Sep 1, 2025 5 min read

Preparing for your Thesis Defense

Hey Neurons, I am currently in the final stage of my PhD, which is preparing for the thesis defense, and I’d like to share with you how I’ve been getting ready and what I’m doing to feel as prepared as possible. Defense requirements differ quite a lot between universities; for instance, here in the Netherlands, the defense is more ceremonial, but the core preparation strategies tend to be quite similar everywhere. If you’re reading this while preparing for a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD defense, remember that feeling nervous is completely normal and can even be a good thing. It shows that you take this moment seriously, and your committee or professors will appreciate that you genuinely care about your work.

I’ll share some general tips and advice that I’ve received from colleagues and my professor, and I hope these will help you feel more confident in your own preparation.

1. Master your Presentation

In the Netherlands, and in most defenses I’ve attended, you are expected to give a general introduction to your work before the committee begins its questioning. This presentation can last anywhere from ten minutes to two hours. However, there are a few key pieces of advice that apply to any type of presentation.

Perfect through Practice.

Practice your presentation as much as possible and make sure you stay within the time limits. Going over time is usually not allowed, so especially if you have a short slot, ensure that you cover all your key points within the given window.
Record yourself: I got this tip from a colleague, who told me they record shorter presentations and then listen back, pausing at certain points and anticipating what they’re going to say next. This technique lets you rehearse your talk while walking, cleaning, or doing other activities. For such an important moment, you’ll want to feel fully prepared, so this is a great way to get in extra practice.
Think like an actor: if you’re very nervous about standing in front of a crowd, one thing that has helped me is to imagine myself performing on stage. Having done some theater in the past, I find this method creates a bit of distance between myself and the audience, which makes it easier to manage the nerves.

2. Prepare for Questions

The second stage is the question round, where your committee will most likely ask about you and your research. This part can feel quite nerve-wracking since you don’t know in advance exactly what they will ask. However, some techniques can help you feel better prepared.

Building a Question Bank

Collect questions throughout the PhD/Master's: During my PhD, I attended several thesis defenses, and it was very helpful to see what kinds of questions were asked to colleagues before me. Even if they worked on different topics, general questions often come up, such as: “What would you have done differently if you could start research A again?” Collect these types of questions in a shared Google Doc so you can refer back to them when your own defense comes around.
Research your committee: while you cannot predict the exact questions each committee member will ask, you can often anticipate certain themes based on their background. The more familiar you are with your committee members, the better you can prepare for the kinds of questions they are likely to raise.
Prepare for the unexpected: there will almost certainly be one or two questions you did not prepare for and cannot fully answer. Having a response ready along the lines of: “That’s a really good question that I haven’t considered. Based on my experience in ABC, I think the answer might be XYZ, but more research is needed to fully understand this topic.” This kind of reply is perfectly acceptable and will allow you to handle stressful moments more calmly.

3. On the Defense Day

The most important thing on the day of your defense is to manage your nerves and enjoy this special moment you’ve worked so hard to achieve. Try to reframe the defense in your mind as a discussion between yourself and other respected colleagues in the field. While you want to demonstrate that you deserve your PhD, the very fact that your committee is present already shows that they most likely recognise the value of your work.

Mental and Physical preparation:

Ground yourself: One thing I always do is move my feet slightly, so I avoid gesturing too much with my hands during the presentation, while still keeping small movements that help me feel grounded. Finding a similar method or strategy that calms you can be very helpful during the defense.
Prepare your notes: I wouldn’t recommend writing everything out verbatim, but having a few key points on note cards can be a great source of support when needed.
Remember that you are the expert: while your professors and committee members know a lot, by the end of your master’s or PhD, you have worked extensively on one specific topic, likely more than almost anyone else. So when you get a difficult question, remember that you’ve spent years writing and researching in this area, and you are able to give an informed answer.

I hope that through these tips you will feel confident and prepared. Good luck with the preparation of your presentation!

📚 Something to read

📚 Book - I am a Strange Loop - by Douglas R. Hofstadter - Currently, I am reading this book, partly as preparation for my thesis defense. It dives into topics such as consciousness, symbols, and meaning. If you have ever read any of the work of Dr. Hofstadter, you know that it is a mind-bending exercise into the most seemingly unrelated topics, but coming out of his books, you will feel your mind has expanded.

“We don't want to focus on the trees (or their leaves) at the expense of the forest.”
―Douglas R. Hofstadter, I am a Strange Loop

👀 Something to watch

👀 Youtube series - Back to School - If you are interested in psychology, I think a great introduction is the CrashCourse series on the topic. Even working in the field, it is great to get an overview of the different topics, ideas, and methods out there.

🎧 Something to listen

🎧 Podcast - Deep Work - I read the book by Cal Newport a few years ago and found it quite impactful on the way I handle my own work. Currently, I am listening to it to remember some of the core aspects, and also slowly trying to reduce my own workload.

🧠 NeuroSnips Community

Lastly, I'm creating a membership for anyone who wants to support the channel and mailing list, and access to a specially curated resource bank designed for bachelor's, master's, and PhD students.

Access to monthly curated templates, goal planners, and reading trackers
Access to dedicated Notion workspaces for (PhD) students: meta-learning dashboards.
Future access to the Beta version of The Infinity Lab community upon launch