Discover five essential thesis defence strategies for 2026. Learn to articulate contributions, justify methods, use silence confidently, and excel in virtual vivas. Examiner insights and graduate survey data guide you from anxious candidate to confident scholar. The thesis defence has changed significantly in recent years. By 2026, virtual vivas, heightened scrutiny of methodology, and stronger expectations around original contribution have reshaped how examiners assess candidates. A successful defence thesis now depends less on memorisation and more on clarity, confidence, and intellectual honesty.