Doctoral Defense Training

This one-day workshop is designed for PhD students, offering comprehensive preparation for the doctoral defense or viva voce, the final step in completing your doctorate, aside from the mandatory publication. After dedicating years to researching your dissertation's topic, methods, and theoretical framework, the time will come for you to present and communicate your findings effectively. Whether you are summarizing your work or expanding your focus to other related fields, depending on your PhD regulations, this workshop will help you build the skills needed for a successful defense.

We will cover the following key topics:

• Understanding the purpose of the doctoral defense

• Efficient and strategic preparation for the defense

• Crafting an engaging and coherent research narrative

• Anticipating and addressing challenging questions

• Managing exam anxiety and overcoming stage fright

The workshop combines theoretical insights with practical exercises, including a full mock defense for one participant. Before the workshop, all participants will receive a questionnaire, and those who want to prepare a presentation for the mock defense should submit a brief abstract.

Date & Time:

The online workshop will take place online on 14 May 2025, from 9:00 am to 16:30. A link to the course and additional details will be provided upon successful registration.

About the Trainer

Dr. Dunja Mohr is a certified coach and trainer with Go Academic! She has over fifteen years of experience offering workshops, group sessions, and individual coaching for universities, academic foundations, and universities of applied sciences. In addition to her work as a trainer for Uni-Support and Institut für Hochschulberatung, she taught English Literature at German universities for more than twenty years. Dr. Mohr also serves as a senior scientist and is actively involved in several international professional associations, as well as being an ambassador scientist for a major scholarship foundation.