Hi, it is apparent that the situation will not change. I would not think the appeal will help as 1. no one supports me on my claim, even supervisor. 2. It is very hard to appeal against the committee as this is not the end process, they think they are giving me a chance to defend my thesis. 3. The appeal, if I win, will rule out this examiner, and the thesis will go to new examiner. However, the reexamination can happen only once, that means I will lose one shot and risk all w the new examiner.

I am very confused now. I hope to talk to my supervisor soon. He has been "busy". He is senior lectuerer, but I don't think he has super 'clout' in anyway.

Hi Barramack,

Thank you for your reply. I guess you are luckier than me. As the committee seems to not really gonna change their decision unless there is a formal appeal, and I think it is too soon to offend them by appealing now. I have wrote several emails to the committee. More importantly, my supervisor seems to think it is normal to resubmit despite the quality of the report. Lack of his support, I think it is very hard to win. The adjucator will come after I resubmit and fail, according to the committee now. It is clear that they are aware of the quality of the report but insist that since the examiner who gave me 4 raise the big problem about originality and contribution ( he just said it is not new and give name of few books without saying why) of the thesis, I need to address the issue.

Hi awsoci,

Thank you for your reply. I have tried to appeal the committee by emails, but they do not seem to care for anything. They said that I need to appeal formally if want to change the decision. They said I have to address comment the best I can, and wait after the examiner decides, and if he fails me then I will get another one. This process has been killing me. The examiner also comments that he believed that the revision would not help much. All other things are criticism and that there are other works that are done better (books) and nothing new. He doesn't even specify how or why.

I wanna ask you as you have done PhD in Australia. Have you known of a fail PhD? What is the worst case you know? I have been told in seminar that there are only 5 failed in the faculty ever, now it seems a little bit too good to be true.

The examiner who gave me a 4 is an eminent but old professor in England. He seems disinterred and lazy to make a recommendation. The other is a retired Australian professor.

Hi,

Thank everyone for your reply. In Aus Uni, two examiners exam and give recommendation seperately. The committee then decides what to do. Now, I'm ordered to r&r for one examiner, who obviously disinterrested and out to fail me. My supervisor think it is normal to resubmit, but it is not r&r that concerned me, it is the comment that is short (one page) and dismissive. It would be better if he tell me where I am wrong and so I can correct. I'm very stressed and cannot concentrate as it is hard to do when you know it is going to fail anyway.

My supervisor, at least, has the positive attitude, he asks me to think what we can reply without changing thesis. However, I would think he has little on my pass than me and may be less worry. It is not he will lose everything like I will.

If I fail, I would get another examiner, but it would be very sad as I have lost one yr. I would rather he fails me now in that case. I am very demoralized and desperated.

Hi,

I think you might consider taking the offer to go home for a while. It doesn't help when you are in the same place and doing the same thing without progress. I have also been doing PhD and I believe your concentration can only comes when you have peace of mind. Changing scenario or even meet new people can help. At least you have nothing to lose.

If this is too hard, you might also wanna consider working at your home town. As you said your subject is history, I assume you could do some part at home. It was sad about your gf, but you have a very rare oppurtunity and a high chance of success.

For your work, I think you might wanna start by doing it a little bit. When sth gets done, you will feel less pressure and can continue bit by bit. I hope this helps

Hi, I am doing thesis on philosophy, working on reading/clearing interpretation of thoratical texts. Like reading philosophical text and try to offer a better understanding of it. I would like your suggestion on qualitative approach that could be considered, such as contextual analysis. I would appreciate your advice on possible approach or a good sources I can look for.

Thank you

Hi, I am an international student doing PhD in Australia. I have submitted my thesis and got 2 (minor correction) and 4 (major revision n resubmit). The committee has determined that I need to resubmit my thesis to the 2nd examiner as his comments are significant and cannot be ignored. Essentially he said that my works is not new, and that there are works that are better than mine. he also concluded that he doesn't believe that revision would help much on overall thesis. However, he gave me a r&r instead of fail which is an option in the report (but I am not sure if he can fail me on the first submission). This is in opposite with the other report which only suggests few revision.

I am torn as if I decide to do r&r, it means I have to suffer another year (with tuition fee). The seriousness of his comment on the originality and contribution has sicken me as he is an expert in the field, however, it is subjective issue. The main problem is I didn't know how to fix it as I have a good relationship with my supervisor and she approve everyhing I did before submission. My thesis deals with conceptual thoughts, so it is subjective in nature. I can defend it, but I am not sure he will be convinced. It is highly likely that he would fail me. I am not sure why he would drag me to another year, and just said that revision won't help.


Need advice.

Also, I am not sure if supervisor can contact the examiner to get a more specific instruction, anyone knows?