PhD Postgraduate Forum - PhD viva recommendation appeal help!

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Author	Message
NatashaIsaiah [Registered User] 21 May 2022 14:06	PhD viva recommendation appeal help! User: NatashaIsaiah - 21 May 2022 14:06 Hi guys, I have to 10 days to write an appeal and I’m reaching out for help. I had my viva back in April and the recommendation the examiners made was 12 months corrections for an Mphil. I submitted my PhD in October last year and it took 6 months for me to get a viva date. It transpired during the viva that my university sent the examiners an incorrect copy of my thesis in error, as what my examiners had before them was not my final submitted draft. This mistake was only discovered part way during the viva examination. The examination was abandoned and the university quickly remedy the mishap and sent the examiners the correct final version of my thesis, that same day. Two days later I was contacted to set a new date for my viva (less than a week later). The second viva commenced. The viva was not a pleasant experience and the questioning was very confrontational. I was interrupted constantly while providing my answers and was unable to give full answers at times as I was being interrupted mid sentence. The examiners made the recommendation of an Mphil. Are there any suggestions on how to go about writing and making an appeal? Thanks Natasha
eng77 [Registered User] 25 May 2022 08:18	User: eng77 - 25 May 2022 08:18 Quote From NatashaIsaiah: Hi guys, I have to 10 days to write an appeal and I’m reaching out for help. I had my viva back in April and the recommendation the examiners made was 12 months corrections for an Mphil. I submitted my PhD in October last year and it took 6 months for me to get a viva date. It transpired during the viva that my university sent the examiners an incorrect copy of my thesis in error, as what my examiners had before them was not my final submitted draft. This mistake was only discovered part way during the viva examination. The examination was abandoned and the university quickly remedy the mishap and sent the examiners the correct final version of my thesis, that same day. Two days later I was contacted to set a new date for my viva (less than a week later). The second viva commenced. The viva was not a pleasant experience and the questioning was very confrontational. I was interrupted constantly while providing my answers and was unable to give full answers at times as I was being interrupted mid sentence. The examiners made the recommendation of an Mphil. Are there any suggestions on how to go about writing and making an appeal? Thanks Natasha I am sorry for this terrible experience. They might have judged the incorrect version and reached a conclusion already before they received the right version. You might argue that the examiners did not have enough time to revise the thesis (less than a week). Moreover, their decision was definitely influenced by the eirlier version of the thesis which they took time to examine. I would suggest that you ask for new examination panel that know nothing about your thesis. You can talk with the faculty and ask politely for this as they owe you because it is their fault. Otherwise, a formal appeal is not uncommon when the examiners recommend to award a lower degree. Just do not give up. It can take years but it is worth. You deserve at least a fair chance of a regular thesis examination and a regular viva even if this takes a half year more. I wish everything goes well.

Author

Message

NatashaIsaiah

[Registered User]
21 May 2022 14:06

PhD viva recommendation appeal help!

User: NatashaIsaiah - 21 May 2022 14:06

Hi guys,

I have to 10 days to write an appeal and I’m reaching out for help. I had my viva back in April and the recommendation the examiners made was 12 months corrections for an Mphil.

I submitted my PhD in October last year and it took 6 months for me to get a viva date.

It transpired during the viva that my university sent the examiners an incorrect copy of my thesis in error, as what my examiners had before them was not my final submitted draft. This mistake was only discovered part way during the viva examination.

The examination was abandoned and the university quickly remedy the mishap and sent the examiners the correct final version of my thesis, that same day.

Two days later I was contacted to set a new date for my viva (less than a week later).

The second viva commenced.

The viva was not a pleasant experience and the questioning was very confrontational. I was interrupted constantly while providing my answers and was unable to give full answers at times as I was being interrupted mid sentence.

The examiners made the recommendation of an Mphil.

Are there any suggestions on how to go about writing and making an appeal?

Thanks
Natasha

eng77

[Registered User]
25 May 2022 08:18

User: eng77 - 25 May 2022 08:18

Quote From NatashaIsaiah:
Hi guys,

I have to 10 days to write an appeal and I’m reaching out for help. I had my viva back in April and the recommendation the examiners made was 12 months corrections for an Mphil.

I submitted my PhD in October last year and it took 6 months for me to get a viva date.

It transpired during the viva that my university sent the examiners an incorrect copy of my thesis in error, as what my examiners had before them was not my final submitted draft. This mistake was only discovered part way during the viva examination.

The examination was abandoned and the university quickly remedy the mishap and sent the examiners the correct final version of my thesis, that same day.

Two days later I was contacted to set a new date for my viva (less than a week later).

The second viva commenced.

The viva was not a pleasant experience and the questioning was very confrontational. I was interrupted constantly while providing my answers and was unable to give full answers at times as I was being interrupted mid sentence.

The examiners made the recommendation of an Mphil.

Are there any suggestions on how to go about writing and making an appeal?

Thanks
Natasha

I am sorry for this terrible experience. They might have judged the incorrect version and reached a conclusion already before they received the right version. You might argue that the examiners did not have enough time to revise the thesis (less than a week). Moreover, their decision was definitely influenced by the eirlier version of the thesis which they took time to examine. I would suggest that you ask for new examination panel that know nothing about your thesis. You can talk with the faculty and ask politely for this as they owe you because it is their fault. Otherwise, a formal appeal is not uncommon when the examiners recommend to award a lower degree. Just do not give up. It can take years but it is worth. You deserve at least a fair chance of a regular thesis examination and a regular viva even if this takes a half year more. I wish everything goes well.