1 to 15 of 19 PhD Forum Posts
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1367
[Registered User]
15 May 2019 13:12
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Just failed my phd - devastated
User: 1367 - 15 May 2019 13:12
Hi. I have got into a similar situation where my examiners downgraded me to an E and it was a personal conflict of interest. I want to appeal and get mew examiners. I would love to be able to talk to you to get more info please. I'm international and have lost loads of money to uni. They refuse to review my thesis and the examiners didn't have enough knowledge on the field and I want to appeal.
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sarahk5275
[Registered User]
05 January 2010 17:18
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User: sarahk5275 - 05 January 2010 17:18
Hi Anonphd,
Definitely follow the regulations to the letter. Although this is related to employment rather than a PhD, a colleague of mine was told that his contract wasn't going to be renewed. However, the university didn't follow the correct procedure and the union managed to exploit this with the result that my colleague got his job back.
Get the student union involved and make sure that you follow all the procedures because it just might make the difference.
I can imagine how devasted you must be but keep trying and the best of luck.
(up)
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snelison
[Registered User]
03 January 2010 20:26
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User: snelison - 03 January 2010 20:26
bloody hell, it looks like this sort of thing is more common than i thought...it seems like there needs to be more regulation for how PhDs are 'managed' by supervisors. theres probably loads of supervisors out there who arent actually up to the job.
deffers crack on with the appeal though. sounds like it can be a long process but well worth it if you get to continue your research (and get to be a Dr after-all!)
and ta for the good luck wishes for the new PhD. fingers crossed it doesnt bugger-up again. not even i could be that unlucky!
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Paige
[Registered User]
01 January 2010 14:07
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User: Paige - 01 January 2010 14:07
Wow TT that's great advice - and congrats for sticking with it - glad it paid off in the end.
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TT
[Registered User]
30 December 2009 06:56
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User: TT - 30 December 2009 06:56
I am pleased you have decided to appeal. One thing I did when I was unable to meet a deadline was write to the university and state that I would be proceeding. In my uni this letter kept the proceedure open. One thing: follow every regulation to the letter, if your supervisor has been told not to talk to you then do not try to contact them. In my appeal I followed the regulations and the uni did not: this put me in a strong postion when it went to the OIA. Happy to receive a PM if you would like to discuss it more.
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anonphd
[Registered User]
30 December 2009 00:17
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User: anonphd - 30 December 2009 00:17
======= Date Modified 30 Dec 2009 00:24:18 =======
Hello everyone,
I just want to say how grateful I am for your support which means the world to me. I am battling against feelings of being inadequate and completely stupid. I am writing the appeal but feel so numb I don't know where to start (not helped by the super not allowed to communicate with me). Part of me just wants to give up and look for another PhD, but this thesis has taken up so much time and so many sacrifices. The uni has a very short time span in which to submit an appeal and because the clock started ticking just before the Christmas holidays, time is short. I can believe that they did it on purpose! I agree that the Viva and academic assessment process needs to be more transparent and examiners need to be accountable. This is people's lives they are playing with so they shouldn't be allowed just to get away with this.
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Aodhán
[Registered User]
29 December 2009 23:45
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User: Aodhán - 29 December 2009 23:45
Wow, TT; just f*cking wow. Wow. You should be publicising that story more.
You have my respect.
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Aodhán
[Registered User]
29 December 2009 23:34
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User: Aodhán - 29 December 2009 23:34
Just read the headline. I'm disgusted, disgusted beyond words, that this can be allowed to happen. Before reading anything else I just want to reiterate what has undoubtedly been said to you many times by now: it is your supervisor's fault that you are in this position.
The entire viva voce process needs to be kicked screaming into the era of openess and transparency and the age of supervisors getting away scot-free has to end. This process is a deep shame on the universities of the western world.
In the meantime, my instinct would be to discover what needs to be done in order to get you over the bar and push yourself over that bar like you've never, ever done. You will, I assure you, be a stronger person for it.
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TT
[Registered User]
29 December 2009 15:03
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User: TT - 29 December 2009 15:03
I am sorry anonphd. I had a similar situation, I submitted my thesis and my supervisors said it was great and 100% certain to pass. I was then phoned 9 days before my viva to be told my external thought it was so unsatisfactory that the viva was pulled. After the shock I went through the complaints proceedure. Everything I wrote was cross ref to every piece of paper/electronic communication I had ever had, one thing you might like to do is a data protection/freedom of information request. I then went to the OIA (which you can do if you are at a British university). The OIA upheld the majority of my complaint awarded damages and demanded (as the OIA is binding on a university) that the uni make changes. It did take over three years! The good news for me was I then started again with a new team and nine months later (December 11 2009) had my viva which I passed with minor revisions. Do not give up, complaints are upheld and they can make your viva null and void which means that you still have a chance. I will not deny how difficult it is, certainly many people are not talking to me (I will graduate from another school in the uni) and the uni will support its staff to the hilt. However as one person said to me - what have you go to loose, the worst has happened, it can only get better.
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rubyw
[Registered User]
29 December 2009 12:48
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User: rubyw - 29 December 2009 12:48
Hi Anon,
That sounds awful and I'm not surprised you feel devastated. Do carry on with the appeals process though, some do get through, I've seen it happen. It does sound a bit dodgy that you were allowed to submit if your work was supposedly that bad, how did the whole process get to that point? I would echo what's already been said and start checking back through past documentation of any possible deficiencies on the part of your supervisors or the department. Are there any other students with the same supervisors who also failed? Sometimes there is a pattern that shows the university is at fault.
Good luck with it anyway, (up)
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rjb203
[Registered User]
29 December 2009 11:35
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User: rjb203 - 29 December 2009 11:35
@Snelison,
Best of luck with your PhD. I think it takes lot of character to get back up on the horse again and I've always found it quite inspiring hearing about people like you on this site :-)
I am constantly toying with the idea of doing a PhD again and as it turns out a phd could be very beneficial in my career so I am seriously considering it.
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Sue2604
[Registered User]
29 December 2009 00:15
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User: Sue2604 - 29 December 2009 00:15
Hi anon, you have my sympathies too! Poor you, this sounds horrible. But as Paige has suggested, go and get some advice. Go and talk to your student union, your postgrad student union people. It sounds like you've had a hard time, and certainly doesn't sound right that your sup isn't supposed to talk to you now!!
Take some time out to get over the hurt for a bit, then in the new year make some phone calls. Good luck! Let us know how you get on.
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Paige
[Registered User]
28 December 2009 21:30
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User: Paige - 28 December 2009 21:30
Oh - and if you are going to pursue this I'd recommend starting by making a list of everything they did - dates, and factual descriptions - with copies if possible (eg. of emails stating that the supervisor couldn't speak to you etc.). And if it's still going on, keep a diary and record everything - dates and times you have spoken to people, their names, left messages etc. Eg. if you have evidence that you asked for feedback from supervisors over a long period of time and they didn't give you advice etc.
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Paige
[Registered User]
28 December 2009 21:26
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User: Paige - 28 December 2009 21:26
Hi anonphd,
Sorry that you've had such a hard time - and that the university has let you down repeatedly. I've only started my phd, so I don't know anything about appeal processes etc. But it might be that the university owns your 'intellectual property' but you'd need to check before you resubmitted somewhere else. But do you have any avenues of support in reporting a formal grievance against the department/staff member/university - as your supervisor not being able to talk to you and having an external supervisor not in the right area sounds like massive mistakes on their behalf - as well as your supervisor failing to provide adequate feedback prior to the assessment.
When I've been unfairly treated, and left on hanging, I've done something about it - contact a union, or somewhere, where you can find out your rights. Be professional, and reasonable, but assertive. Even if I haven't got what I wanted - I felt better for standing up for myself.
P x
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satchi
[Registered User]
28 December 2009 18:16
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User: satchi - 28 December 2009 18:16
hi, I also haven't posted here for a long time. Somehow Im feeling lonely these christmas holidays.
I am so sorry to hear about your situation. I thought I was going to fail my MSc (I had a pretty bad viva) but somehow they gave me a pass. I hope you feel better and I hope things come right for you soon.
Satchi
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