I'm really sorry to hear yet another horror story about a PhD failures on the basis of academic egotism. There must be hundreds of cases on this forum alone. Surely its about time these colleges were named and shamed?
I myself was subjected to exactly the same type of academic incompetence in my PhD. 5 years down the line I didn't get a hint that there was problems with my reports, set up my own company on the back of the work, succeeded in all the progress reports and submitted my work chapter by chapter for review. At the end I was told by the external examiner that there were instances of plagiarism in the work, something that I hoped my supervisor was looking out for and helping to prevent. I was totally wrong. So I was downgraded to MPhil. And I'm one of those 'lucky' part-time self funded sorts. Believe me its no picnic being self-funded.
That said, don't be so quick to dismiss a MPhil though, its regarded as a proper research degree which demonstrates that the student is clearly capable of carrying out research to the same level of technical ability of the PhD. The only difference is the contribution to the field and the thesis is generally only 50,000words as opposed to 80,000 words. It can also get you into a PhD programme at a later date.
Bottom line, if you think that you have a good shot at doing this PhD then do it. Don't trust your supervisor they're only in this for the money so get a second or third opinion. The students union can be hit and miss in cases like the one above, they have little or no power against the academics and most definitely 'close ranks'. Academic integrity is a myth.

I've read all the comments and I agree with most of them. You can't appeal an academic judgment but you can appeal on procedural grounds, for example of you feel that the supervision was inadequate, that the college didn't offer the facilities needed etc. However, there's a good chance that academics will close ranks as people on the thread have already stated.
I myself am in a very similar position to you, soon to submit work for this MPhil degree instead of the PhD which was stolen from me because of a terrible supervisor (subsequently sacked). But , here's the thing for a fact, if you want a career in academia, it's far from over.
An MPhil is a serious body of work and not to be just dismissed. Many colleges specifically offer MPhil degrees for those who only want the professional skills of the academic, what's more is demonstrates a serious level of commitment, ability to conduct independent research and does look favorably if you want to apply for a PhD at a later date. You won't be able to do the PhD in a similar area, there's ethical problems with that. It looks bleak at the minute but there area ,loads of universities out there that are interested in you.
Your family are primarily concerned with your happiness and won't like to see you down. Its nothing to do with your lack of qualifications.

Eleonora,
This is truly and appalling situation to be in and very, very unfair. It does sound as though you've been robbed of your opportunity to a fair exam and all because of office politics. I wish I knew of a 'short-track' phd otherwise I'd be on it myself. I also had extremely bad luck with my work but to be honest, universities are biased against the student. They quickly close ranks if there is any possibility that their fragile egos are about to get bruised. You're right about the appeal against academic judgment, that won't work. The only thing you might be able to look at is a a 'procedural issue' that wasn't followed.

Hi Cornpicker,

My supervision was also very poor and many mistakes were missed due to their lack of effort. I was shocked at the the amount of PhD students that are failing and the reason seems to be 'poor supervision'. Ask yourself, if you were a supervisor and one of your students was having a problem with their work, would you let them sit an exam knowing that they would fail? I certainly wouldn't.

I work in a software development company and if anything like that happened to an employee; the team lead, manager or director would get severely reprimanded for such unprofessionalism and what amounts to unethical behaviour. But whoever said the universities acted professionally..:o)

I'd recommend taking the MPhil mainly because its a higher master degree involving a high degree of technical ability far beyond a MSc/MA. The MPhil is valued by many more universities and companies these days. The idea that it is some sort of consolation prize is an old-school-tie, arrogant preception of the serious and very hard work you've done. The MPhil is a sometimes classified as a 'mini-PhD'. You could see it as a the most solid foundation for your valuable PhD work in the future.

You can definitely apply for a PhD at a later time if you have the money and time.


Don't let 'them' win.

I've been contributing to this forum for sometime and I wanted tell my story to all PhD and MPhil students.

I'm completing an MPhil because it's my only available option after 5 years of part-time research. I have to work as a IT tester to supplement this so its been very difficult. My work was fine for 5 years i.e. I passed all the progress monitoring, got the data that I set out to get, my meetings 'seemed' to go ok, did seminars and the chapters I submitted to my supervisor had problems that I tried to fix.

I finally submitted the work in 2009. But there were problems with referencing highlighted by the external examiners that had to be fixed before even taking the viva exam. I would've thought that my 'supervisor' would've told me about this after the numerous revisions we went through. He either didn't read what I wrote or didn't know what to look for. I don't know which is worse.

My supervisor basically ignored me following this as did the entire department. Not even so much as a 'it'll be ok', 'how can we help you get through this?' - nothing. This hurt me a lot because I trusted these people and I thought that they 'wanted' me to succeed. I was wrong.

The academic committee brought me in and asked me to defend my work over the last 5-years so that they could make a decision on whether I should be 'allowed' to continue. This was 12 academics versus me, so the odds were significantly stacked in their favour. Their decision was that given the problems with the write up (not the data) I would be asked to complete at MPhil. I was very unhappy with this but, they have the final word. The experience was very unhelpful, uncomfortable, intimidating and smacked of 'closing ranks' on a student by the college to save face. I feel that my supervisor could have at least contacted me to ask me how I was doing, come into this meeting with me to support, ask me how he could help, but I heard nothing from him or my research group, the students within it or otherwise. As a team lead myself, I feel personally committed to my team's well-being and success in the company. I feel betrayed and stupid for trusting the university for the last 5 years not to mention all the money I earned and poured into that place.

My research group has subsequently been sacked by the college due to lack of publications so there's no one there to help re-write the work except a few of these so-called 'tenured' academics who have done little work in the field. It seems like I've been hung out to dry and I never saw it coming. What I've learned is that academics seem to be in universites to make themselves look good, not necessarily to help the students who want to be part of what they do.

Many threads on this forum speak a little disparagingly about the MPhil qualification. Is it a consolation prize? Or an advanced masters degree for those who don't want to the lable 'academic' but as highly trained as PhD? The workload seems the same to me?

Hi Trillian,
I'm pretty sure that most colleges offer the MPhil/MRes option for students in your position and to be honest, there's a growing body of universities that are offering this option because it is considered as a secondary, superior masters degree. Basically, its as high on the academic ladder one can get, without becoming an academic. Since it seems that you don't really want to be an academic, then you're at the top of the tree!

But fundamentally, if you're depressed, get help! You seem to be a bit lost as regards where you want to be. Your parents, friends and family will understand whatever you do, you're not going to disappoint them at all.

Hi there,

If you're unhappy in your PhD then that's ok...and very common. Have a look at the many, many posts on mismanaged PhD students at many universities on this forum and you'll see that you're in good company.
I myself am going for MPhil after a disasterous end to my PhD last year. My logic is tat at least I get something of value out of my work there.

And don't be fooled by the false equivalence of 'MPhil = failed PhD'...not true and quite an old fashioned view of MPhil work. MPhil is offered by many more universities these days as a superior masters degree which demonstrates a competentce in research without the full commitment to academic life.

Use it as a stepping stone to PhD later on maybe?

Hi there,
Take a good look at underverse's comments...he/she is absolutely right.

Whats more is it make me very angry to read about the almost complete lack of respect for the MPhil which I myself am doing. It is every bit as hard work as as PhD...have no doubt. Do you know many living in your area with a MPhil? I bet you don't!

See it as a a useful stepping stone to reach the PhD later on.

Parents will support almost anything that you do...trust them. They'll be there long after you're finished up with this research. Whats more is that having a PhD is only academic...it says nothing about how good a person you are with a good work ethic. Your parents would be more proud of you if you were a good person...believe me.

On another point, be very careful of you supervisor. Generally speaking, they are not as supportive as you'd expect. They are only using you to boost their profile, the minute it looks like you're becoming a liability, they withdraw their support. If you don't believe me, read the other posts.

I say do the MPhil too. This demonstrates that you can do serious research. It makes me angry to read about the almost complete lack of respect for the MPhil. It is every bit as hard work as the PhD. Take a look at other threads to see the value of doing a MPhil first then PhD.

Publication can take 3-4 years sometimes so I wouldn't concern yourself with that. Your supervisors may have made mistakes but look at the effect its had on you! Seriously, universities need to take all of these supervisors aside and inform them about how to treat they customers (thats you!). Think about this, you're paying them for a service, not the other way around believe me!

Hi kk
I'm with Chelleer on this one. If you read the many posts to this forum you;l quicky find out just how detrimental an effect a bad supervisor can have on you progression. I was 5 years in a PhD program only to have it torn from me after I submitted because of problems with the write up. I'm now writing up my MPhil with a view to contiuing elsewhere. This is manily because I feel that I need to get something out of all this work.
Also, I've read a lot of negativity about MPhil work. I consider it to be a serious body of work and demonstrates that you can work in this area. You need a decent supervisor that's all.
You can safely assume that 99% of supervisors are 1) Deeply egotistical and will do 'anything' to protect themselves, 2) are NOT on your side and 3) will gladly take any students money regardless of whether they can help or not. Be very careful and read the SU guidelines on your rights as a student, which I can tell you are very limited.

Academics need to take a close look at what they do from a consumer perspective. If they paid thousands for a service, we'd soon see how well they'd want to be treated and what's more, they would 'demand' a result not 'hope' for one.

Hi Coop,

Like the rest of the PhD students on this thread, believe me, you're not alone. My supervision was rubbish and basically cost me my PhD after 5 years of work (not to mention money)! I was told by my supervisor that things were ok, but it wasn't until the external examiners had a look tat the real problems emerged. The university subsequently sacked my supervisor and my research group. As a result, ruined my chances of completion. For me, it'll be complete at MPhil and move on because I really do NOT trust academics.

Supervisors rarely could care less about how you're 'feeling' and I tell you for definite that depression is very common in research students for all the reasons you've mentioned. Supervisors care about what makes 'them' look good.

Either you play their 'egotistical' game or you'll have a long year or so to go.

You might want to take a look at another thread which relates to 'Failed PhD - Any Advice?' You will read about a litany of academics causing significant problems for students in reserach. You've learned useful techniques and know something about how to write up results at this point. Please take a look at this thread and be shocked at the closed mindedness of universities towards students when it suits their own political agenda. If you genuinely feel that you can't go on...then don't, why hurt yourself? The PhD doesn't define you as a person, its a part of who you are, you're a hard worker and obviously clever.

You might want to take a look at another thread which relates to 'Failed PhD - Any Advice?' You will read about a litany of academics causing significant problems for students in reserach. You've learned useful techniques and know something about how to write up results at this point. Please take a look at this thread and be shocked at the closed mindedness of universities towards students when it suits their own political agenda. If you genuinely feel that you can't go on...then don't, why hurt yourself? The PhD doesn't define you as a person, its a part of who you are, you're a hard worker and obviously clever.

You might want to take a look at another thread which relates to 'Failed PhD - Any Advice?' You will read about a litany of academics causing significant problems for students in reserach. You've learned useful techniques and know something about how to write up results at this point. Please take a look at this thread and be shocked at the closed mindedness of universities towards students when it suits their own political agenda. If you genuinely feel that you can't go on...then don't, why hurt yourself? The PhD doesn't define you as a person, its a part of who you are, you're a hard worker and obviously clever.

You might want to take a look at another thread which relates to 'Failed PhD - Any Advice?' You will read about a litany of academics causing significant problems for students in reserach. You've learned useful techniques and know something about how to write up results at this point. Please take a look at this thread and be shocked at the closed mindedness of universities twards students when it suits their own political agenda. If you genuinely feel that you can't go on...then don't, why hurt yourself? The PhD doesn't define you as a person, its a part of who you are, you're a hard worker and obviously clever.