I know, but I'm in this mess and there has been such a horrible attitude from department about my health problems - I guess they are trying to protect their backs - I doubt they would see getting an external sup as anything other than a slight. they are trying to build up Phd intake but there are numerous disasters going on and instead of helping us out they are looking to first years to get whizzed through the sausage factory and build their figures. Do I need this? I dunno

I'm not sure what stage / year you're in and it's probably too late this year but could you not apply for another funded PhD elsewhere and forget about this one by omitting it from your CV?

I'm actually in yr 2 but factually yr 1 (due to injury and resulting issues)...have to consider whether I would do this or get another job (if there are any!). I got injured last year and thought I could just get through it but now have disability allowance etc, but funding was suspended in spring due to 'lack of progress'...aaaargh.
I was so up for walking away but I know I can do it and have proved it, but the situation in my department is that they would, I think, just like me disappear off the radar.............

@Delta if I were to do that would be in another area of my subject. but Idon't think I could go through that again

Hey again Buzzy! I really feel for you. I've seen another person on the same team as me suffer with health problems (depression) and she's been treated appallingly by my sup and the department as a whole (from what I know of the situation- of course there may be more to it than meets the eye). I suffer from quite severe health problems at times too but have been well-supported through my studies- without the support I've had I wouldn't have been able to complete my PhD. You're in a really tough situation, but can you imagine keeping such a big secret for however long it would take you to finish? and also relying on someone else to keep their trap shut? You'd be under an awful lot of pressure and I honestly think that eventually it would come to light...academia is a small world. I agree you need a decent supervisor and it sounds like that definitely isn't the one you've got, but I think it needs to be legit. Of course, I'm not in your situation and I take on board that you can't talk about this with your sup. Could you talk to anyone else (chairperson/head of PhD studies) about having this person as an external supervisor? In one sense it sound slike things couldn't get much worse with your existing supervisors, so would it matter that much if they were hacked off? How long do you have left of your PhD? Best, KB

Thanks KeenBean and all, I am constantly amazed by the amount of Phd students who are made ill be the whole deal then strung out to dry. There seems to be a complete absence of pastoral care in many depts/unis.
Basically if I did this I would have very little to do with the department, I have been off-site for a year anyway. there's no reason to suggest quiet sup couldn't keep a secret and I'm wondering whether, in any case, if it did come out it would just highlight the uselessness of the current sup?
Our head of Phd research is only interested in getting people in and out of the sausage factory as fast as poss. I'm technically 2 yrs in but due to illness more like one as he whole last year has been non-productive (for good reasons).

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You have all my sympathy. I know only too well how hard it is to work with very little supervision.

However, I would be very cautious about involving an external person without your department knowing. If for any reason things with this person shouldn't work, or if he/she would plagiarized parts of your research, you would be in a much tougher position and with no protection. I know some high profile academics who played these kind of games, it's not matter of status.

You are at the beginning of your project, and for this very reason you deserve to have all the support in place. If I were you I would call a meeting with your current supervisor and HoD, and agree on what your reciprocal expectations are, discuss deadlines, how you think you are going to achieve your targets, etc.

The external academic may be of help and support, but for the reasons that I just explained I think that he should just be that: an external support.

Thanks Corinne, but I think I am at the end of the line in the current situation. I have been ill for some time through stress etc and have a disability which has not been acknowledged in progress terms. If I can sort this out during my much fought-for suspension we might come to something. Or is that unrealistic and I should see if Starbucks are hiring? Sorry, confidence at all time low and not looking for sympathy! Appreciate you guys as have few to talk to nearby.

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