You passed, but the examiners want changes: what now? Viva corrections are the normal outcome of a UK-style doctoral examination, not a sign of failure. What matters is which category you were given, how long the regulations allow, and how clearly you show the examiners that every point has been addressed. This guide explains minor and major corrections with deadlines taken from current university regulations, and gives a seven-step plan for responding.
This article is part of our guide How to Write a Master’s Thesis by the Mastermind PhD team and relates to our Academic Proofreading & Review service. Sources last checked: November 2026.
What are viva corrections? Viva corrections are the changes the examiners require before the degree is awarded after an oral examination. Minor corrections cover editorial errors and small weaknesses and usually have a deadline of a few weeks to three months; major corrections address more significant deficiencies, usually within six months, but do not normally require new original research or a second viva.
What outcomes can a viva have?
Category names differ between universities, but most UK regulations use a similar ladder:
- Pass with no corrections (or only a handful of typing errors).
- Pass with minor corrections.
- Pass with major corrections.
- Revise and resubmit (referral), usually with a second examination.
- Award of a lower degree, such as an MPhil.
- Fail.
Outcomes 2 and 3 are very common. The University of Sheffield states that a candidate on minor or major corrections “cannot fail” on that outcome, but will be withdrawn if the corrections are not completed within the time limit, so the deadline is the real risk.
How long do you have for viva corrections?
The table below uses current regulations (checked November 2026).
| University | Minor corrections | Major corrections | Resubmission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield | 3 months (full-time or part-time) | 6 months (full-time or part-time) | Separate outcome |
| Sussex | 3 months full-time, 6 months part-time | 6 months full-time, 12 months part-time | 12 months full-time, 24 months part-time |
| Leeds (from 1 September 2026) | Editorial corrections: 6 weeks; minor amendments: 6 months | No separate major category; referral instead | Referral, examiners decide on a second viva |
Leeds is a useful reminder that rules change: from 1 September 2026 its “minor deficiencies” category was renamed “minor amendments” and the deadline extended from 12 weeks to six months. Always read the version of the regulations that applies to your submission date.
📱 Request academic proofreading — You are told the reviewer’s field and degree before work starts, and a meeting is scheduled to confirm your university’s rules.
What is the difference between minor and major corrections?
| Feature | Minor corrections | Major corrections |
|---|---|---|
| Typical content | Typos, referencing, clarifying sentences, small additions to the discussion | Reworking chapters, additional analysis of existing data, restructuring the argument |
| Typical deadline | Weeks to 3 months | About 6 months |
| New research needed? | No | Normally no; Sheffield allows further analysis of existing data |
| Who checks | Usually the internal examiner | Often both examiners |
| Second viva | No | Normally no |
Sheffield defines major corrections as deficiencies “more significant than editorial” that will take more than three months. If the list asks for new data collection, that is closer to a resubmission, and you should ask the graduate school to confirm the category.
How should you respond to viva corrections in 7 steps?
Step 1: Get the official list in writing. The examiners’ notes at the end of the viva are not enough. Sheffield requires examiners to give details of the required changes “as soon as possible following the viva”. Your deadline usually runs from the date you receive this list, so record that date.
Step 2: Check the deadline and the submission route. Find out who receives the corrected thesis (at Sheffield it goes directly to the checking examiner), in what format, and whether a signed form is needed.
Step 3: Turn the list into a numbered table. Split compound comments into single actions. A comment such as “clarify the sampling and justify the response rate” becomes two rows.
Step 4: Agree any unclear points with your supervisor. If a comment is ambiguous, ask your supervisor to help interpret it, and, where the regulations allow, ask the internal examiner through the proper channel. Do not guess on major points.
Step 5: Make the changes in order of size. Start with the substantial items while you have energy; leave typing errors to the end. Keep a tracked-changes copy and a clean copy.
Step 6: Write the response document. This is where viva corrections succeed or fail. For each item give the comment, what you changed, and the page and line in the revised thesis.
Step 7: Proofread and submit early. Check that page numbers in your response table match the final PDF, then submit before the deadline, leaving room for a second small round if the examiner asks.
What does a good corrections table look like?
| No. | Examiner comment | Change made | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justify the choice of thematic analysis over IPA | Added a paragraph comparing both approaches with reference to the research questions | Ch. 3, p. 64, para. 2 |
| 2 | Report effect sizes for the t-tests | Added Cohen’s d to Table 4.3 and the text | Ch. 4, p. 98 |
| 3 | Limitations of the convenience sample | New subsection 6.4 | Ch. 6, pp. 172 to 173 |
| 4 | Typographical errors listed in the annotated copy | All corrected | Throughout |
Keep the tone neutral. Where you disagree with a minor point, you may explain briefly and politely why you kept the original, but for a required correction the examiners have the final word.
How do you plan the time for viva corrections?
Work backwards from the deadline. For a three-month minor corrections window, a realistic plan is two weeks to build the table and agree interpretations with your supervisor, six weeks for the changes, two weeks for the response document and proofreading, and two weeks of buffer. For a six-month major corrections window, give the largest items (a reworked chapter or additional analysis of existing data) the first three months, because they usually reveal knock-on edits in the introduction and conclusion. Book short check-ins with your supervisor at each milestone so that problems surface early rather than in the final week.
What if you cannot meet the deadline?
Ask for an extension before the deadline, not after. Sheffield allows a further extension only exceptionally, warns that repeated or lengthy extensions are unlikely to be approved, and charges a standard extension fee. Supporting evidence (medical, caring or employment reasons) strengthens a request. Missing the deadline without permission can lead to withdrawal, which is a far worse outcome than the viva corrections themselves.
Where can outside help fit?
Many universities allow language proofreading of the corrected thesis, provided it does not change the content, and your university’s proofreading policy defines the limits. A statistician can explain an analysis the examiners asked for, but you must understand and be able to defend every change. The research decisions, the wording of the response table and the arguments stay yours.
📱 Ask on WhatsApp now — 5 years of experience across all disciplines and 14 academic services. Two-stage payment (80/20); revisions are free until supervisor approval, within 30% of the chapter.
Frequently asked questions
Are viva corrections normal?
Yes. Passing with no corrections at all is uncommon, and pass with minor corrections is one of the most common outcomes. Corrections mean the examiners judged the thesis worthy of the degree subject to changes.
Can I fail after getting minor or major corrections?
Under Sheffield’s regulations you cannot fail on this outcome, but you can be withdrawn if the corrections are not completed in time. Check the equivalent wording in your own university’s code of practice.
Who checks my corrections?
For minor corrections it is usually the internal examiner alone. For major corrections one or both examiners may check, and some universities ask the external examiner to confirm too.
Do I need a second viva after major corrections?
Normally not. A second viva is more typical after a revise-and-resubmit outcome, where the thesis is formally re-examined.
When does the deadline start?
At most universities the clock starts when you receive the official written list of corrections, not on the day of the viva. Confirm the exact start date with your graduate school.
Sources
- University of Sheffield. Code of practice for research degree candidature: Examination outcomes and reports (minor and major corrections). https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/rs/code/minor (accessed November 2026)
- University of Sussex, Researcher School. Examination: Examiners and outcomes. https://www.sussex.ac.uk/rsao/examination/examiners (accessed November 2026)
- University of Leeds. Understand viva outcomes. https://students.leeds.ac.uk/postgraduate-research-thesis-viva/doc/viva-outcomes (accessed November 2026)
- Trafford, V., & Leshem, S. (2008). Stepping stones to achieving your doctorate: By focusing on your viva from the start. Open University Press.
- Murray, R. (2015). How to survive your viva: Defending a thesis in an oral examination (3rd ed.). Open University Press.
Sources last checked: November 2026. This article is general educational guidance and does not replace your university regulations or your supervisor’s instructions. How we prepare our content.