I think you would be best to start by planning what needs to be done and allocating days/weeks for accomplishing it.  I initially wrote my chapter headings and subheadings, using this to frame the overall thesis. Next I produced a timeline of what I was going to work on for each week.  I tried to stick to this where possible so that I stayed on time for completion.

For the lit review you will need to start taking the notes and organising the refs into themes. Make sure the themes all flow from one to the next with linking paragraphs.  Write the lit review as an overview of the theme rather than just citing this ref followed by another ref. The lit review should flow like a story rather than a list of information.

Next I would deal with your data and organise/analyse this.  Writing methodology chapters tends to be easier as it is just an account of what you did. Likewise the data section just details what you found so shouldn't take long to write, but the analysis may appear lengthy and tedious!!

Finally leave some time to write your discussions, linking in with your lit review and placing your findings within the broader area. 

I found that after the draft thesis was done, I procrastinated over my discussions with minor modifications and clarifications! You may need some time planned for proof-reading and also for your supervisor to read!  My wait for sups so far is four weeks, arghh! If your sup is to read it and feedback, it may be useful to send draft chapters as they are written if time is tight.

Good luck with it and don't give up (up)

Whilst it is very unfortunate for your friend to be awarded an MPhil after 5 years of work, supervisors cannot read the minds of the examiners.  There are many candidates that have been assured a pass only to get a tough time from egotistical examiners. The fault is not that of the candidate or the supervisor although it is nice to be able to blame someone!

As for supervisors using self-funded part-time PhDers to do their boring research, well this seems a rather generalised statement suggesting exploitation of such students.  I don't see this as being the case as there are many part-time self funding students who present their own research proposal, merely needing a uni supervisor to assist with the uni endorsement of their PhD.

Biddysbottom that is genius!!  Funnily enough I also lived in rural cambridgeshire until recently and never noticed a strange but quiet studious looking person spending hours parked in a van lol. As much as I love the idea I don't think I could get away with leaving three babies in the house while I sit in a van on the driveway, although very tempting some days :-s  I have to resign my thesis writing to when the babies are asleep after 7 pm or that coveted afternoon when they all go off to the childminder :p

The uni regs should state what the grade of paper to be used is and the binding specifications for submission.  For my uni I only have to supply temporary bound copies at submission for example a form of spiral binding. For the final thesis (post viva and corrections etc) then it has to be professionally bound in hardback leather with gold leaf writing etc.  His sup should be able to confirm the requirements aswell. Lucky hubby about to submit!!  Well done to him and to you for adding your support (up)

Thats fabulous news, well done Dr Stuff!

Hi Corinne, well done for assembling your thesis!  It is just editing, clarifying and tidying up from now til submission. I had a 40,000 word limit which included just the main text and abstract but I was at 48,000 :$  I had to learn the task of editing which is a great skill to have.
As previously mentioned look at the lit review for removal of non essential paragraphs and sentences.  Have you repeated yourself where some of the repetition could be removed? Can sections or chapters be amalgamated if they are similar?  Then move to the sentence level where you can delete words that are superfluous in the sentence. Example below:
"The FiO2 and FeO2 values where detailed have been determined via mass spectrometry.  This involves large equipment to be utilised with limited availability in many establishments. Mass spectrometry may be subjected to interference from water vapour build up in the expired gas and anaesthetic gases used.  Newer, portable FiO2 meters are routinely used for cardiopulmonary bypass which makes this methodology accessible. " (n=60)
Compared to:
"Portable FiO2 meters were used for FiO2 and FeO2 measurements rather than a mass spectrometer as it is large, subject to interference from water vapour and unavailable in many establishments (n=30)"

Generally, discussions and intros tend to be over worded so maybe concentrate on these areas. It is feasible but it does take some time and concentration.  Do what you can in this week!

Hi Fm, well done for having almost completed the first draft!  It is sad to say that yes I also felt relief that I had all chapters written but still overwhelmed by the work needed to convert it to a thesis. I think for me lists were crucial as there was so much to think about rather than putting all focus on a single chapter.  I set up a 'thesis' word doc and added in the title, acknowledgements, abstract, contents pages etc (check your uni specifics) and then gradually built it up by cutting and pasting in the individual chapters. Then the arduous task of adding in figures, tables, reference list and appendices etc to form the thesis.  After this I edited out lots of words for overall length but at the same time checked for continuity throughout the thesis with linking of chapters. A quick check of relevant references via lit searches to make sure none were missed (I hope they all are lol).  Lastly I wrote the abstract and acknowledgements. The final chapter completion was in Nov 2010 and on 25th Dec 2010 I sent out the first draft thesis to sups.  Further editing resulted in the final draft thesis distribution to sups beg Feb 2011. I am still awaiting comments from 2 out of 3 sups.  Sup 1 is happy for submission, sup 2 has very little comments and due to finish reading soon (yeah) but sup 3 has not communicated with me at all yet :-(  I am proof reading for grammar and spelling while I wait...........hopefully not long to go as like you I really want this to be done now.

Hope this helps Fm, it really won't take too long once all chapters are drafted as I am also part-time. I just seems insurmountable but keep chipping away at it as in a few months you will be there too.

My research questions were in the last section of my lit review entitled 'Aims and Objectives of the Thesis'.  I did it this way so that the gaps in knowledge were highlighted in the lit review with each area linking to the next with the final section stating the questions I was to address. This way I left the reader knowing exactly what I was going to do.

With the contribution to knowledge I have included this in the final discussion.  For each area, I have discussed my findings in relation to the broader area and then at the end re-stated what I found (noting the originality). I chose not to give it a separate subheading as I felt I would just be repeating myself again.

I would be interested in other view points as I have yet to submit myself  ;-)

This is a good point Jepsonclough, if you use Turnitin for your own peace of mind prior to submission and then the uni puts the electronic version through as part of their plagiarism detection it would be a very high match!!!! I guess you would need to advice them that you have used the software previously and perhaps have a record of the originality report for the uni. An interesting issue though.

I also understand that a higher match will come out if the refs list is in the thesis as all of those will be matched, as will units of measurement and commonly used phrases such as 'a statistically signicificant increase was observed....' etc. So I guess the % match value is of less importance than the actual matched text.

The issue of confidentiality does seem to be an acceptable risk to the unis etc though, thanks Ady for that link (up)

I am a part-timer at a different uni and the fees per year is all that I had to pay, no hidden costs. However, my fees increase yearly due to ? inflation or any other excuse they can find. If the fees page state 2011/12 or something similar then expect them to go up each year.

I am not sure I can help, only sympathise. My final draft is with my sups, one read it in three days and the other two are ?reading?........I have no idea when they will be done with it as they have had it now for three weeks. It is awful waiting to see what further work may need to be done but I know theses take time to read. Hopefully as your secondary supervisor is pleased with the revisions your other supervisor will be too. The delay may just be that they haven't actually read it yet!

I have to say that I have my parents proof-reading too as they are more particular about old-school english grammer than I am lol! Fab job they are doing too :-) Otherwise I have no other mad people willing to read mine through, parents will always help out where they can!

Well this is not really an extension as such. They would like to see a 'first draft' which in most cases is an unfinished document. The actual final document is due May so there is plenty of time to tidy up the offering you give them on thursday. I would try to do as much as possible so showing that you are committed. I wouldn't say that you have been working (jobwise) and not had a chance to do this as they may not be quite so supportive, however you have had a bout of sciatica which would justify some sympathy from them! Do what you can and if you feel they are approachable then perhaps send an email to let them know you are a few days behind schedule, but show them what you have on thursday. At this stage they just want to see progress being made and a level of commitment from their students, which I can see that you have.

Does anyone know if the 'Turn-it-in' software is safe to upload the thesis onto, ie I am worried about copyrights etc so wouldn't want my thesis being used by anyone else prior to my submission and defence. I am probably very paranoid about this as realistically who would want my thesis, let alone defend it lol.

Hi Angelette, I had two external supervisors already and a project plan prior to approaching unis to study for my PhD. I was readily accepted with my project and was assigned an internal supervisor once I started. I have self-funded throughout my part-time PhD and am in the later write-up phase now. Cannot say if I will pass (but definitely hoping so!) but have done it in the self-supported way. It gives me incentive to complete otherwise I will have wasted my own money. I am desperate not to over-run on time due to my own sanity (after 5 years) and, of course, funding. It can be done as long as a uni will accept your proposal. I do not think this avenue is as common as funded PhDs.