Hi

I thought i'd reply and let you know you're not alone. I had my PhD viva last week. I managed to pass with 3 months for corrections (no further viva required). However, although my viva didn't last as long as yours (only 2 hours, and then 30 minutes for their recommendations afterwards), I did have quite a few problems with my internal examiner. I too, didn't want my internal and had no choice, but luckily managed to get the external I asked for. My internal has never liked my work, has never seen any value in it, and at research seminars within the institution always taken the opportunity to make remarks about it all in front of other people. Despite all this i battled on, mainly as my supervisor was so amazing (I was tempted on many occasions to leave) and I have had a fairly successful run of conference submissions and publications in my area.

When it came to the viva I expected some opposition, but it seemed as if every bad word about my work came from my internal. Luckily my external examiner seemed really interested in my work and started by saying it was a contribution to the area (he is one of the key people in my field). I felt frustrated that I had to constantly defend myself against my internal examiner, and answer questions that were not related to my project what so ever! I also wonder if this is down to some internal politics as this person has also never seen eye to eye with my supervisor either. I'm sure he really wanted to give me another year and a re-submission, but i'm so relieved that the outcome was only 3 months of corrections. I agree with some of the things said, but I feel as if the internal didn't even try to understand my area and came with his own prejudices about my project before I even sat down in the room. I am dreading having to deal with him in the next few months when it comes to having the corrections signed off. I feel like it will end up being dragged out into a much longer process than it needs to be.

It's a shame these things happen in what should be a supportive academic environment. I know how it feels when you've worked on something for so long you just want to see the back of it, but hang in there. My advice to you would also be to see if you can request an independent chair to sit in on your next viva. This may help deter your examiner from behaving badly once again. Good luck with it all!