Hi Badhaircut,
Yep, its been 10 long months and I really thought everything was going down the pan. Last week, I asked advice from every possible source including the legal aid team and post grad officers within the university and it seemed like curtains for me. In desperation, I spoke (and cried) to the VC's secretary which seemed to do the trick! The following day, I had a positive response and was told that the request for a change of team is going ahead! Some arses must have been kicked real hard. How do I feel? Grrrreat! They deserved it.

The irony is THEY funded the PhD for 3 years. I sacked them in the write-up period which I had to pay. The new team of supervisors need to go through the red tape and be confirmed by the Research Degrees Office. As for the complaint against the supervisors, it was not upheld but that did not negate the request for a change of supervisory team. Pigs will fly if the university protects students from rogue academics.
As long as I don't have to tolerate being "supervised" by the previous set of supervisors, half the battle is won. My new team of supervisors are really enthusiastic and student friendly. I should be back on track to submit in 9 months.

Successfully sacked supervisors, after 10 months!

Yes, you are making the right decision to transfer. If you don't click with your supervisors in the first year, chances are things will just worsen. I have a college who transfered to another uni as his supervisors were just no good. It really doesn't matter where you complete your PhD, what matters is that you enjoy doing it. Go for it mate.

My student advisor has threathened to close my case because I have been forwarding my emails to the VC. Obviously complaints officer is not happy because he is pushed into action by the VC. Now the complaints officer is putting pressure on the student advisor to stop me from including the VC into the email. Whose side is the advisor on? I thought she was supposed to support me, not be pushed about by the complaints officer!

Just to keep you posted. Uni complaints Officer was sitting on his rear end till I started firing emails to the PVC, DVC and VC and yes, the wheels started moving - closure to be confirmed in the New Year. Located 4 academics who were willing to support me into the last lap of the thesis write-up.
Happy Christmas to all PhDers.

Take the dead wood to the cleaners! TES is a brill idea. I'm in the midst of fighting the system. Just written to the VC and he's putting some bullets up the rear end of the university complaints officer. Also, previous correspondence have come out in the wash and some people involved in the emails are crapping themselves. The academic world is not the only place you can find work after a PhD- the sky's the limit. Think outside the box and use the transferable skills obtained in the 3 years of PhD. As adults, we must not allow ourselves to be bullied. Life's just too short for that. The experience of the PhD is to toughen you up, not make you into a frightened, hopeless, spineless literati!!!!!!!!

What can you possibly publish in the first year? Lit review? Is that what they want in Law?

Quite right. Doing a PhD is a marathon but not a long haul trip to becoming an academic imbecile. I think your sup is in la la land. Ask for a change of supervisors NOW, it can only get worse.

This is what I will do:
1. Ditch the idea of MPhil- trust your instincts. The interview tapes or transcripts is just a red herring, intended to string you along and drive you to complete the nervous breakdown. And as you said, something else will crop up after you've given him the interview material.
2. Any uni worth its salt should not accept a student on condition of an Mphil- make a fresh start. There are lots of Studentships around if you are prepared to move.
3. Send the supervisor to the cleaners and get the university complaints officer, the VC, the QAA, your MP and the local press involved. That'll teach this piece of dead wood a lesson.
4. Remember, they are only as powerful as you allow them and they are definitely not above the law. I know the academic world is small, but its not that small!
5. Keep us posted and good luck with the new institution.

Oral presentations are a major part of academic life; if you hate it now, do something about it - try attending public speaking courses. Its really down to confidence. There will always be smart alecs trying to get their voices heard by asking seemingly intelligent questions to throw you off guard. Separate the boys from the men and you'll be OK. Its true, this time next week, it'll be a very faint memory. Good luck with future presentations.

Try Harry Wolcott or Coffey and Atkinson. They are both good for qualitative research.

Publish your work as sole author unless your supervisors have any input in it. Supervisors do not have unreserved rights to your work and they are definitely not as powerful as many PhD students think.

Anyone experiencing this?

IP Rights belongs to institutions, not individuals. If the work is carried out using facilities in the university, the IP rights belongs to the university. In your case, the company and the university will negotiate who gets the IP rights. Best to speak to the IP guys in your uni before starting the PhD. Good luck