Preparing for your PhD defence | GRTC801

This two-part workshop series aims to support you through the thesis submission and defence process with the goal of providing structured guidance on submission requirements, practical strategies for preparing for the defence, set-up your expectations, support in developing clear, effective responses to defence questions. The goal is to help you approach your defence with confidence and a preparation plan to support a successful defence.

*Note: Participants are expected to be in the later stages of their PhD journey and should have an idea of when their defence will take place.

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand the general structure and expectations of the thesis submission and also defence process.

• Prepare clear and organized responses to common defence questions and strategies for answering them.

• Develop a preparation plan to support a successful defence.

Virginia Opara is a PhD candidate in Psychology, where her research examines prediction error learning. She is also completing a Master’s in Data Analytics, with a focus on deep learning and business analytics. Her background brings together behavioural neuroscience, data analysis, academic writing, and research communication. She has several years of experience in research, teaching, and applied analysis, including independent consulting projects in research, data analysis, and reporting.

This workshop is intended for PhD candidates nearing their defence or that are at their final stages of their degree.