Absolutely agree with above. Go prepared and with the right attitude about things that might come up. They've probably seen worse in all their experience. I haven't had mine yet but I have concerns about issues with my thesis (I wish it was typos but it's more substantive stuff... basically, it's pretty crap... the result of a bad PhD experience full stop). Anyway, I raised these concerns with someone in the know the other day (actually I told him I thought it might be awarded MPhil), and he said, just go into the viva being aware of the shortcomings of the thesis and prepared to discuss them and show you're already aware of them. So, I pass on his advice to you. Typos is only gonna be minor corrections and that's the main thing, right? Good luck!!!

I thought several postdocs was the norm! And if you are unlucky with professors then all the more reason to try another! Don't give up on your dream of doing what you love (research). Not yet anyway (unless you actually feel that you want to call it a day now).
One thing I've found that's really helped me this past year is finding people to talk to who are empathetic. Some people, through lack of experience or lack of empathy (hopefully not through any negative motive but who knows), can be very discouraging. I've learnt to avoid those at all costs and talk to those who have experience and can offer insight that is actually helpful. I've even contacted people I didn't know after reading their blog or meeting them at a conference and finding them approachable. Their advice has been like pure gold! Hope you find someone to talk to like that in your field or in a similar field who can help you to make an informed choice about the way forward.
All the best, Tudor

Thanks Athena30! It's coming on alright. Working during the week is a no no as my RA job is full on. So its weekends - and I am getting a lot of headaches from the workload. I don't recommend this to anyone by the way! Try to finish writing up before funding ends if you're in that privileged position to begin with. I could have easily done it but lacked motivation due to discontent with the whole PhD experience, supervision etc. It doesn't go away though so might as well get it finished asap if you ever intend to! :-/ You live, you learn!

Interesting thoughts - thank you. The funny thing is - I chose her! It was months ago and I didn't really realise the possible implications - I just thought she would be a good person (her work is related) and my supervisors agreed. It was only on reflection that I thought, hmm, how is she going to be impartial? Along the lines of kikothedog, I can't help feeling that she will feel somewhat pressurized not to judge too harshly (i.e., fail/MPhil downgrade even if worthy of such) her close co-workers' (and quite possibly even friends') student's thesis, regardless of its quality (within reason). But on the other hand, she strikes me as a very professional and fair person. So maybe she wouldn't be constrained by politics in her role. Who knows! Funny old world, this academia.

Cheers Faded! Great account!

I find it odd that a viva external examiner can be a close collaborator of the supervisors. I mean, although they are external on paper, they aren't really. With academia being such a small and political world, how comfortable would you feel assessing fairly the thesis and defense of a student of your colleagues? Key word being fairly. (That's a rhetorical question but you get the point). Any thoughts and experience of this?

Thanks Rewt. I don't get on well with coffee shops, but since I have my own office more or less, I could come in and do thesis work for an hour in the morning with my headphones (I do feel the need for something to kind of separate it from my other work - and that could be achieved by listening to a particular album while I work on the thesis). Thanks for the tip. I'll hopefully try something like this out this week.

Hmm, thanks... so maybe I could come in earlier so that I finish earlier, can have a break and then come home and work. I have no doubt I can do it - just brainstorming some ways to make it work (after this week which turned out to be a total write off!).

Hello all,

I am in the latter stages of my thesis (quite a bit of writing is required for the final chapters but the research is done and written up) and have recently taken on a full time job. I was surprised at how exhausted I was this weekend - which was when I had thought I would be working on my thesis (maybe I will be more recovered tomorrow, or maybe this week was draining because it was my first week and things'll improve). Basically, I wondered if anyone had any tips who had perhaps been in a similar situation before. I think I have quite a few options...

It's a research job and the hours although basically 9-5 are quite flexible (i.e., I could come in earlier or later if I wanted and no one would mind as long as I did the hours and work). So possibly I could come in earlier and so some thesis work, or come in early and leave later to do some thesis work... or maybe even work longer every day and then take a half day to work on the thesis (or recover from the working week in time for the weekend!). I am thinking that little and often could work better maybe than waiting till the weekend when I am knackered.

Any advice / idea / shared experiences welcome!

Tudor

I'm a bit confused by your dilemma. If travel costs and time are your biggest concern then it seems a no brainer to go for the closer one, if you have an offer from it.

On the other hand, if the other uni is your preferred option, can you move? Or else are you willing to make that pretty big sacrifice about the travel?

I'm sorry to hear. Can you talk with any friend or family member on the phone? That might help you to feel more connected and get some support. It might not be as good as in person, but it can help.

Oh no, that really isn't what you need right now. You must feel pretty yeh like you said, heavy stuff going down. Can you go to your student union and ask for advice? They might be able to give you some feedback/advice a lot more quickly than the consumer protection people (whatever that is). Good luck sorting it.

Thanks! Helpful to hear why :-)

Thanks. I'm also checking with our RCUK admin person as I just feel a bit unsure still.

Hello, I know it is a requirement to acknowledge my funder on any work published from my PhD, but what about a project I did that was separate from my PhD (but still it was the funding that allowed me to make the trip to the lab and start the collaboration with this researcher). Do I need to acknowledge the research council on the publication that has come out of this collaboration?
Thanks anyone!!