07/03/2026
My thesis defense is next week, here's what I'm expecting:
💚 There will be 5 of us there. Myself, the Chair, my thesis supervisor who has been with me since the beginning and two examiners.
💚 One Examiner is 'internal', from the university, not a dietitian, doesn't work in Eating Disorders but excellent at conducting research
💚 The other is my external Examiner, and I got to nominate this person. They're considered an expert in the field and I couldn't believe it when they said yes🥹 . They are a dietitian, working in Eating Disorders with a PhD.
💚 I submitted my thesis two months ago, and it went straight to the panel.
💚 Since then, they have been reading it thoroughly and identifying areas that they want me to clarify in the thesis defense (next week)
💚 Obviously I don't know what the questions will be but I'm expecting something like:
👉 Why did you centre this study in Ireland? What's so unique about the Irish experience compared to UK etc
👉 Did you just look at what participants said, or is what they didn't say of important too
👉 Why did you just focus on women and exclude men?
💚 I'm expecting this questioning to last up to 2hrs
💚 Then I'll leave the Zoom room and the panel will discuss my outcome.
💚 I'll then be invited back and they will tell me my outcome
✅ Doctorate awarded with no corrections (the dream). I'll have my Dr. from that moment.
✅ Doctorate awarded with minor corrections - there are a couple of things they want me to change and I'll have 6 months to do so
✅ Doctorate awarded with major corrections - there's a big issue and I have 12 months to fix it.
❌ The universiy are very strict in their policy that if I get minor or major corrections, I can't use the title Dr. until the corrections are submitted and accepted.
So that's the plan.... 😊
