size. Also, make sure that your body text is consistent throughout.

9. Explain Your Thesis

The next step in how to make a thesis presentation is to explain your thesis in great detail. The first part of this is your methodology slide . This is where you explain what method you used for your research, why you chose the topic, and how you conducted your research.

For this part of your thesis, chart and tables in your presentation are helpful in explaining data. In this section, keep your text minimal to let the chart, graphs, and data stand out. 

Next, tell the audience what the data means. Infographics are a great option to use in this section. Infographics and icons can quickly and simply show your message.

10. End Your Thesis

The last section of your thesis presentation is where you end it. Make your ending memorable to keep your audience thinking.

In your conclusion, overview your thesis topic and remind the audience of the answer that your research proved. Next, cover the important research points you want your audience to remember. A slide with icons is a great way to do this. Also, address your shortcomings in your research and how there can be improvements in future research.

Finally, use some more presentation tips by reading this helpful article:

A Top Source for Presentation Templates

Envato Elements is the best place for presentation templates. Plus, they also have more than just premium templates. They've icons, photos, fonts, and more. To gain access to these digital elements, you must pay a low monthly fee and sign up to become a member. Once you sign up , you get unlimited access and downloads to digital elements.

Explore Presentation Templates

A premium template saves you time because you're starting with a great base. Just add your information when using a template. This is a lot quicker than trying to design a presentation from scratch. If you like to customize your presentation, you still can find a good premium template that's easily customizable.

Every template is designed by a professional to look stylish and impressive. This means that your presentation will stand out among all the made-from-scratch presentations.

Use a Premium Template for Your Thesis Defense Presentation Today!

Now that you’ve been given tips on how to start a thesis presentation and what it should contain, put this information to use when creating your thesis presentation. Save time from having to create a presentation from scratch by downloading a premium template today!

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17 Thesis Defense Questions and How to Answer Them

A thesis defense gives you the chance to show off your thesis work and demonstrate your expertise in your field of study. During this one- to two-hour discussion with the members of your thesis committee, you'll have some control over how you present your research, but your committee will ask you some prodding questions to test your knowledge and preparedness. They will all have read your thesis beforehand, so their questions will relate to your study, topic, methods, data sample, and other aspects.

A good defense requires mastery of the thesis itself, so before you consider the questions you might face,

1. What is your topic, and why did you choose it?

Give a quick summary in just a few sentences on what you've researched. You could certainly go on for hours about your work, but make sure you prepare a way to give a very brief overview of your thesis. Then, give a quick background on your process for choosing this topic.

2. How does your topic contribute to the existing literature? How is it important?

Many researchers identify a need in the field and choose a topic to bridge the gaps that previous literature has failed to cover. For example, previous studies might not have included a certain population, region, or circumstance. Talk about how your thesis enhances the general understanding of the topic to extend the reach beyond what others have found, and then give examples of why the world needs that increased understanding. For instance, a thesis on romaine lettuce crops in desert climates might bring much-needed knowledge to a region that might not have been represented in previous work.

3. What are the key findings of your study?

When reporting your main results, make sure you have a handle on how detailed your committee wants you to be. Give yourself several options by preparing 1) a very general, quick summary of your findings that takes a minute or less, 2) a more detailed rundown of what your study revealed that is 3-5 minutes long, and 3) a 10- to 15-minute synopsis that delves into your results in detail. With each of these responses prepared, you can gauge which one is most appropriate in the moment, based on what your committee asks you and what has already been requested.

4. What type of background research did you do for your study?

Here you'll describe what you did while you were deciding what to study. This usually includes a literary review to determine what previous researchers have already introduced to the field. You also likely had to look into whether your study was going to be possible and what you would need in order to collect the needed data. Did you need info from databases that require permissions or fees?

5. What was your hypothesis, and how did you form it?

Describe the expected results you had for your study and whether your hypothesis came from previous research experience, long-held expectations, or cultural myths.

6. What limitations did you face when writing your text?

It's inevitable — researchers will face roadblocks or limiting factors during their work. This could be a limited population you had access to, like if you had a great method of surveying university students, but you didn't have a way to reach out to other people who weren't attending that school.

7. Why did you choose your particular method for your study?

Different research methods are more fitting to specific studies than others (e.g., qualitative vs. quantitative ), and knowing this, you applied a method that would present your findings most effectively. What factors led you to choose your method?

8. Who formed the sample group of your study, and why did you choose this population?

Many factors go into the selection of a participant group. Perhaps you were motivated to survey women over 50 who experience burnout in the workplace. Did you take extra measures to target this population? Or perhaps you found a sample group that responded more readily to your request for participation, and after hitting dead ends for months, convenience is what shaped your study population. Make sure to present your reasoning in an honest but favorable way.

9. What obstacles or limitations did you encounter while working with your sample?

Outline the process of pursuing respondents for your study and the difficulties you faced in collecting enough quality data for your thesis. Perhaps the decisions you made took shape based on the participants you ended up interviewing.

10. Was there something specific you were expecting to find during your analysis?

Expectations are natural when you set out to explore a topic, especially one you've been dancing around throughout your academic career. This question can refer to your hypotheses , but it can also touch on your personal feelings and expectations about this topic. What did you believe you would find when you dove deeper into the subject? Was that what you actually found, or were you surprised by your results?

11. What did you learn from your study?

Your response to this question can include not only the basic findings of your work (if you haven't covered this already) but also some personal surprises you might have found that veered away from your expectations. Sometimes these details are not included in the thesis, so these details can add some spice to your defense.

12. What are the recommendations from your study?

With connection to the reasons you chose the topic, your results can address the problems your work is solving. Give specifics on how policymakers, professionals in the field, etc., can improve their service with the knowledge your thesis provides.

13. If given the chance, what would you do differently?

Your response to this one can include the limitations you encountered or dead ends you hit that wasted time and funding. Try not to dwell too long on the annoyances of your study, and consider an area of curiosity; for example, discuss an area that piqued your interest during your exploration that would have been exciting to pursue but didn't directly benefit your outlined study.

14. How did you relate your study to the existing theories in the literature?

Your paper likely ties your ideas into those of other researchers, so this could be an easy one to answer. Point out how similar your work is to some and how it contrasts other works of research; both contribute greatly to the overall body of research.

15. What is the future scope of this study?

This one is pretty easy, since most theses include recommendations for future research within the text. That means you already have this one covered, and since you read over your thesis before your defense, it's already fresh in your mind.

16. What do you plan to do professionally after you complete your study?

This is a question directed more to you and your future professional plans. This might align with the research you performed, and if so, you can direct your question back to your research, maybe mentioning the personal motivations you have for pursuing study of that subject.

17. Do you have any questions?

Although your thesis defense feels like an interrogation, and you're the one in the spotlight, it provides an ideal opportunity to gather input from your committee, if you want it. Possible questions you could ask are: What were your impressions when reading my thesis? Do you believe I missed any important steps or details when conducting my work? Where do you see this work going in the future?

Bonus tip: What if you get asked a question to which you don't know the answer? You can spend weeks preparing to defend your thesis, but you might still be caught off guard when you don't know exactly what's coming. You can be ready for this situation by preparing a general strategy. It's okay to admit that your thesis doesn't offer the answers to everything – your committee won't reasonably expect it to do so. What you can do to sound (and feel!) confident and knowledgeable is to refer to a work of literature you have encountered in your research and draw on that work to give an answer. For example, you could respond, "My thesis doesn't directly address your question, but my study of Dr. Leifsen's work provided some interesting insights on that subject…." By preparing a way to address curveball questions, you can maintain your cool and create the impression that you truly are an expert in your field.

After you're done answering the questions your committee presents to you, they will either approve your thesis or suggest changes you should make to your paper. Regardless of the outcome, your confidence in addressing the questions presented to you will communicate to your thesis committee members that you know your stuff. Preparation can ease a lot of anxiety surrounding this event, so use these possible questions to make sure you can present your thesis feeling relaxed, prepared, and confident.

Header image by Kasto .

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How to prepare an excellent thesis defense

What is a thesis defense?

How long is a thesis defense, what happens at a thesis defense, your presentation, questions from the committee, 6 tips to help you prepare for your thesis defense, 1. anticipate questions and prepare for them, 2. dress for success, 3. ask for help, as needed, 4. have a backup plan, 5. prepare for the possibility that you might not know an answer, 6. de-stress before, during, and after, frequently asked questions about preparing an excellent thesis defense, related articles.

If you're about to complete, or have ever completed a graduate degree, you have most likely come across the term "thesis defense." In many countries, to finish a graduate degree, you have to write a thesis .

A thesis is a large paper, or multi-chapter work, based on a topic relating to your field of study.

Once you hand in your thesis, you will be assigned a date to defend your work. Your thesis defense meeting usually consists of you and a committee of two or more professors working in your program. It may also include other people, like professionals from other colleges or those who are working in your field.

During your thesis defense, you will be asked questions about your work. The main purpose of your thesis defense is for the committee to make sure that you actually understand your field and focus area.

The questions are usually open-ended and require the student to think critically about their work. By the time of your thesis defense, your paper has already been evaluated. The questions asked are not designed so that you actually have to aggressively "defend" your work; often, your thesis defense is more of a formality required so that you can get your degree.

• Check with your department about requirements and timing.
• Re-read your thesis.
• Anticipate questions and prepare for them.
• Create a back-up plan to deal with technology hiccups.
• Plan de-stressing activities both before, and after, your defense.

How long your oral thesis defense is depends largely on the institution and requirements of your degree. It is best to consult your department or institution about this. In general, a thesis defense may take only 20 minutes, but it may also take two hours or more. The length also depends on how much time is allocated to the presentation and questioning part.

Tip: Check with your department or institution as soon as possible to determine the approved length for a thesis defense.

First of all, be aware that a thesis defense varies from country to country. This is just a general overview, but a thesis defense can take many different formats. Some are closed, others are public defenses. Some take place with two committee members, some with more examiners.

The same goes for the length of your thesis defense, as mentioned above. The most important first step for you is to clarify with your department what the structure of your thesis defense will look like. In general, your thesis defense will include:

• your presentation of around 20-30 minutes
• questions from the committee
• questions from the audience (if the defense is public and the department allows it)

You might have to give a presentation, often with Powerpoint, Google slides, or Keynote slides. Make sure to prepare an appropriate amount of slides. A general rule is to use about 10 slides for a 20-minute presentation.

But that also depends on your specific topic and the way you present. The good news is that there will be plenty of time ahead of your thesis defense to prepare your slides and practice your presentation alone and in front of friends or family.

Tip: Practice delivering your thesis presentation in front of family, friends, or colleagues.

You can prepare your slides by using information from your thesis' first chapter (the overview of your thesis) as a framework or outline. Substantive information in your thesis should correspond with your slides.

Make sure your slides are of good quality— both in terms of the integrity of the information and the appearance. If you need more help with how to prepare your presentation slides, both the ASQ Higher Education Brief and James Hayton have good guidelines on the topic.

The committee will ask questions about your work after you finish your presentation. The questions will most likely be about the core content of your thesis, such as what you learned from the study you conducted. They may also ask you to summarize certain findings and to discuss how your work will contribute to the existing body of knowledge.

Tip: Read your entire thesis in preparation of the questions, so you have a refreshed perspective on your work.

While you are preparing, you can create a list of possible questions and try to answer them. You can foresee many of the questions you will get by simply spending some time rereading your thesis.

Here are a few tips on how to prepare for your thesis defense:

You can absolutely prepare for most of the questions you will be asked. Read through your thesis and while you're reading it, create a list of possible questions. In addition, since you will know who will be on the committee, look at the academic expertise of the committee members. In what areas would they most likely be focused?

If possible, sit at other thesis defenses with these committee members to get a feel for how they ask and what they ask. As a graduate student, you should generally be adept at anticipating test questions, so use this advantage to gather as much information as possible before your thesis defense meeting.

Your thesis defense is a formal event, often the entire department or university is invited to participate. It signals a critical rite of passage for graduate students and faculty who have supported them throughout a long and challenging process.

While most universities don't have specific rules on how to dress for that event, do regard it with dignity and respect. This one might be a no-brainer, but know that you should dress as if you were on a job interview or delivering a paper at a conference.

It might help you deal with your stress before your thesis defense to entrust someone with the smaller but important responsibilities of your defense well ahead of schedule. This trusted person could be responsible for:

• preparing the room of the day of defense
• setting up equipment for the presentation
• preparing and distributing handouts

Technology is unpredictable. Life is too. There are no guarantees that your Powerpoint presentation will work at all or look the way it is supposed to on the big screen. We've all been there. Make sure to have a plan B for these situations. Handouts can help when technology fails, and an additional clean shirt can save the day if you have a spill.

One of the scariest aspects of the defense is the possibility of being asked a question you can't answer. While you can prepare for some questions, you can never know exactly what the committee will ask.

There will always be gaps in your knowledge. But your thesis defense is not about being perfect and knowing everything, it's about how you deal with challenging situations. You are not expected to know everything.

James Hayton writes on his blog that examiners will sometimes even ask questions they don't know the answer to, out of curiosity, or because they want to see how you think. While it is ok sometimes to just say "I don't know", he advises to try something like "I don't know, but I would think [...] because of x and y, but you would need to do [...] in order to find out.” This shows that you have the ability to think as an academic.

You will be nervous. But your examiners will expect you to be nervous. Being well prepared can help minimize your stress, but do know that your examiners have seen this many times before and are willing to help, by repeating questions, for example. Dora Farkas at finishyourthesis.com notes that it’s a myth that thesis committees are out to get you.

Two common symptoms of being nervous are talking really fast and nervous laughs. Try to slow yourself down and take a deep breath. Remember what feels like hours to you are just a few seconds in real life.

• Try meditational breathing right before your defense.
• Get plenty of exercise and sleep in the weeks prior to your defense.
• Have your clothes or other items you need ready to go the night before.
• During your defense, allow yourself to process each question before answering.
• Go to dinner with friends and family, or to a fun activity like mini-golf, after your defense.

Allow yourself to process each question, respond to it, and stop talking once you have responded. While a smile can often help dissolve a difficult situation, remember that nervous laughs can be irritating for your audience.

We all make mistakes and your thesis defense will not be perfect. However, careful preparation, mindfulness, and confidence can help you feel less stressful both before, and during, your defense.

Finally, consider planning something fun that you can look forward to after your defense.

It is completely normal to be nervous. Being well prepared can help minimize your stress, but do know that your examiners have seen this many times before and are willing to help, by repeating questions for example if needed. Slow yourself down, and take a deep breath.

Your thesis defense is not about being perfect and knowing everything, it's about how you deal with challenging situations. James Hayton writes on his blog that it is ok sometimes to just say "I don't know", but he advises to try something like "I don't know, but I would think [...] because of x and y, you would need to do [...] in order to find out".

Your Powerpoint presentation can get stuck or not look the way it is supposed to do on the big screen. It can happen and your supervisors know it. In general, handouts can always save the day when technology fails.

• Dress for success.
• Ask for help setting up.
• Have a backup plan (in case technology fails you).
• Deal with your nerves.

Preparing For Your Dissertation Defense

13 Key Questions To Expect In The Viva Voce

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) & David Phair (PhD) . Reviewed By: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | June 2021

Preparing for your dissertation or thesis defense (also called a “viva voce”) is a formidable task . All your hard work over the years leads you to this one point, and you’ll need to defend yourself against some of the most experienced researchers you’ve encountered so far.

It’s natural to feel a little nervous.

In this post, we’ll cover some of the most important questions you should be able to answer in your viva voce, whether it’s for a Masters or PhD degree. Naturally, they might not arise in exactly the same form (some may not come up at all), but if you can answer these questions well, it means you’re in a good position to tackle your oral defense.

Viva Voce Prep: 13 Essential Questions

• What is your study about and why did you choose to research this in particular?
• How did your research questions evolve during the research process?
• How did you decide on which sources to include in your literature review?
• How did you design your study and why did you take this approach?
• How generalisable and valid are the findings?
• What were the main shortcomings and limitations created by your research design?
• How did your findings relate to the existing literature?
• What were your key findings in relation to the research questions?
• Were there any findings that surprised you?
• What biases may exist in your research?
• How can your findings be put into practice?
• How has your research contributed to current thinking in the field?
• If you could redo your research, how would you alter your approach?

#1: What is your study about and why did you choose to research this in particular?

This question, a classic party starter, is pretty straightforward.

What the dissertation or thesis committee is assessing here is your ability to clearly articulate your research aims, objectives and research questions in a concise manner. Concise is the keyword here – you need to clearly explain your research topic without rambling on for a half-hour. Don’t feel the need to go into the weeds here – you’ll have many opportunities to unpack the details later on.

In the second half of the question, they’re looking for a brief explanation of the justification of your research. In other words, why was this particular set of research aims, objectives and questions worth addressing? To address this question well in your oral defense, you need to make it clear what gap existed within the research and why that gap was worth filling.

#2: How did your research questions evolve during the research process?

Good research generally follows a long and winding path . It’s seldom a straight line (unless you got really lucky). What they’re assessing here is your ability to follow that path and let the research process unfold.

Specifically, they’ll want to hear about the impact that the literature review process had on you in terms of shaping the research aims, objectives and research questions . For example, you may have started with a certain set of aims, but then as you immersed yourself in the literature, you may have changed direction. Similarly, your initial fieldwork findings may have turned out some unexpected data that drove you to adjust or expand on your initial research questions.

Long story short – a good defense involves clearly describing your research journey , including all the twists and turns. Adjusting your direction based on findings in the literature or the fieldwork shows that you’re responsive , which is essential for high-quality research.

#3: How did you decide on which sources to include in your literature review?

A comprehensive literature review is the foundation of any high-quality piece of research. With this question, your dissertation or thesis committee are trying to assess which quality criteria and approach you used to select the sources for your literature review.

Typically, good research draws on both the seminal work in the respective field and more recent sources . In other words, a combination of the older landmark studies and pivotal work, along with up-to-date sources that build on to those older studies. This combination ensures that the study has a rock-solid foundation but is not out of date.

So, make sure that your study draws on a mix of both the “classics” and new kids on the block, and take note of any major evolutions in the literature that you can use as an example when asked this question in your viva voce.

#4: How did you design your study and why did you take this approach?

This is a classic methodological question that you can almost certainly expect in some or other shape.

What they’re looking for here is a clear articulation of the research design and methodology, as well as a strong justification of each choice . So, you need to be able to walk through each methodological choice and clearly explain both what you did and why you did it. The why is particularly important – you need to be able to justify each choice you made by clearly linking your design back to your research aims, objectives and research questions, while also taking into account practical constraints.

To ensure you cover every base, check out our research methodology vlog post , as well as our post covering the Research Onion .

#5: How generalizable and valid are the findings?

This question is aimed at specifically digging into your understanding of the sample and how that relates to the population, as well as potential validity issues in your methodology.

To answer question this well, you’ll need to critically assess your sample and findings and consider if they truly apply to the entire population, as well as whether they assessed what they set out to. Note that there are two components here – generalizability and validity . Generalizability is about how well the sample represents the population. Validity is about how accurately you’ve measured what you intended to measure .

To ace this part of your dissertation defense, make sure that you’re very familiar with the concepts of generalizability , validity and reliability , and how these apply to your research. Remember, you don’t need to achieve perfection – you just need to be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of your research (and how the weaknesses could be improved upon).

Need a helping hand?

#6: What were the main shortcomings and limitations created by your research design?

This question picks up where the last one left off.

As I mentioned, it’s perfectly natural that your research will have shortcomings and limitations as a result of your chosen design and methodology. No piece of research is flawless. Therefore, a good dissertation defense is not about arguing that your work is perfect, but rather it’s about clearly articulating the strengths and weaknesses of your approach.

To address this question well, you need to think critically about all of the potential weaknesses your design may have, as well as potential responses to these (which could be adopted in future research) to ensure you’re well prepared for this question. For a list of common methodological limitations, check out our video about research limitations here .

#7: How did your findings relate to the existing literature?

This common dissertation defense question links directly to your discussion chapter , where you would have presented and discussed the findings in relation to your literature review.

What your dissertation or thesis committee is assessing here is your ability to compare your study’s findings to the findings of existing research . Specifically, you need to discuss which findings aligned with existing research and which findings did not. For those findings that contrasted against existing research, you should also explain what you believe to be the reasons for this.

As with many questions in a viva voce, it’s both the what and the why that matter here. So, you need to think deeply about what the underlying reasons may be for both the similarities and differences between your findings and those of similar studies.

#8: What were your key findings in relation to the research questions?

This question is similar to the last one in that it too focuses on your research findings. However, here the focus is specifically on the findings that directly relate to your research questions (as opposed to findings in general).

So, a good way to prepare for this question is to step back and revisit your research questions . Ask yourself the following:

• What exactly were you asking in those questions, and what did your research uncover concerning them?
• Which questions were well answered by your study and which ones were lacking?
• Why were they lacking and what more could be done to address this in future research?

Conquering this part dissertation defense requires that you focus squarely on the research questions. Your study will have provided many findings (hopefully!), and not all of these will link directly to the research questions. Therefore, you need to clear your mind of all of the fascinating side paths your study may have lead you down and regain a clear focus on the research questions .

#9: Were there any findings that surprised you?

This question is two-pronged.

First, you should discuss the surprising findings that were directly related to the original research questions . Going into your research, you likely had some expectations in terms of what you would find, so this is your opportunity to discuss the outcomes that emerged as contrary to what you initially expected. You’ll also want to think about what the reasons for these contrasts may be.

Second, you should discuss the findings that weren’t directly related to the research questions, but that emerged from the data set . You may have a few or you may have none – although generally there are a handful of interesting musings that you can glean from the data set. Again, make sure you can articulate why you find these interesting and what it means for future research in the area.

What the committee is looking for in this type of question is your ability to interpret the findings holistically and comprehensively , and to respond to unexpected data. So, take the time to zoom out and reflect on your findings thoroughly.

#10: What biases may exist in your research?

Biases… we all have them.

For this question, you’ll need to think about potential biases in your research , in the data itself but also in your interpretation of the data. With this question, your committee is assessing whether you have considered your own potential biases and the biases inherent in your analysis approach (i.e. your methodology). So, think carefully about these research biases and be ready to explain how these may exist in your study.

In an oral defense, this question is often followed up with a question on how the biases were mitigated or could be mitigated in future research. So, give some thought not just to what biases may exist, but also the mitigation measures (in your own study and for future research).

#11: How can your findings be put into practice?

Another classic question in the typical viva voce.

With this question, your committee is assessing your ability to bring your findings back down to earth and demonstrate their practical value and application. Importantly, this question is not about the contribution to academia or the overall field of research (we’ll get to that next) – it is specifically asking about how this newly created knowledge can be used in the real world.

Naturally, the actionability of your findings will vary depending on the nature of your research topic. Some studies will produce many action points and some won’t. If you’re researching marketing strategies within an industry, for example, you should be able to make some very specific recommendations for marketing practitioners in that industry.

To help you flesh out points for this question, look back at your original justification for the research (i.e. in your introduction and literature review chapters). What were the driving forces that led you to research your specific topic? That justification should help you identify ways in which your findings can be put into practice.

#12: How has your research contributed to current thinking in the field?

While the previous question was aimed at practical contribution, this question is aimed at theoretical contribution . In other words, what is the significance of your study within the current body of research? How does it fit into the existing research and what does it add to it?

This question is often asked by a field specialist and is used to assess whether you’re able to place your findings into the research field to critically convey what your research contributed. This argument needs to be well justified – in other words, you can’t just discuss what your research contributed, you need to also back each proposition up with a strong why .

To answer this question well, you need to humbly consider the quality and impact of your work and to be realistic in your response. You don’t want to come across as arrogant (“my work is groundbreaking”), nor do you want to undersell the impact of your work. So, it’s important to strike the right balance between realistic and pessimistic .

This question also opens the door to questions about potential future research . So, think about what future research opportunities your study has created and which of these you feel are of the highest priority.

#13: If you could redo your research, how would you alter your approach?

This question is often used to wrap up a viva voce as it brings the discussion full circle.

Here, your committee is again assessing your ability to clearly identify and articulate the limitations and shortcomings of your research, both in terms of research design and topic focus . Perhaps, in hindsight, it would have been better to use a different analysis method or data set. Perhaps the research questions should have leaned in a slightly different direction. And so on.

This question intends to assess whether you’re able to look at your work critically , assess where the weaknesses are and make recommendations for the future . This question often sets apart those who did the research purely because it was required, from those that genuinely engaged with their research. So, don’t hold back here – reflect on your entire research journey ask yourself how you’d do things differently if you were starting with a  blank canvas today.

Recap: The 13 Key Dissertation Defense Questions

To recap, here are the 13 questions you need to be ready for to ace your dissertation or thesis oral defense:

As I mentioned, this list of dissertation defense questions is certainly not exhaustive – don’t assume that we’ve covered every possible question here. However, these questions are quite likely to come up in some shape or form in a typical dissertation or thesis defense, whether it’s for a Master’s degree, PhD or any other research degree. So, you should take the time to make sure you can answer them well.

If you need assistance preparing for your dissertation defense or viva voce, get in touch with us to discuss 1-on-1 coaching. We can critically review your research and identify potential issues and responses, as well as undertake a mock oral defense to prepare you for the pressures and stresses on the day.

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

14 Comments

Very interesting

Interesting. I appreciate!

Really appreciating

My field is International Trade

Interesting

This is a full course on defence. I was fabulously enlightened and I gained enough confidence for my upcoming Masters Defence.

There are many lessons to learn and the simplicity in presentationmakes thee reader say “YesI can”

This is so helping… it has Enlightened me on how to answer specific questions. I pray to make it through for my upcoming defense

Lovely to hear that 🙂

Really educative and beneficial

Interesting. On-point and elaborate. And comforting too! Thanks.

Thank you very much for the enlightening me, be blessed

Thankyou so much. I am planning to defend my thesis soon and I found this very useful

Very interesting and useful to all masters and PhD students

Wow! this is enlightening. Thanks for the great work.

Thank you very much ,it will help me My Master Degree. and am comfortable to my defense.

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Defend A Thesis: Prepare For Your Thesis Defense For PhD

When you’re nearing the end of your graduate program, a critical milestone looms: the thesis defense. This isn’t just a formality; it’s your chance to showcase the depth of your research and knowledge. 

In this post, we explore what is a thesis defense, the process, and how you can do well in it. 

What Is A Thesis Defense?

A thesis defense is a crucial component of completing a graduate degree, where a student presents their research findings to a panel of experts, typically comprising faculty members from their university.

This event marks the culmination of a student’s research efforts and is a formal requirement for obtaining a master’s or PhD degree.

A thesis defense is also quite similar to a dissertation defense. Both involves a student presenting their research to a panel of experts and answering in-depth questions.

The main difference typically lies in the level of study—thesis defenses are common in master’s programs, while dissertation defenses are associated with doctoral studies. Both assess the student’s research rigor and depth of knowledge.

A thesis defense is usually a nerve wrecking experience for many PhD students, but with the right knowledge and preparation, it is usually managable.

Why Must a PhD Student Defend Their Thesis / Dissertation?

There may be doctorate programs that does not require thesis defense, but PhDs generally need to do this. There are several reasons why PhD students must defend their thesis:

Demonstration of Expertise

A thesis defense compels you to consolidate your research into a coherent presentation, showcasing your depth of knowledge and critical thinking skills.

During this oral examination, you answer open-ended questions posed by a committee of faculty members. This is your chance to demonstrate that you are an expert in your field, having moved from a student to a scholar.

Mastery of Subject Matter

The defense process requires that you not only know your study’s details but also how your work fits into the broader field.

Committee members, including your advisor and other professors, will probe your understanding, asking you to justify your methodologies and conclusions.

This is akin to a rigorous job interview where your task is to convince them of your thesis’s merit.

Feedback Opportunity

This is a rare moment to receive direct, critical feedback from multiple seasoned academics. Their insights can profoundly shape the final version of your dissertation, refining your arguments and possibly influencing future research directions.

Engaging with their questions helps you think more deeply and respond to critiques that you might face when publishing your work.

Validation of Research Efforts

Defending your thesis validates your years of hard work. Successfully articulating your research process and findings in front of the defense committee is a significant accomplishment in itself.

It’s a formal acknowledgment by the academic community that your research contributes valuable knowledge and meets the rigorous standards required for a graduate degree.

Professional Preparation

The skills you hone while preparing for your defense are invaluable in any professional context, including:

• articulating complex ideas,
• responding to unexpected questions, and
• handling critique.

Whether in academic conferences, teaching scenarios, or even non-academic jobs, the ability to present and defend your ideas clearly and professionally sets you apart.

In the grand scheme, your thesis defense is more than just a formality. It’s a crucible that transforms years of research into a defended, deliberate statement of your academic capability.

It’s not just about answering questions; it’s about proving that your research stands up to scrutiny and contributes to your field.

What Happens In A Thesis Defense?

Thesis defense is a very long process. You start with months, sometimes years, of preparation, writing and completing your thesis.

You will defend your work before a committee usually made up of faculty members from your department, and possibly an external examiner. These are the experts in your field who will rigorously evaluate your research.

The defense itself is a formal yet dynamic process. It begins with you presenting your thesis, often through a detailed PowerPoint presentation. This presentation highlights:

• the main points of your research,
• your methodology, and
• your findings.

Think of it as a summary of your long journey—a chance to argue the significance and validity of your work.

After your presentation, the committee will ask questions. These aren’t just any questions; they are often complex, open-ended queries designed to test how well you understand your research and your ability to think critically under pressure.

You need to demonstrate not just knowledge, but a deep grasp of your topic and related theories.

An interesting twist is that you may be asked to leave the room after your presentation. During this time, the committee deliberates on your performance. They discuss whether you’ve met the high standards required for a PhD and whether your thesis contributes significantly to the field.

This can be a nail-biting time for many students, as the discussion behind closed doors determines the outcome of years of hard work.

If all goes well, they will call you in, and inform you that you have passed your thesis defense. At this point, you may hear yourself being addressed as a ‘Doctor’ for the first time. 

If theres hiccups, you pay still pass, but with corrections. This means you need to perform additional work on your thesis for it to be accepted. In worse cases, you thesis may require major corrections. Some examination panels may also require you to redo your thesis defense.

This is fortunately, not very common. This is because your supervisor would have ensured your work is up to par before submitting your application for thesis defense.

How To Prepare For A Thesis Defense?

Preparing for your thesis defense can be daunting. You’re about to present years of work to a committee that will scrutinize your research and knowledge. Here are ten tips to help you prepare for your thesis defense.

1. Understand the Format: Every university has its own rules for thesis defenses. Check with your advisor or the graduate office to understand exactly what’s expected of you. Whether it involves a public lecture or a closed session with your committee, knowing the format helps you prepare effectively.

2. Focus on the Core Ideas : Resist the temptation to include everything from your dissertation in your presentation. Highlight the most significant findings and methodologies. This approach helps you stay within time limits and keeps your audience engaged.

3. Anticipate Questions : Think about potential gaps in your research that faculty members might target. Prepare slides or notes that can help you answer these tough questions. This foresight can turn a difficult question into a demonstration of your thorough preparation.

4. Rehearse Extensively : Practicing your presentation multiple times is crucial. Try to simulate the defense environment as closely as possible, ideally in the actual room where you’ll present. This rehearsal will make you more comfortable and fluent during the actual defense.

5. Prepare Visually Clear Slides : Your slides should aid your presentation, not confuse the audience. Ensure they are clear, visually appealing, and free of clutter. Use diagrams, charts, and bullet points to effectively convey complex information.

6. Dress Professionally : First impressions matter. Dressing professionally respects the formality of the occasion and can also boost your confidence. A business suit is often the go to for most candidates, although some universities may be more relaxed on the dress code.

7. Create Backup Slides : Have additional slides prepared for deeper dives into specific topics. These are particularly useful if a committee member asks a detailed question about a particular point or method.

8. Know Your Committee : Research the interests and work of your committee members. This knowledge can help you anticipate the kinds of questions they might ask and prepare more targeted responses.

9. Stay Calm and Collected : Remember that defense is not just an examination but also an opportunity to showcase your work. If you don’t know an answer, it’s okay to admit this and suggest how you might find it out. This shows honesty and a willingness to learn.

10. View It as a Professional Dialogue : Approach your defense as a professional discussion rather than an interrogation. This mindset can change how you perceive the event, reducing stress and helping you engage more openly with your committee.

These strategies are about more than just surviving your defense; they’re about making the most of an opportunity to excel and impress

Prepare For Your Thesis Defense

Your thesis defense is not just a formality; it’s a bridge to your future career and a chance to shine. Prepare diligently, understanding that this is as much about demonstrating your grasp of the field as it is about honouring your own hard work.

With the right preparation, you’ll be able to defend your thesis with confidence and leave a lasting impression on your committee.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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• Writing Tips

How to Prepare for Your Dissertation Defense

4-minute read

• 1st August 2023

After years of research and study, you’ve finally reached the grand finale of your PhD years: your dissertation defense. Since defending your dissertation is the culmination of all your hard work, it’s essential to do everything you can to prepare for it.

In this post, we’ll take you through how to ready yourself for your dissertation defense so you can focus on your accomplishments and excel during this crucial professional moment.

What is a Dissertation Defense? 

The dissertation defense is the crowning moment of years of research – the final examination before a PhD student is awarded their doctoral degree.

During a dissertation defense, the student presents their research, methodology, findings, and conclusions to a committee of faculty members and experts in their field. The committee then engages in a question-and-answer session to assess the student’s understanding of the subject matter, the quality of their research, and their ability to defend their work under scrutiny.

Many PhD students consider it to be the defining moment of their academic career and their chance to prove their expertise in their chosen research field.

If all this sounds overwhelming – don’t worry. If you’re a PhD student, you’ll have plenty of time and opportunity to adequately prepare for your dissertation defense. Below are some strategies to help you get ready for this significant occasion in your career.

1.   Know the Requirements

Familiarize yourself with your institution’s guidelines and requirements for the defense process. Understanding the format, time limit, and expectations for the presentation will help you to prepare your material and anticipate any issues.

2.   Review Your Dissertation

Even if you think you know it inside and out, review your dissertation from beginning to end. It may have been some time since you’ve last read and considered certain portions of your research and findings. Consider what your committee might ask about your research questions , data analysis, and conclusions.

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3.   Work on Starting Strong

To begin your defense on a strong note, work on creating a clear and engaging introduction. You can start by briefly outlining the purpose of your study, research questions, and methodology . Try to stay on topic and don’t veer off track by discussing unrelated or unnecessary information.

4.   Practice Presenting

Practice your presentation skills by rehearsing your defense multiple times. Focus on clarity and pacing and try to stay within the allotted time limit. It also helps to record yourself so that you can see yourself from your audience’s point of view.

5.   Practice Q&A Sessions

To build your confidence, enlist friends and colleagues to conduct mock question-and-answer sessions. When practicing, remember to pause before answering questions you’re unsure of. It’s better to take your time delivering a response than it is to give an inaccurate or incorrect answer.

6.   Seek Feedback

Find out if your institution offers mock defense sessions where peers or mentors play the role of the committee, ask you questions, and give feedback . You can also have colleagues, mentors, or advisors review your presentation and offer practical feedback.

7.   Create Visual Aids

Think about any visual aids , such as slides, you may want to use to illustrate your defense and prepare them in advance. Be sure to check that your university allows visuals or images and that they enhance, rather than overwhelm, your presentation.

8.   Stay Calm and Confident

It’s natural to feel nervous but try to stay calm and composed during your defense. Take deep breaths and remind yourself of the expertise you’ve gained through the experience of writing your dissertation.

Expert Proofreading Services

The best way to prepare for your dissertation defense is to have your dissertation professionally proofread. Our editing experts have extensive experience with a wide variety of academic subjects and topics and can help ensure your dissertation is ready for presentation. Send in a free sample of 500 words or less and get started today.

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13 Tips to Prepare for Your PhD Dissertation Defense

How well do you know your project? Years of experiments, analysis of results, and tons of literature study, leads you to how well you know your research study. And, PhD dissertation defense is a finale to your PhD years. Often, researchers question how to excel at their thesis defense and spend countless hours on it. Days, weeks, months, and probably years of practice to complete your doctorate, needs to surpass the dissertation defense hurdle.

In this article, we will discuss details of how to excel at PhD dissertation defense and list down some interesting tips to prepare for your thesis defense.

Table of Contents

What Is Dissertation Defense?

Dissertation defense or Thesis defense is an opportunity to defend your research study amidst the academic professionals who will evaluate of your academic work. While a thesis defense can sometimes be like a cross-examination session, but in reality you need not fear the thesis defense process and be well prepared.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesHaytonPhDacademy

What are the expectations of committee members.

Choosing the dissertation committee is one of the most important decision for a research student. However, putting your dissertation committee becomes easier once you understand the expectations of committee members.

The basic function of your dissertation committee is to guide you through the process of proposing, writing, and revising your dissertation. Moreover, the committee members serve as mentors, giving constructive feedback on your writing and research, also guiding your revision efforts.

The dissertation committee is usually formed once the academic coursework is completed. Furthermore, by the time you begin your dissertation research, you get acquainted to the faculty members who will serve on your dissertation committee. Ultimately, who serves on your dissertation committee depends upon you.

Some universities allow an outside expert (a former professor or academic mentor) to serve on your committee. It is advisable to choose a faculty member who knows you and your research work.

How to Choose a Dissertation Committee Member?

• Avoid popular and eminent faculty member
• Choose the one you know very well and can approach whenever you need them
• A faculty member whom you can learn from is apt.
• Members of the committee can be your future mentors, co-authors, and research collaborators. Choose them keeping your future in mind.

How to Prepare for Dissertation Defense?

1. Start Your Preparations Early

Thesis defense is not a 3 or 6 months’ exercise. Don’t wait until you have completed all your research objectives. Start your preparation well in advance, and make sure you know all the intricacies of your thesis and reasons to all the research experiments you conducted.

2. Attend Presentations by Other Candidates

Look out for open dissertation presentations at your university. In fact, you can attend open dissertation presentations at other universities too. Firstly, this will help you realize how thesis defense is not a scary process. Secondly, you will get the tricks and hacks on how other researchers are defending their thesis. Finally, you will understand why dissertation defense is necessary for the university, as well as the scientific community.

3. Take Enough Time to Prepare the Slides

Dissertation defense process harder than submitting your thesis well before the deadline. Ideally, you could start preparing the slides after finalizing your thesis. Spend more time in preparing the slides. Make sure you got the right data on the slides and rephrase your inferences, to create a logical flow to your presentation.

4. Structure the Presentation

Do not be haphazard in designing your presentation. Take time to create a good structured presentation. Furthermore, create high-quality slides which impresses the committee members. Make slides that hold your audience’s attention. Keep the presentation thorough and accurate, and use smart art to create better slides.

5. Practice Breathing Techniques

Watch a few TED talk videos and you will notice that speakers and orators are very fluent at their speech. In fact, you will not notice them taking a breath or falling short of breath. The only reason behind such effortless oratory skill is practice — practice in breathing technique.

Moreover, every speaker knows how to control their breath. Long and steady breaths are crucial. Pay attention to your breathing and slow it down. All you need I some practice prior to this moment.

6. Create an Impactful Introduction

The audience expects a lot from you. So your opening statement should enthrall the audience. Furthermore, your thesis should create an impact on the members; they should be thrilled by your thesis and the way you expose it.

The introduction answers most important questions, and most important of all “Is this presentation worth the time?” Therefore, it is important to make a good first impression , because the first few minutes sets the tone for your entire presentation.

7. Maintain Your Own List of Questions

While preparing for the presentation, make a note of all the questions that you ask yourself. Try to approach all the questions from a reader’s point of view. You could pretend like you do not know the topic and think of questions that could help you know the topic much better.

The list of questions will prepare you for the questions the members may pose while trying to understand your research. Attending other candidates’ open discussion will also help you assume the dissertation defense questions.

8. Practice Speech and Body Language

After successfully preparing your slides and practicing, you could start focusing on how you look while presenting your thesis. This exercise is not for your appearance but to know your body language and relax if need be.

Pay attention to your body language. Stand with your back straight, but relax your shoulders. The correct posture will give you the feel of self-confidence. So, observe yourself in the mirror and pay attention to movements you make.

9. Give Mock Presentation

Giving a trial defense in advance is a good practice. The most important factor for the mock defense is its similarity to your real defense, so that you get the experience that prepares for the actual defense.

10. Learn How to Handle Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. However, it is important to carry on. Do not let the mistakes affect your thesis defense. Take a deep breath and move on to the next point.

11. Do Not Run Through the Presentation

If you are nervous, you would want to end the presentation as soon as possible. However, this situation will give rise to anxiety and you will speak too fast, skipping the essential details. Eventually, creating a fiasco of your dissertation defense .

12. Get Plenty of Rest

Out of the dissertation defense preparation points, this one is extremely important. Obviously, sleeping a day before your big event is hard, but you have to focus and go to bed early, with the clear intentions of getting the rest you deserve.

13. Visualize Yourself Defending Your Thesis

This simple exercise creates an immense impact on your self-confidence. All you have to do is visualize yourself giving a successful presentation each evening before going to sleep. Everyday till the day of your thesis defense, see yourself standing in front of the audience and going from one point to another.

This exercise takes a lot of commitment and persistence, but the results in the end are worth it. Visualization makes you see yourself doing the scary thing of defending your thesis.

If you have taken all these points into consideration, you are ready for your big day. You have worked relentlessly for your PhD degree , and you will definitely give your best in this final step.

Have you completed your thesis defense? How did you prepare for it and how was your experience throughout your dissertation defense ? Do write to us or comment below.

The tips are very useful.I will recomend it to our students.

Excellent. As a therapist trying to help a parent of a candidate, I am very impressed and thankful your concise, clear, action-oriented article. Thank you.

Thanks for your sharing. It is so good. I can learn a lot from your ideas. Hope that in my dissertation defense next time I can pass

The tips are effective. Will definitely apply them in my dissertation.

My dissertation defense is coming up in less than two weeks from now, I find this tips quite instructive, I’ll definitely apply them. Thank you so much.

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A researcher cannot seek ethics approval, apply for a grant, or defend a thesis proposal unless a good reason can be given for testing a specific number of animals.

Instead of letting a student defend a thesis and receive a PhD, they ask for one more rewrite or one more experiment, not because the work is crucial, but to remind the student who is really in command, she says.

In contrast to the U.S. system, he explains, postdocs in China are expected to complete a well-defined project within two to three years and to write and defend a thesis .

Moreover, I should also point out that Claflin students hoping to earn undergraduate degrees in science and mathematics are required to conduct research and prepare and defend a thesis , so there is an institutional need for research programs, too.

Students choosing to defend a thesis should begin work on their research as early as possible, preferably in their second semester or summer of their first year in the program.

If the committee concludes that the student should not be allowed to retake the preliminary examination, or if the student fails the second preliminary examination, then the student may be either excluded from the graduate program altogether, or allowed to write and defend a thesis for the M. S. degree (see the Master's Program section of the Graduate Student Handbook for more details).

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Thesis Defense Preparation: Tips for a Successful Presentation

Your journey through graduate studies has led you to this pivotal moment: the thesis defense. It's the culmination of years of research, analysis, and hard work. While the prospect of defending your thesis can be daunting, proper preparation can turn it into a rewarding experience. In this article, we'll explore essential tips to help you prepare and deliver a successful thesis defense.

Know Your Thesis Inside Out

The cornerstone of a successful thesis defense is an intimate knowledge of your research. You've spent months, if not years, immersed in your subject matter, and now is the time to demonstrate your expertise.

First and foremost, revisit your thesis. Read it cover to cover, not as an author but as a critical reader. Pay attention to the flow of your argument, the clarity of your language, and the logical progression of your ideas. This deep dive into your own work will help you anticipate potential questions and areas of confusion that your committee might raise.

In addition to your thesis, revisit the literature that underpins your research. What foundational theories and studies informed your work? Who are the key figures in your field, and how does your research relate to their contributions? Understanding this intellectual context is essential, as it demonstrates your awareness of the broader academic landscape.

Prepare for questions related to the methods you employed in your research. Be ready to explain why you chose specific methodologies, how you conducted your experiments or data collection, and any challenges you encountered along the way. Discuss the rationale behind your choices and the advantages of your approach.

Consider the implications of your research findings. How do your results contribute to the existing body of knowledge in your field? What real-world applications might arise from your work? Think beyond the immediate scope of your research and explore its potential impact on the broader academic and practical community.

Critically assess the limitations of your research. Every study has its constraints, and acknowledging them demonstrates intellectual honesty. Think about what you would have done differently if you had more time or resources, and be prepared to discuss how these limitations might have influenced your results.

Beyond the content of your thesis, familiarize yourself with the logistics of the defense. Know the format and duration of your presentation, the structure of the questioning session, and any specific requirements set by your institution or committee. Understanding the process will help you feel more at ease on the day of your defense.

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Rehearse your presentation.

The old adage "practice makes perfect" holds especially true when it comes to preparing for your thesis defense presentation. Rehearsing your presentation is a critical step in ensuring a smooth and successful defense.

Familiarity Breeds Confidence: The more you practice, the more comfortable you become with your material. Familiarity with your slides, content, and speaking points builds confidence. As you rehearse, you'll refine your delivery, ensuring that you present your research in the most clear and compelling manner.

Timing Is Everything: Your thesis defense likely has a strict time limit, often ranging from 20 to 30 minutes for the presentation itself. Rehearsing helps you master the timing, ensuring that you stay within the allotted time. Being concise and on-point demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively, a skill highly regarded in academia and beyond.

Feedback and Fine-Tuning: Rehearsing in front of peers, mentors, or even in front of a mirror provides opportunities for feedback. Encourage your practice audience to ask questions and provide constructive criticism. This feedback can help you identify areas that need improvement, whether it's clarifying a complex concept, refining your transitions, or addressing any nervous habits.

Adaptability: Practice allows you to adapt to potential disruptions or unexpected questions. While you can't predict every question your committee might ask, rehearsing your responses to anticipated questions will help you feel more composed when challenged. Remember that it's perfectly acceptable to pause, reflect, and then respond thoughtfully if a question catches you off guard.

Maintaining Composure: Nervousness is natural, especially before a significant presentation. Rehearsing your presentation multiple times can help alleviate anxiety. As you become more accustomed to the content and flow of your presentation, you'll likely find yourself feeling more in control and less anxious.

Visual Aids and Technology: If your presentation involves visual aids or multimedia elements, rehearsing ensures that everything works smoothly. Check that your slides advance as intended, videos play correctly, and any technological components are in working order. Technical glitches can disrupt the flow of your presentation, so thorough rehearsal is essential.

Delivery and Body Language: Practice allows you to refine your delivery style and body language. Pay attention to your tone of voice, pacing, and gestures. Maintain eye contact with your audience, project your voice clearly, and use body language that conveys confidence and professionalism.

Simulate the Real Experience: Whenever possible, simulate the actual defense environment. Practice in the room where your defense will take place, if permitted. Familiarizing yourself with the space can help reduce any unfamiliarity or discomfort on the actual day.

In essence, rehearsing your thesis defense presentation is a vital step in your preparation journey. It not only boosts your confidence but also fine-tunes your delivery, hones your timing, and prepares you to handle questions and unexpected situations with composure. Remember, the goal is not just to present your research but to do so with the utmost clarity and professionalism, leaving a lasting impression on your committee and audience.

Anticipate Questions

One of the most effective ways to prepare for your thesis defense is to anticipate and prepare for the questions that your committee may pose. While you can't predict every question with absolute certainty, a well-thought-out strategy can help you confidently address inquiries and demonstrate your command over your research.

1. Know Your Weak Points: Start by identifying potential weak points or gaps in your research. These might include limitations in your methodology, ambiguities in your findings, or areas where your research intersects with broader debates in your field. Understanding these vulnerabilities will enable you to develop thorough and thoughtful responses.

2. Consult with Your Advisor: Your thesis advisor can be an invaluable resource during this phase of preparation. Schedule a meeting to discuss potential questions and concerns. Advisors often have insights into what committee members are likely to ask based on their prior experiences.

3. Peer Mock Defense: Organize a mock defense with peers or mentors who are well-versed in your field. Encourage them to play the role of the thesis committee and ask challenging questions. This exercise can help you gauge how well you handle different types of questions and where you may need to improve your responses.

4. Review Your Thesis: Revisit your thesis with a critical eye. As you read through it, jot down questions that you believe committee members might ask. Consider questions related to your research objectives, methodology, results, and conclusions. Also, anticipate questions that require you to defend your choices, such as why you chose a particular approach or why you focused on specific variables.

5. Broaden Your Perspective: While you may have deep expertise in your research area, your committee members may approach it from different angles. Anticipate questions that reflect diverse viewpoints. For instance, consider how your research relates to current trends, controversies, or emerging theories in your field.

6. Prepare Concise Responses: When answering questions, aim for clarity and conciseness. Avoid rambling or going off-topic. If a question is complex, consider breaking it down into manageable parts and addressing each component separately. Providing succinct and well-structured responses showcases your ability to communicate effectively.

7. Be Open to Challenges: Not all questions will have straightforward answers, and some may challenge your findings or interpretations. It's important to remain open to such challenges and engage in constructive academic discourse. If you're uncertain about an answer, express your willingness to explore the issue further and provide a preliminary response based on your current understanding.

8. Maintain Composure: During the actual defense, stay composed and maintain eye contact with your committee members. Listen attentively to each question before responding. If a question catches you off guard, take a moment to gather your thoughts. Remember that your committee is genuinely interested in your research and is there to assess your scholarly abilities.

In summary, anticipating questions is a crucial element of thesis defense preparation. It not only helps you respond effectively to inquiries but also showcases your comprehensive understanding of your research. By approaching potential questions with a well-prepared and composed demeanor, you demonstrate your readiness to engage in meaningful academic dialogue and defend the merits of your work.

Create Clear Visuals

Visual aids are a powerful tool in any thesis defense presentation. They have the potential to enhance understanding, simplify complex concepts, and engage your audience. However, the effectiveness of visual materials depends on their clarity and relevance. Here's how to create clear and impactful visuals for your defense.

1. Simplicity Is Key: When designing your visual aids, prioritize simplicity. Avoid cluttered slides with excessive text, charts, or images. Instead, aim for clean, uncluttered designs that emphasize key points. Each slide should have a clear focal point or message.

2. Use Visual Hierarchy: Arrange your visual elements in a hierarchy that guides the viewer's attention. Typically, the most critical information should be prominent and easily discernible. Use fonts, colors, and sizes to distinguish between headings, subheadings, and body text.

3. Visual Consistency: Maintain consistency in your visuals throughout the presentation. Use a cohesive color scheme, font style, and layout. Consistency helps create a polished and professional look. It also prevents distractions that may arise from abrupt changes in design.

4. Minimize Text: Limit the amount of text on each slide. Use bullet points, short phrases, or keywords to convey information. Your spoken words should complement the visuals, providing context and elaboration. Avoid reading verbatim from your slides.

5. Use High-Quality Images: If you include images or graphics, ensure they are of high quality and relevance. Blurry or pixelated images detract from your presentation's professionalism. Choose visuals that directly support your narrative and enhance understanding.

6. Visual Data Representation: When presenting data, use appropriate charts or graphs. Bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts are common choices. Label axes, provide legends, and add data points where necessary for clarity. Ensure that data visualizations are easy to interpret.

7. Limit Animation: While some animations can be engaging, excessive use can be distracting. Use animations sparingly and purposefully. For example, you might use animations to reveal data points one by one, emphasizing each point as you discuss it.

8. Test Your Visuals: Before your actual defense, test your visuals in the presentation environment. Check that fonts and images display correctly and that any animations work as intended. Familiarity with the presentation setup will help you avoid technical glitches on the day of your defense.

9. Accessibility Considerations: Keep accessibility in mind when designing visuals. Use high-contrast color combinations for text and background to accommodate individuals with visual impairments. Ensure that your visual aids are accessible to all members of your audience.

10. Practice Timing: Practice the timing of your visuals to synchronize with your spoken presentation. Slides should change at appropriate moments, enhancing the flow of your narrative. Avoid rushing through slides or lingering on a single slide for too long.

11. Prepare Backup: Always have a backup plan in case of technical issues. Save your presentation on multiple devices or formats, and consider having printed handouts as a backup option.

Clear visuals can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your thesis defense presentation. When thoughtfully designed and integrated into your narrative, visual aids can help convey complex information, engage your audience, and leave a lasting impression. By adhering to principles of simplicity, consistency, and relevance, you can create visuals that support your research and contribute to a successful defense.

Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is a fundamental aspect of preparing for a successful thesis defense presentation. Your audience in this context primarily consists of your thesis committee members, but it may also include peers, colleagues, family members, and friends. Here's why knowing your audience is crucial and how to tailor your presentation accordingly.

1. Committee Members: Your thesis committee is composed of experts in your field. They have a deep understanding of the subject matter and a critical eye for scholarly work. Expect probing questions, detailed discussions, and a thorough examination of your research. Prepare to engage in academic discourse and defend your findings with precision.

2. Peers and Colleagues: Depending on your institution's policies, your defense may be open to peers and colleagues. While they may not be experts in your specific research area, they can provide valuable perspectives and ask questions that reflect a broader academic audience. Be prepared to explain your research in a more accessible manner without sacrificing depth.

3. Friends and Family: Friends and family attending your defense may have limited knowledge of your research topic. Tailor a brief and straightforward explanation of your work for them. Share the significance of your research in a way that highlights its broader societal relevance. This can help them feel engaged and proud of your accomplishments.

4. Committee Expectations: Before your defense, consult with your thesis advisor or committee chair to gain insights into the committee's expectations. Understanding what aspects of your research are of particular interest to them can help you prioritize your presentation content.

5. Addressing Questions: Anticipate questions from different audience segments. Committee members may ask in-depth questions about your methodology, results, and theoretical framework. Peers and colleagues may focus on the broader implications of your research, while friends and family might inquire about the real-world applications of your work.

6. Balance Depth and Clarity: Striking the right balance between depth and clarity is essential. Ensure that your presentation is rigorous and scholarly enough to satisfy your committee, while also making it accessible to a broader audience. Avoid jargon and explain technical terms when necessary.

7. Tailor Your Introduction: Begin your presentation with an introduction that provides context for your research. For committee members, this can include a brief review of the literature and a clear statement of your research question. For a general audience, frame your work in terms of its relevance and potential impact.

8. Visual Aids: Visual aids can be especially useful when presenting to a diverse audience. Use clear visuals to illustrate key points and data, making it easier for all audience members to follow your presentation.

9. Engage Your Audience: Regardless of their background, engage your audience by inviting questions and feedback. Encourage committee members to interrupt with questions during your presentation, and allocate time for questions from peers, colleagues, and others at the end.

10. Flexibility: Be flexible in your presentation approach. If committee members delve into technical details, address their inquiries thoroughly. If a broader question arises, pivot to provide a more general perspective.

Knowing your audience and tailoring your thesis defense presentation accordingly is essential for effectively communicating your research. By recognizing the diverse backgrounds and expectations of your audience segments, you can create a presentation that engages, informs, and satisfies everyone present, ultimately contributing to a successful defense.

Revisit Related Literature

As you prepare for your thesis defense, revisiting the related literature is a crucial step that can significantly enhance the quality and depth of your presentation. This process involves revisiting and summarizing the relevant literature that informed your research, providing context, and reinforcing the importance of your work.

1. Contextualize Your Research: Start by revisiting the literature that laid the foundation for your research. Provide a concise overview of the key theories, concepts, and studies that are central to your work. This helps your audience understand the intellectual context in which your research exists.

2. Show Scholarly Awareness: Demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the relevant literature showcases your scholarly awareness. Your committee members will appreciate your ability to engage with existing research and position your work within the broader academic discourse.

3. Highlight Knowledge Gaps: While revisiting the literature, emphasize any gaps or limitations in the existing research that your study addresses. Clearly articulate how your research contributes to filling these gaps. This not only justifies the significance of your work but also underscores its relevance.

4. Address Methodological Choices: Discuss the methodological choices you made in the context of the literature. Explain why you selected a particular research method or approach and how it aligns with the goals of your study. If your research methodology draws inspiration from established scholars or methods, acknowledge and reference them.

5. Relate Findings to Previous Studies: If your research has yielded findings or results, relate them to similar studies from the literature. Highlight areas of convergence and divergence between your findings and those of previous researchers. This comparative analysis strengthens the credibility of your research.

6. Discuss Theoretical Frameworks: If your work is grounded in specific theoretical frameworks, revisit and elucidate them. Explain how these theoretical perspectives guided your research questions, hypotheses, and data analysis. This step helps committee members understand the theoretical underpinnings of your work.

7. Cite Key References: Throughout your presentation, cite key references from the literature to support your arguments and statements. This not only adds credibility to your presentation but also allows your audience to explore relevant sources if they wish to delve deeper into specific aspects of your research.

8. Prepare for Questions: Revisiting the related literature equips you with a strong foundation to address questions from your committee members. If they inquire about the theoretical underpinnings, methodological choices, or comparisons to existing studies, you'll be well-prepared to respond with confidence.

9. Maintain Conciseness: While it's essential to revisit the literature, avoid excessive detail or lengthy literature reviews. Keep your summaries concise and focused on the key points that directly relate to your research. This ensures that your presentation remains engaging and on-topic.

Practice Concise Responses

During your thesis defense, the ability to provide clear and concise responses to questions is essential. Committee members value precision, depth, and the ability to communicate complex ideas succinctly. Here's how to practice and master concise responses for a successful defense.

1. Understand the Question: The first step in providing a concise response is to fully comprehend the question. Listen carefully to what the committee member is asking. If the question is unclear, don't hesitate to seek clarification. A precise understanding of the question is crucial for crafting an on-point answer.

2. Organize Your Thoughts: Before responding, take a moment to organize your thoughts. Think about the key points you want to convey in your response. Consider the structure of your answer, such as whether it should begin with a brief summary, followed by supporting details, or if it should be delivered in a specific sequence.

3. Avoid Rambling: One common pitfall during thesis defense is rambling or providing excessive context. While context is important, avoid lengthy preamble or unnecessary details. Get to the heart of your response promptly. Remember that committee members have a limited time for each question.

4. Be Direct: Provide a direct and concise answer to the question. Avoid veering off-topic or including unrelated information. Committee members appreciate answers that are focused and directly address the inquiry at hand.

5. Use Clear Language: Use clear and straightforward language to express your ideas. Avoid overly complex or technical jargon unless it is essential to convey your point. Clarity in communication is key to concise responses.

6. Practice with Mock Questions: Conduct mock defense sessions with peers or mentors who can pose challenging questions. Practice delivering concise responses to a range of potential inquiries. These mock sessions help you refine your ability to respond quickly and effectively.

7. Time Yourself: During practice sessions, time your responses. Aim to provide comprehensive yet concise answers within a reasonable timeframe. Practicing under time constraints can help you develop the skill of efficient communication.

8. Eliminate Fillers: Minimize the use of fillers such as "um," "uh," or repetitive phrases like "you know." These can detract from the clarity and conciseness of your responses. Pause briefly to gather your thoughts instead of relying on fillers.

9. Seek Feedback: Request feedback from peers or mentors on your responses. They can provide valuable insights into areas where you might be able to further condense or clarify your answers.

10. Stay Calm: Nervousness can lead to longer, less concise responses. Practice relaxation techniques to stay calm during your defense. Take a deep breath before responding to a question to ensure a composed and concise delivery.

11. Prepare for Follow-up Questions: Be ready for follow-up questions based on your initial response. Committee members may seek additional details or clarification. Anticipating follow-up questions and addressing them succinctly demonstrates your depth of knowledge.

Practicing concise responses is a vital aspect of thesis defense preparation. It allows you to effectively convey your expertise, engage with committee members, and demonstrate your ability to communicate complex ideas succinctly. Mastering this skill not only enhances the quality of your defense but also leaves a lasting impression of your competence as a researcher.

Your thesis defense is an opportunity to showcase your expertise, research, and academic growth. By thoroughly preparing, rehearsing, and staying composed, you can navigate this crucial milestone with confidence. Remember, your thesis defense is not just an evaluation; it's a celebration of your accomplishments and contributions to your field of study. Embrace the challenge, and you'll emerge from it as a more seasoned and accomplished scholar.

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Definition of defend

transitive verb

intransitive verb

defend , protect , shield , guard , safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack.

defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

synonyms see in addition maintain

Examples of defend in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'defend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English defenden, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French defendre, defender, going back to Latin dēfendere "to ward off, fend off, repel danger from, protect," from dē- de- + -fendere, presumably, "to strike, hit" (unattested without prefixes), going back to Indo-European *g wh en-d h -, extended determinate form of *g wh en-, *g wh n- "strike, kill," whence Hittite kuenzi "(s/he) kills," kunanzi "(they) kill," Sanskrit hánti "(s/he) strikes, kills," ghnánti "(they) strike, kill," Greek theínein "to strike," épethnon "(I) killed," Old Irish gonaid "(s/he) pierces, wounds, kills," Welsh gwan- "stab, pierce," Lithuanian genù, giñti "to drive (cattle, etc.)," Old Church Slavic ženǫ, gŭnati "to drive, chase out, expel"; also, from nominal derivative *g wh on-, Greek phónos "bloodshed, murder," and from *g wh ń̥-tih 2 , Germanic *gunþī, *gunþjō, whence Old English gūþ "battle, combat," Old Saxon gūđea, Old High German gund-, Old Icelandic gunnr, guðr

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Dictionary Entries Near defend

Cite this entry.

“Defend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defend. Accessed 5 Aug. 2024.

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Kids definition of defend, legal definition, legal definition of defend, more from merriam-webster on defend.

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Preparing for a Successful Dissertation Defense

Everything you need to know about dissertation defense is right here: ten basic defense techniques to be ready for your academic career.

Defending your thesis is the final stretch, the finish line, and it must be handled seriously. All experiments, results analysis, and heaps of literature research lead to how well you understand your research. 

Rest assured that you are not alone if you are tormented by questions as your defense approaches. Every dissertation defense is unique, but there are strategies to prepare for this critical and significant occasion.

This article will act as a guideline with helpful tips for navigating the crucial dissertation defense phase.

What Is A Dissertation Defense?

A dissertation defense, also known as a thesis defense, is an oral presentation and discussion of a research study. The goal is to present the findings, demonstrating to the committee and the academic community that the researcher completed the work with high enough quality to be awarded a doctorate and that the researcher is capable of speaking about it without hesitation, fully understanding the work, and answering any potential questions.

It’s worth mentioning that the first step is to get the dissertation document accepted, since dissertation chairs won’t let candidates schedule defenses unless the dissertation document’s quality is completely acceptable. The purpose is to see if the researcher is prepared to defend their work.

Timing And Format

• Dissertation defenses typically require two hours of private oral examination. Depending on the institution, they may seek an additional hour for a public seminar.
• The title, as well as the written document, should be provided to the committee early on. Check the institution’s deadlines ahead of time to be prepared.
• The format might also vary depending on the institution, however, you must be prepared for an external audience as an open-to-the-public defense.

Committee Members: How To Choose And What Are The Expectations?

To align expectations, understand that the dissertation committee should support you through the process of planning, writing, and revising your dissertation; they should act as mentors, providing helpful advice and recommending modification ideas. Choose your committee carefully, it is one of the most important steps for a successful dissertation.

Avoid famous and prominent members; instead, choose someone you know well and can reach whenever you need to; and, last, choose someone you know you can learn from. 

Tips for Preparing for a Dissertation Defense

1. prepare and practice.

Before you submit your dissertation document to the committee and in between the delivery and defense event, use every time to practice and prepare yourself to defend your dissertation.

2. Know Your Weakness

Get to know your anxiety tendencies and prepare yourself around them. If you tend to talk at a quicker tempo than usual giving public speeches, you can practice a calmer rhythm. Prepare your speech and time it; this will assist you in understanding how long it should take.

3. Attend Different Presentations

Go see other dissertation defenses to help you take it more smoothly, discover tactics and how other researchers perform their speeches, and grasp the value of a dissertation defense for the community.

4. Give Yourself Enough Time To Prepare Slides

Spend some additional time crafting the perfect dissertation slides. Check that you have the right information on your slides and that your assumptions are correct to create a logical flow for your presentation. Try to start working on it as soon as you send the written document.

5. Breathing Techniques

Breathing is closely tied to oratory skills. Successful public speakers know how to regulate their breath. Try learning some breathing techniques, including long and steady breaths. 

6. Focus On A Good Introduction

It’s critical to make a strong first impression, so make sure your introduction focuses on the most important key points and that it piques your audience’s curiosity to learn more about your work.

7. Avoid Unnecessary Topics

Personal exposition should be avoided. Remember to concentrate on your work, on providing excellent research, and let go of comments implying that you worked too hard for this or that you didn’t sleep for days. Maintain a professional and clear demeanor.

8. Make Your Questions

You’ll recognize the loose ends after refining your defense multiple times. As a result, create a list of questions that come to mind when rehearsing your defense. Tip number three will also come in handy here.

9. Maintain Your Cool

You will be asked questions that you have prepared for as well as unexpected ones; this is absolutely normal, and it is quite acceptable if you don’t know the answers to all of them, since you may have opportunities for future research. While commanding your defense, maintain your cool and be confident. 

When there’s something so important on your agenda, it’s easier said than done, but you’ll be much more prepared if you get enough rest. This will make you look better, but it will also assist you in remaining focused and comfortable during your defense.

Turn Your Data Into Easy-To-Understand And Dynamic Stories

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PhD thesis defense in German: Rigorosum, Disputation, Kolloquium, or Verteidigung?

In order to finish a PhD and obtain the title of doctor, the candidate must present their thesis and do a defense, that is, roughly speaking, to discuss the thesis and answer questions from the jury.

In English, we call it thesis defense , and in French it is called soutenance .

I would like to know how to say that in German. It seems (but of course, I am not sure) that one could say it as

• Verteidigung
• Disputation

Could someone tell me if all these four words are synonyms and if they are really equivalent to thesis defense in English? If they mean the same, are some of them more formal than others? And is there another way to say it?

• translation
• english-to-german

• Note that this is not restricted to a PhD, but Bachelor and Master theses as well. –  infinitezero Commented Sep 23, 2020 at 17:10
• A Google search for "Promotionsordnung" gives you many hits. It seems that Disputation occurs most frequently, but also Kolloqium and (öffentliche) Verteidigung occur. It depends on the university. See also hochschulkompass.de/promotion/promotionsphase/… . –  Paul Frost Commented Sep 29, 2020 at 22:45

2 Answers 2

First beware that this is a typical case of academia varies more than you think it does . There is no general rule on how doctoral exams are done; instead, this is decided by the faculty. As a consequence, doctoral exams vary widely between universities and faculties. I know of two universities which have a joint graduate school for one field and even there doctoral exams differs extremely between the two universities.

This also applies to the terminology. So, the same term may mean something considerably different at a different faculty, in particular when it comes to official procedure. Therefore, in the following I can only write about how these terms are generally understood:

Verteidigung is arguably the most general term and the most frequently used term. Every¹ doctoral examination has at least one component in which the candidate has to face questions from the examiners and Verteidigung covers it. Official rules that are not specific to universities usually use this term when necessary. E.g., the date of the doctoral exam is usually referred to as Datum der Verteidigung.

While Disputation is just a Latin word for Verteidigung, it is used much more rarely and usually refers to a specific format of the exam, where the defendant faces questions from the examiners in public, possibly in a strict format. It can also be used in a more general sense, synonymously to Verteidigung, but at least in my experience that is rather rare.

A Rigorosum is a specific kind of doctoral exam that is characterised by featuring questions on the entire field of the candidate. It is usually not public. Many faculties do not perform this kind of exam.

A Kolloquium is a general term for a public talk, usually with questions from the audience. In the context of a doctoral exam, the candidate gives a talk on their thesis, which is usually public but may be restricted to members of the university or similar in special cases.

For example, my own doctoral exam consisted of a Kolloquium, where I talked about my thesis on dynamical systems, and was followed by a Rigorosum, where I was asked questions on my thesis but also on particle physics and solid-state physics. The entire thing was referred to as Verteidigung.

In conclusion , I strongly recommend Verteidigung unless you want to specify the mode of exam.

Finally note that the above primarily reflects the situation in Germany and the usage of these terms is somewhat different in Austria. For example, Rigorosum has a broader scope .

¹ At least as far as I know. As I said academia varies more than I think it does.

• 2 Excellent answer. I would have considered Verteidigung and Disputation synonyms, with the latter perhaps becoming less common. I can be wrong, though. –  Carsten S Commented Sep 23, 2020 at 10:07
• @CarstenS: Disputation can be used synonymously with Verteidigung, but at least in my experience that’s very rare and reason enough not to use the term when you want to avoid confusion (also see my edit). –  Wrzlprmft ♦ Commented Sep 23, 2020 at 11:16
• 1 @Olafant: Please see my edit. –  Wrzlprmft ♦ Commented Sep 23, 2020 at 11:16
• Thank you very much for such a complete answer! Rigorosum was not clear to me probably because the PhD programs that I am used to do not have this evaluation step and the questions from the jury are, in general, only about the thesis. –  Hilder Vitor Lima Pereira Commented Sep 23, 2020 at 11:53
• Actually, "Vortrag"/"Abschlussvortrag" and "[mündliche] Prüfung" are two more terms in use, sometimes in combination. –  O. R. Mapper Commented Sep 23, 2020 at 17:38

I have heard this being refered to as Verteidigung, Disputation and Rigorosum. These are all in use. Which one is used depends on university and faculty tradition I'd say, but they're all understood.

I haven't heard Kolloquium being directly used for this kind of event, Kolloquium is a broader term that refers to all kinds of meetings and discussion events with an academic topic. A disputation can be seen as a special kind of Kolloquium.

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Master in Translation Studies

Guidelines of preparation and presentation.

Guidelines for preparation, submission and defence

Translation Studies Master’s Thesis

PROCESSES AND PROTOCOLS OF THE MASTER’S THESIS

1.   What is the Treball de Fi de Màster (TFM or Master’s Thesis)?

The Master's Thesis (TFM) is a piece of original work on any specific topic in theoretical or applied translation studies in which the student, under the guidance of a supervisor, demonstrates the competences acquired during the programme.

For students who have not enrolled the course “Research Paper”, the regular TFM (10 ECTS) must be a systematic, reasoned and critical presentation of a subject of the speciality chosen by the student, which proves his or her ability to work in the academic field, and knowledge of the basic bibliography on the subject. The thesis must have clear objectives and a feasible approach leading to a process of reflection and bibliographic analysis on a subject that is closely related to the practice or theory of translation. It can consist of the study of a translation, a comparison of translations or, otherwise, with a more practical purpose, a personal translation that is also commented on and justified. Other alternatives are allowed, such as a study of a theory or discipline related to translation; for example, the study of a translation theory or the applicability of theoretical models from other related disciplines (such as linguistic, literary, cultural or social theories applied to translation).

Its topic must be related to translation in some practical or theoretical aspect, and must include aspects of one or more subjects that are covered during the course. Students are advised to point out in the introduction which courses taken during the programme are most closely related to their TFM.

In order to earn the TFM credits, students must defend their thesis in a public session consisting of a presentation and discussion before a panel (Committee) composed of three faculty members (PhD).

The subject called  Research Paper (5 ECTS) can be integrated into the TFM as a single piece of research to be evaluated together with the TFM (10 ECTS). Students must prove their ability and potential to do research on a subject related to translation studies. This includes conducting a thorough literature review on the subject, formulating a research question, with possibly one or several hypotheses, choosing a methodological approach to resolve the questions posed in a way that is compatible with the scientific method, and ultimately reaching conclusions that either answer the research questions or satisfactorily explain why they cannot be answered. This TFM should make an original contribution to its field of research.

2. Who supervises the TFM project?

Supervisors guide students in the development of the TFM project and attainment of its goals, and give their final approval to the submission of the TFM for defence.

TFM supervisor(s) are assigned to students based on the students’ topics of interest, with the advice of their academic tutor, who helps contact potential supervisors and ensures that students and supervisors agree on a TFM project topic and work plan.

Once students have obtained a supervisor’s agreement they must submit an application form to the Master’s Coordinator and the academic tutor so that the TFM supervision agreement can become official. This is done via Moodle before the end of February.

Students and supervisors should then finish defining the topic and scope of the paper as well as its methodology and agree on a work plan and a means to monitor progression. If there are significant deviations from the work plan or the expected progression, or if there are clear reasons that require a change in the supervision assignment, the supervisor or the student should inform the master’s coordinator and his or her academic tutor as soon as possible. 

3. How much time should students devote to their TFM?

The TFM involves an estimated dedication of 250 hours including all of the activities and tasks needed to complete the project: bibliography review, meetings with the supervisor, data collection and analysis, writing up the paper and preparation of the oral defence.

Students may start working on the TFM as soon as they have been assigned a supervisor. Most courses are scheduled in the first and second terms, so that the third term can be devoted preferentially to the TFM.

Most of the time devoted to the TFM is for self-study.  It is the students' responsibility to inform the supervisor and, if necessary, the academic tutor, of any academic or personal difficulties that could interfere with the agreed work plan. No defence will be allowed to take place unless the supervisor has monitored the project and given his or her approval of the final version of the paper to be submitted for oral defence.

4. What should the TFM be like?

The regular TFM (10 ECTS) can be a research project as described for the integrated research TFM, but proportionally less ambitious, or it can also consist of a systematic, sound and critical analysis and exposition of a given subject, demonstrating wide knowledge of the literature and the key concepts of its specialization, and the student’s capacity for academic activity. The TFM must have the formal characteristics of the discipline; as a general rule, you can expect a final product of about 20 or 25 pages printed in double space, 12 point font for body text (plus annexes).

The Research TFM (15 ECTS) must be an original contribution by the student to his/her area of specialization. It may be useful to think of it as a piece of work meeting the standards of an article publishable in a scholarly journal. The quality of the work is more important that its length, especially since the specific characteristics of the TFM may vary according to specialization, but as a general rule, the TFM is expected to be a paper of about  30 or 40 pages printed in double space, 12 point font for body text (plus annexes).

The Research TFM must include the following sections, in the following order:

1. Cover page (using the form provided by the Department), including the title of the TFM, student name, name of the Department and the master's programme, as well as the name of the supervisor and the date of submission.

2. Introduction (a summary of the related subjects may be included here)

3. Objectives, research question(s) and hypotheses (if applicable)

4. Theoretical framework (authors and reference models, and brief motivation for the choice) and methodology (type of analysis or data processing).

5. Presentation of data and results of the analysis. Presentation of examples, with comments and analysis. Discussion.

6. General conclusions (compulsory) and partial conclusions (if applicable). Conclusions should be drawn from the findings presented in the previous sections. No new data or examples should be included.

7. Bibliography and sources of information

8. Annexes (if applicable)

For the regular TFM (10 ECTS), the previous outline is recommended, adjusting for point 3 (hypotheses are not always required), and point  4 (which could only include the methodology).

Apart from length requirements, the TFM may have the layout that best suits a clear and comprehensible argument. There is no upper limit (other than caution and the supervisor’s advice) for graphs or figures, such as screenshots or stills, which do not count towards the length of the work. The length of the paper may be negatively evaluated should the committee deem it insufficient or excessive for the stated objectives and/or according to the regulations that govern the TFM (for example, the number of credits).

5. What steps should be taken before the defence?

The TFM must be submitted at the end of the teaching period of the last academic year of the Master’s Programme (the first year of full-time students, the second year for part-time students). The supervisor must assess the paper’s suitability for submission.

Submission may take place no sooner than the fourth week of the third term and at least eight working days (Mo-Fri) prior to the scheduled oral defence session, in order to allow time for the committee members to read and assess the paper. If the defence must take place in September, submission should take place before the end of July (as August is officially a holiday period).

Students must provide via Moodle the following information:

• Student name and TFM title
• An abstract of the TFM (maximum length of 150 words in the language of the document).
• A list of keywords on the content of the TFM (maximum 10 words).
• A pdf copy of the paper, in accordance with the formal requisites
• A signed authorization to deposit the TFM in the UPF e-Repository.  

6. What is the defence procedure?

The TFM is evaluated in a session with a committee of three PhD. faculty members. It is recommended that the supervisor be part of the committee, as it is advisable to include a referee from another department or university, and/or one from a different specialization, particularly for the Research TFM. The committee is appointed by the Master’s Coordinator at the supervisor’s suggestion.

The defence lasts up to 50 minutes, 20 minutes for the student’s oral presentation and the remaining time for questions and comments by the members of the committee to which the student must provide satisfactory answers. After the debate, the committee deliberates behind closed doors and decides on a mark, which is recorded on the evaluation report. The evaluation of the TFM, as with any other subject in the program, is reflected through a mark on a scale between 0 and 10 (allowing one decimal place) and the corresponding qualitative grade (fail, pass, good, excellent).

TFM defences will be held during the first half July, and exceptionally during the first days of September.

7. Can TFMs be published? What is UPF's Repositori Digital?

In research, dissemination of results and findings is an essential task, and we encourage students to participate in this endeavour. To initiate students in the habit of publication the Department recommends publication of those Research TFMs that obtain a grade of 9.0 or higher (Excellent) in  UPF's Repositori Digital . The UPF institutional repository collects, preserves and disseminates the intellectual output in digital format resulting from academic and research activities at UPF. Its purpose is to help increase the impact of research conducted at UPF.

TFMs are included in the Treballs dels estudiants collection. TFM publication is by no means a requirement, but it is encouraged as an easy and efficient way to distribute the work to the academic world. The Master’s website may also showcase the papers with the highest grades with links to the repository.   

8. Calendar: summary

8.1 The proposal of TFM topic and supervisor choice.

Before the end of February: Submission of a "TFM proposal", including the name of the supervisor (and signature) and the topic (with a clearly descriptive title, so as to give a good idea of what to expect in the paper).

8.2 Tutorials with the supervisor

The supervisor will agree with the student on a schedule of appointments to monitor the progress of his or her work effectively.

8.3 Submission of the TFM document

Eight days prior to the date published in the calendar for the oral defence in July (or September). Supervisors and students are responsible for sending the pdf version of the TFM to the committee members, particularly the non-UPF ones.

8.4 Oral defence

30th June – 15th July, preferably, and as a general rule.

Oral defence TFM MET 2024

1st – 8th September, exceptionally, if justified.

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What is a thesis defense defending dissertation.

You’re reading this article because you probably have an upcoming thesis defense. Maybe you’ve worked hard for years or months, and now that moment for wrapping things up is finally here. Whether you want to defend a thesis for a doctorate or master’s degree, you’re about to take that final step.

But, you must research extensively and prepare for the final presentation. As the content for your thesis is vital, so is your presentation. A stunning design with text hierarchy and precise data plays a crucial role in your thesis comprehension. This article answers the question, what is thesis defense? It goes ahead to explain the process of defending dissertation.

Any student that doesn’t know how to defend a thesis or even prepare for the presentation will find this article helpful. Reading this article will let you know what a dissertation or thesis defense is and how to prepare for it.

What Is A Thesis Defense?

Defending a thesis is presenting your research work to a professors’ panel to grade your presentation abilities. Also, your argument during the presentation ascertains that you understood your research topic. But, you must submit your thesis or dissertation first so that your lecturer can grade it before your defense presentation.

Most students want to know what defending thesis means after or when about to complete their graduate degrees. In most countries, writing a thesis is a vital part of finishing a graduate degree. Generally, a thesis or a dissertation is a significant paper related to the student’s study field. After handing in a thesis, the professor or lecturer assigns the learner the data for defending their work.

A thesis defense presentation occurs during a meeting comprising a committee of at least two professors and the student. The professors belong to the student’s program. Also, the session can include professionals from other learning institutions or experts in the student’s study field. The meeting attendees ask the students some questions about their work to understand their focus area and field.

Usually, these questions are open-minded, requiring the learner to think about the work critically. Since the student submits the paper for evaluation before the presentation, the panel already understands the work. But the board doesn’t design the questions to require the student to defend their work aggressively. In most cases, this procedure is a formality for getting a degree.

What Is The Purpose Of Dissertation Defense?

The thesis or dissertation defense aims to achieve two things.

First, it provides a presentation occasion and recognition of the accomplished doctoral work. Second, it presents a chance for formal evaluation and discussion of your thesis.

Ideally, the purpose of the dissertation defense is to assess the completed research work’s merits and the doctoral candidate’s ability to explain or interpret their research outcomes and implications. After the dissertation committee chair deems the paper ready for a defense, they allow the student to schedule their presentation meeting.

The student contacts the committee members to identify the time and date acceptable to them. Also, the learner secures the conference room for the presentation and serves all committee members with copies of the thesis.

What Does It Mean To Defend A Thesis Successfully?

The requirements of a dissertation defense process vary from one learning institution to another. However, a successful defense entails presenting the main argument to the dissertation committee or academic faculty with primary points evidence.

A good defense must have clear and convincing logic lending credence to the primary concept that the body of the paper advances. For instance, if your thesis argues that consuming meat is unethical, you may present arguments about animal abuse cruelty from farms and factories to make your claim legitimate.

How Long Is A Thesis Defense?

At this point, you’re no longer bothered by the question, what does it mean to defend your dissertation? However, you want to know your presentation or defense duration. The duration of a dissertation presentation or defense depends on the degree requirements and the institution.

Perhaps, the best way to know the duration your presentation should take is to consult your institution or department. But a dissertation defense takes 20 minutes in most cases, though it can take up to two or more hours. Also, the presentation duration and the number of questions the committee has for the candidate will influence this duration.

What’s more, the nature of your thesis will determine the duration of its defense. For instance, a master’s thesis takes longer to defend than a bachelor’s thesis. Nevertheless, your defense should fit the introduction, literature review, findings, and more time structuring the presentation. Therefore, take adequate time to prepare for the session. All in all, several factors, including your academic field and paper, determine the duration of the session.

How To Prepare For A Thesis Defense

Adequate preparation is among the best tips for ensuring a successful dissertation defense. Therefore, ensure that you understand the content of your thesis and the questions to expect from the dissertation panel. Also, ensure that you have a timetable showing the chronology of the presentation day.

The dissertation committee expects you to keep time because if you delay, you may have to wait for the next time the panel will allocate your defense. Additionally, make sure that you’ve handed in your thesis at least a month before the defense date.

How To Prepare For Thesis Defense In Six Steps

The end of a graduate degree might seem far away when starting. However, it comes up faster than most learners think. Perhaps, that’s because working on a thesis is a lot of work. What’s more, you have to master the content of your paper to ensure a successful defense. Additionally, decide the best way to present and defend your thesis. For instance, select the defense template, theme, and structure. After that, follow these steps from our best academic editing help and thesis writers to prepare a successful dissertation defense.

• Anticipate and prepare to answer all questions: Read and understand its content after writing a thesis. Also, list down potential questions to expect from the dissertation committee. You can even look for academic experts to advise you on the possible focus area for the committee members. Use your questions to gather relevant information in readiness for the presentation.
• Dress appropriately: A dissertation defense is a formal occasion comprising top-ranking members of your academic department. It’s like a passage rite for the graduate and the faculty that supported them. Although the university might not have specific dressing rules for this event, think about it with respect and dignity. Ideally, dress like you’re going for a job interview.
• Seek assistance: You will be busy preparing for your defense several days before the event’s date. Therefore, entrusting some tasks to reliable people might help. For instance, you can delegate tasks like conference room preparation and presentation equipment setup to a trustworthy person.
• Prepare a backup plan:  Thesis oral defense requires technological equipment. And technology can fail you. For instance, a PowerPoint presentation may not look as expected. It might even not work at all. Therefore, prepare a plan B by anticipating such eventualities. For example, you can have handouts ready, just in case technology fails.
• Prepare for tough questions: Most students are scared about professors asking questions they can’t answer. Although you can anticipate some questions, you won’t know the exact things the panel will want to see from you. However, defending your thesis is not about answering every question correctly and perfectly. Therefore, understand that the board doesn’t expect you to know everything.
• Learn to deal with your anxiety: It’s normal to be anxious or feel nervous when defending your thesis. However, prepare to minimize your stress. Also, understand that the committee will repeat questions if necessary. Most importantly, take time to process every question and respond confidently.

Follow these tips, and you will be ready for the defense when the day comes. But the essential thing is to master the content of your paper and anticipate questions that the committee might ask.

How To Start A Thesis Defense Presentation

Once you have everything ready for the presentation, follow these steps to start your dissertation defense presentation.

• Welcome the audience: Start by welcoming and connecting with the audience. Don’t use information or inappropriate language. Instead, be natural and approachable to your audience. Also, thank your audience for attending your defense presentation.
• Introduce yourself: Tell the audience your name and a brief description of your occupation and background.
• Explain your reason for doing your thesis: Explain what prompted you to further connect with the audience. Ensure that your motives are professional, though they can be personal, denoting your closeness to the project.
• Delve into your thesis: Start the actual defense presentation by explaining every part.

Practical Thesis Defense Tips: How To Do It

After starting defending your thesis, delve deeper into the oral presentation of your work using appropriate sound equipment and visual aids. Follow this format to present your dissertation.

Introduction: Explain why the study was necessary Literature review: Tell the committee about the findings of other scholars on your subject or topic. Research methodology: Explain the research methods you used in your study and why. Findings: Explain your research findings to the committee. Discussion: Discuss your findings and deductions. Implications, suggestions, limitations, and conclusions: Explain the impact of your study, setbacks, and findings. Also, suggest a path for future studies on the topic or subject. Answer questions: The committee members will ask you questions and expect you to respond. Leave the room: After presenting your defense and answering the committee’s questions, you can leave the room to allow the panelists to deliberate. Come back to the room: The committee will invite you back after the deliberations. The supervisor will share the committee’s decision with you.

The student receives all written work copies after the oral examination. Remember to observe dissertation defense etiquette even if the committee asks questions that deem unnecessary to you. Be polite, formal, and composed throughout the presentation.

Get Professional Thesis Writing Help

You can’t defend a thesis before writing it. However, you might lack adequate time to select a unique thesis topic, research it, and write a custom paper, and of course, buy dissertation online . That’s where our experts come in. We’re a professional team of academic writers helping learners write a quality thesis, defend them, and score the top marks. Our knowledgeable thesis specialists can also provide vital advice or guide you through the defense process.

If stuck with a dissertation or unsure about the defense process, our native writers can help you. We offer cheap and efficient academic writing services online 24/7. Contact us today!

How long is a thesis paper?

The length of your thesis will depend on your faculty, department, or study field. However, a bachelor’s thesis is usually 40 to 60 pages long. On the other hand, a master’s thesis ranges between 60 and 100 pages. A Ph.D. thesis has an average of 204 pages.

Nevertheless, the actual words for a Ph.D. thesis depend on the university and the subject. That’s because most learning institutions set the length requirements. Learning institutions set the minimum length and not the maximum word count or page number in most cases. Therefore, ask the supervisor about your paper’s length before learning how to defend your dissertation.

How long is a thesis defense?

The dissertation defense duration depends on the technicality of the paper and the degree that a student is pursuing. An undergraduate degree’s defense can last an hour, while a master’s degree defense can take one and a half hours. A Ph.D. degree defense can last two or more hours.

What happens during a thesis or dissertation defense?

The professors allocate the students time for their presentation or defense. After that, the panelists will ask questions, and the student will answer. The committee requests the student to summarize their study deductions in some cases

Hong Kong’s Regina Ip defends Olympic star Vivian Kong’s thesis against ‘rabid attacks’

• Ip mounts defence of Kong after fencer attacked over 2021 thesis defending ‘one country, two systems’ governing principle and ‘patriots only’ rule

Kong’s academic paper, submitted to Beijing’s Renmin University for a master’s in constitutional and administrative law in 2021, explored major Hong Kong protests such as the Occupy Central civil disobedience movement of 2014 and the 2019 social unrest.

She argued the protests revealed misconceptions about the constitutional order among some Hongkongers, who prioritised “two systems” over “country” in the one country, two systems governing principle.

The paper also praised Beijing’s “patriots only” condition for political participation in Hong Kong.

Ip said it was only natural for Kong as a Chinese national to support one country, two systems, which would not have survived and thrived beyond the 1997 return of the city to mainland rule without the support of central authorities.

Ip suggested the attacks on Kong, her political stance and achievements as an Olympian originated from former residents who had fled overseas.

“These people are cowards,” Ip wrote on social media. “Some of them had advocated ‘civil disobedience’ but forgotten that the true practitioners of ‘civil disobedience’, like Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, all faced up to the legal consequences of their unlawful acts and served time.

“These despicable exiles have no achievement to speak of. They are only good at barking at people who have made real contributions and toadying to unprincipled foreign politicians clutching at incendiary issues, like ‘China threat’ or ‘overcapacity’, to score political points.

“The rabid attacks on Vivian’s political beliefs are an ugly reflection of the perversity and deformity of these fawning puppets of external powers. I am sure she will brush all such ugly insinuations aside.”

Kong, who announced on Sunday she was to put her fencing career on hold, has also notched up an impressive string of academic achievements.

She earned a degree in international relations from prestigious Stanford University in the United States before she studied at Renmin University.

Kong is at present studying for a Juris Doctor law degree at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Kong’s thesis sparked intense online debates. Some internet users ridiculed her as a “future chief executive” because of her pro-Beijing stance.

Others said her contributions on the sports front should be respected and that people should not mix that with politics.

Ip said she doubted Kong would embark on a political career despite some speculation.

“She has already pocketed three university degrees, including one in law,” Ip said. “With her intelligence and resilience, I am sure she will be a tremendous asset to the legal profession if she chooses to go down that path.”

Enbridge: Increasing My Stake Despite Underperformance

• Enbridge prioritizes growth over debt reduction and shareholder distributions, unlike peers.
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• The Q2, 2024 earnings dynamics reveal a couple of interesting data points that, in my opinion, further enhance the investment thesis.
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Phonix_a/iStock via Getty Images

Enbridge ( NYSE: ENB ) is one of the few midstream players that has clearly prioritized growth over debt reduction and / or significantly increased distributions to the shareholders through massive share buybacks or dividend hikes.

For example, if we take a look at some of the closest peers, which also carry large capitalization levels such as Plains All American ( PAA ), MPLX LP ( MPLX ) and Enterprise Products Partners ( EPD ), we will notice a laser focus on bringing down the leverage, reducing maintenance CapEx and limiting the M&A maneuvers.

In ENB's case, we see, however, huge activity on the organic CapEx front and M&A transactions, which put a higher pressure on the balance sheet and disabled it from decreasing the leverage to levels that would be comparable to those of, say, MPLX, EPD and PAA.

As outlined in my previous article , there are a couple of nuances that help derisk this situation, such as utility-tilted investments and more than 95% of cash flows being contracted well into the future. These dynamics also warrant higher leverage ratios, which come in handy in the context of ENB's acquisitive strategy.

However, if we look at the total return performance chart below, we can see that while the results are positive, the market has not rewarded ENB for devising such a magnified growth agenda. On a past three-year basis, the gap is much wider, close to 60%.

Having said that, considering the data points in the Q2 2024 earnings report as well as the forthcoming benefits of the growth strategy, I have decided to increase my stake in this Company.

Let me explain.

Thesis review

In a nutshell, Q2, 2024 earnings report brought some very encouraging data points indicating benefits from the ambitious strategy. The year-over-year adjusted EBITDA generation expanded by 8%, which was partly driven by the organic growth factors (e.g., higher volumes and periodic escalators) and partly by the conducted M&A transactions. For example, this was the first full-year quarter, which includes the effects of the Gas Ohio acquisition and only partial effects from the Questar acquisition, which together have contributed $175 million in incremental adjusted EBITDA.

However, if we measure the results on a per-share basis, we will observe a relatively flat performance. The DCF per share result for Q2, 2024 has landed at $1.34, which is by $0.02 lower than in the comparable period last year. Theoretically, this could be viewed as a major negative and question whether ENB's strategy is really working.

Now, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

• The only driver behind the registered decline in DCF per share result is higher share count, which introduces an immediate drag on per share metrics, whereas the execution of M&A and / or organic CapEx takes more time (especially to realize full benefits of these investments).
• On top of this, the financing costs have also increased for ENB because of the assumption of additional debt that comes along with funding M&A and / or growth projects. Just as in the previous bullet, the cash flows from the new investments have not yet been fully reflected due to some inherent lag effects from capital raising and first revenue recognition.
• Even after factoring in all of these headwinds, ENB has remained committed to delivering a DCF of $5.40 to $5.80 per share and reaffirmed near-term EBITDA growth of 7% to 9% through 2026.

Plus, going forward, ENB has clearly communicated that it does not intend to tap the public equity markets to fund the remaining ~ $21 billion of the already identified CapEx project program. In Q2, 2024 the Company also cancelled its ATM program, confirming that the additional equity issuance is not considered an option over the foreseeable future. For investors, this should secure increased predictability on the DCF per share growth.

If we turn to ENB's growth side, we will notice a huge project and M&A activity, all of which should help accommodate almost double-digit annual EBITDA growth through 2026.

For example, during Q2, Enbridge put online 130MW solar park that is backed by a long-term PPA with AT&T. In June, ENB closed the acquisition of Questar and Wexpro, where an integration process has already started. The Gray Oak pipeline was also successfully sanctioned during the quarter. Through one of ENB's joint venture vehicles, the Company made a final investment decision for the Blackcomb pipeline, with a capacity of up to 2.5 BCF.

ENB is clearly on a track to establishing itself as the largest natural gas utility in North America, which against the backdrop of increased demand for energy, positions the Company nicely for capturing incremental growth in a significant fashion.

In the recent earnings call , Gregory L. Ebel - President and CEO - gave a decent color on this opportunity and the relevant dynamics that should offer strong tailwinds for ENB:

Throughout our utility footprint, we are engaged in additional early stage discussions with data centers that we expect to translate into future growth. In gas transmission, our assets are ideally located and well connected. We are within 50 miles of 45% of all natural gas power generation in North America. In fact, in July, we achieved seven of our highest ever daily deliveries to U.S. power plants from our gas transmission system. We've had a range of customers in the U.S. Southeast that expressed interest in securing approximately 700 million cubic feet a day of transmission capacity to serve up to 5,000 megawatts of new gas power demand. In renewable power, our scale, financial and execution capabilities are differentiators. Data centers need base low power solutions such as natural gas to support the 24x7 energy demands of hyperscalers.

Speaking of the balance sheet, ENB remains in a solid position to both manage financial risk and execute on the remaining CapEx ambition. For instance, during the quarter a credit rating agency DBRS upgraded ENB's rating to A low and S&P removed its negative outlook on ENB's business. The fact that ENB is rated just one notch below the upper investment grade, while having such a notable growth program in place, is an indicative of the underlying cash flow durability. Plus, it implies that ENB's leverage range of 4.5x to 5.0x is fully acceptable given the relevant business and financial risk dynamics.

Finally, we have to appreciate the fact that despite the $21 billion CapEx plan that is still unfunded and is set to be covered through internal cash generation and incremental leverage (while holding the 4.5x - 5.0x leverage range), ENB plans to deploy roughly $2 billion per year towards either funding new opportunities or reducing debt load. This is a clear testament of the embedded margin of safety in ENB's business.

Having said that, we still have to be cognizant of the risks that are associated with such an aggressive growth strategy, where the current CapEx pipeline is as large as ~28% of ENB's market cap. The most important risk here is that in the process of CapEx project and M&A execution, the sector dynamics turn south (e.g., drastically decreased natural gas and oil production) wiping out the surplus FCF capacity and forcing ENB to either assume more debt or once again tap into the secondary equity market just to close the execution properly. An additional risk that is out there, is the potential consequences of existing debt rollovers, which currently yield below the market level.

Yet, in my opinion, in both instances the chances of these risks materializing are minimal. Even if the natural gas and oil production drops sharply, we have to remember that, in practice, most of such large-scale projects are usually funded and initiated only once there are sufficient offtake agreements in place that warrant the necessary cash flow predictability for both ENB and lenders. It might be so that the returns are low, but the risk of projects becoming dependent on external financing just to keep the cash flows neutral is very, very low. Similarly, looking at the current FOMC dot plot, which indicates a gradual decrease in SOFR, and considering the fact that ENB has a well-laddered debt maturity profile, the risk of rising interest costs introducing a huge constraint on ENB's financial capacity seems quite distant.

The bottom line

All in all, Q2 2024 earnings report confirms that ENB has been able to expand the business in a notable fashion, while keeping the financial risk balanced.

There are multiple projects realized that did not fully percolate through the current financials, but instead will help facilitate increased EBITDA generation going forward. The projected 7% to 9% annual EBITDA growth through 2026 in combination with notable amounts of surplus cash retention after covering the financing costs and dividends should warrant a favorable base from which ENB can capitalize on the significant growth opportunities that are associated with increasing energy demand.

In the meantime, the core business still remains highly defensive, with an investment grade balance sheet and the lion's share of the underlying cash generation being linked to long-term and inflation protected contracts.

So, these are the reasons why I have recently increased my stake in Enbridge.

This article was written by

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ENB either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Tension and technology: How AI can benefit defense and safety

Sander Klomp defended his PhD thesis at the Department of Electrical Engineering on July 2nd.

In recent years, tensions between nations have been on the rise, resulting in the spread of misinformation, abuse of personal data, and even armed conflict. Added to this, there has been exponential growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems with the latest systems able to analyze vast amounts of data and easily generate realistic fake images. Such tension and technological advancement will influence each other, and the outcome of that intersection may not necessarily be positive. For his PhD research, Sander Klomp focused on the potential positive intersection of tension and technology, where image analysis driven by AI can be used to improve the safety and security of people in a world where both their privacy and physical safety are at risk.

Although the most popular AI tools are large language models such as ChatGPT or generative models that can create visual art, music, or deepfakes, AI also excels at automatically analyzing the content of image.

In his PhD research, Sander Klomp has improved AI models for image analysis, such as for a military-grade camera system that automatically scans the surroundings for hidden explosives, or for AI tools that help maintain privacy of people in public spaces and hospitals.

Protecting people's privacy

It is well-known that AI requires large amounts of data to learn. For example, for an AI model that helps with traffic optimization and analysis, large datasets of surveillance camera footage of public spaces is required.

Clearly, storing these types of data sets poses serious privacy risks. So, what if deepfakes could be used to retain the data, but remove the privacy sensitive part?

AI models are quite adept at creating realistic faces of people that do not exist, which can in turn be used to replace the faces of people on surveillance footage. The challenge is to anonymize the faces in such a way that other AI models can still use the data for training just as effectively as they could use the unaltered privacy-sensitive data.

If privacy alone is not reason enough, another reason to anonymize images is that recent privacy legislation prohibits storing privacy-sensitive information, so being able to anonymize images effectively will soon be required to be able to have sufficient data for training AI models at all.

Klomp has shown that when the anonymization is performed in the right way, the effectiveness of AI models trained on the anonymized data is only a few percent lower than when trained on entirely real data, which is an acceptable cost.

Protecting Dutch troops from hidden explosives

Hidden explosives remain one of the deadliest threats in conflict zones. Although the type of explosives can range from roadside improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan to landmines and unexploded cluster munitions in Ukraine, the urgent need to detect these threats has remained the same.

In his main research project, Sander Klomp developed AI models to detect these threats from a vehicle-mounted camera system with 10 cameras of different spectral bands.

The main contribution is a change detection AI model, which can compare current images with those of a previous patrol, allowing it to find suspicious changes in the environment, such as new objects or digging marks.

Klomp is not quite ready to let go of his PhD research just yet and is currently leading a team of engineers at ViNotion as he aims to continue the development of the camera system for the detection of hidden explosives. He hopes that it can be used by Dutch troops in the field within the next few years.

Title of PhD-thesis: Privacy-Preserving Advances in Convolutional Neural Networks for Defense and Safety . Supervisor: Peter H.N. de With (TUE). Co-supervisor: Dennis W.J.M. van de Wouw. Other main parties involved: ViNotion.

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