Yeah I've been here long enough which makes leaving all that more of a difficult decision, I can see where you are coming from :)

Do I carry the project on the same path my supervisor insists though? Writing feels like chalk grinding against a blackboard because I dislike the work to such an extent. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so writing this up really goes against my train of thought. I know a PhD is supposed to be tough but the lack of freedom has sucked my enjoyment out of the project completely.

Given I have so much to do and the lack of work I've done in the past year, is it worth it? (I really have done little over the past year and I think carrying on would leave a big mental scar).

I do have a second supervisor but they haven't contributed to the project, only turning up to my upgrade presentation earlier last year. This person works in the same department and operates in an identical way to my current supervisor. The few times I have worked with this person have been difficult and the two people in my research group complained about this person in their appraisal when they quit. So I don't have much faith in them.

I would like some fresh perspective but don't think I would be able to get it from my second supervisor. My main supervisor also advised against me going to my panel chair which I thought was odd (maybe they don't see eye to eye...). So yeah I feel like if I try and do anything to turn this around I risk falling out with my main supervisor. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

On many days I just wish I could go back to my masters dissertation and research on that more as it was an important area with a massive gap in the literature. I really miss it.

I have spoken to my supervisor about my concerns but she doesn't want me to change the direction and says I must keep handing in pieces of work to finish on time which contrasts to my friends experiences where they have more freedom. I find the pressure counterproductive.

I wish I could just get through it but I literally have no motivation to unfortunately. I'm sorry to hear you are both having a hard time, feel free to chat with me about your PhD troubles if you wish :)

Hello

I'm a UK PhD student entering my fourth year. This was following a masters degree which I enjoyed and I loved every minute of my masters dissertation, getting myself a distinction in the process.

The PhD has been very different though, I've found its a big step up (as is expected) but I have always felt as though I'm on the back foot. I have a very strict supervisor who is a hard task master and this makes it very difficult to relax about it.

The biggest contrast with my masters is that I felt as though I have had no freedom. Essentially my supervisor has dictated the method that I use and I really don't like it. I believe it is flawed and overly complicated but my supervisor insists on me using it. I've said several times it could be better to change but my supervisor says 'you've already developed this method now' so I've felt stuck and held back. I also believe its bad practise to stick to one method without exploring others but that's the way this thesis has started.

What I find most worrying is that I loved my masters subject and the PhD is in a similar ballpark but I find myself hating the project and dreading waking up each day to work on it. Whats even worse is that my supervisor insists I hand in pieces of work weekly so I feel as though the pressure is relentless. I know many here would like more regular feedback from their supervisors, but this is the opposite extreme. Two other PhD students in my group have quit under her.

So I think about quitting a lot, how can I turn things around? My funding ends in March but I have no motivation to carry on. I really should have been more assertive earlier on :(

My PhD is science based BTW.

Thanks