How Defensia works
A real-time spoken mock viva, grounded in your thesis. Here is what happens from upload to feedback.
Upload your thesis or abstract
Upload your thesis PDF and Defensia indexes the full text. If you want to try the platform first, you can start with just your abstract. For the most specific questions, the full thesis gives the AI examiner far more to work with.
Choose an examiner style
Select from several examiner styles depending on what you want to rehearse. Starting with a supportive style helps you build confidence. A more rigorous or sceptical style will stress-test your defence when you're ready.
Answer out loud in a live session
The mock viva runs in real time. The AI examiner speaks a question; you respond out loud. Your spoken answer is transcribed and the examiner listens before asking a follow-up. This is not a typed quiz — it is a spoken academic conversation.
Respond to follow-up questions
Follow-up questions are the heart of the viva. The examiner responds to what you actually said, pressing further on weak points and exploring interesting claims. Your answers shape the direction of the session.
Review structured feedback
After the session, you receive scored feedback across five categories: research contribution, methodology, literature, critical thinking, and presentation. The feedback is specific to the session — not generic.
Practise again
Each session generates different questions from your thesis. You can practise as many times as you need, try different examiner styles, and track your scores across sessions to see where you're improving.
What a session looks like
A real-time conversation: question, answer, follow-up, feedback.
Methodologist
Examiner speaking
EXAMINER
"Your methodology chapter describes a thematic analysis approach. Can you explain why you chose inductive coding rather than applying an existing theoretical framework to your data?"
YOUR ANSWER
"I chose inductive coding because my research question was exploratory — I was examining patterns in participant experience that hadn't been categorised before, so applying a predetermined framework would have constrained the analysis…"
FOLLOW-UP
"How did you establish rigour in that process? Did you use member checking or inter-rater reliability measures?"
SESSION FEEDBACK
A note on what Defensia is for
Defensia is a preparation tool. It gives you a private space to rehearse the spoken viva conversation as many times as you need. It is not a replacement for your supervisor, formal mock vivas arranged through your institution, or any other official guidance. It is designed to complement those things — not replace them.