Hi all, I completed a MA dissertation over the previous academic year. I had discussed the structure of my research project with my supervisor and had submitted drafts of my literature review and research design chapter which I received positive feedback for. This supervisor then suddenly quit the university in March

My new supervisor asked to email on all work we had done before. I did so. He told me my method of evaluating the project wasn't valid, and said I would need to adapt how I evaluated it. This was despite the original method being suggested by the first supervisor. He did however say the two chapters I had written 'read well'

-I emailed him my final chapter 9 days before the submission deadline (he had said as long as he received it a week before it would be okay). He emailed back straight away saying he would give feedback the next day. I received no feedback the next day, and my follow-up contact was unanswered. I therefore had to submit my theses without getting feedback on the final chapter. All other students on my course were given feedback.

I got my result last week and it was a pass mark. While I fully accept that the work I submitted may have only been of pass standard, I'm a little annoyed that I didn't get feedback on my final chapter like all other students did, despite my having sent it to him within an agreed deadline. I'm also annoyed that both the original supervisor and my new one told me the first two chapters 'read well' and gave no further feedback, if they were only pass standard, surely they could have suggested improvements. I also did not get the full five hours supervisor-contact time that we were told we would get.

I'm wondering is there any point complaining to the university about the lack of feedback? Part of me thinks I should complain but another part of me thinks what's the point, they can't change the result now.

You can appeal and this might lead to you being able to resubmit work, getting feedback and then getting it remarked. I don't know of anyone who has done this successfully though. Look at your appeals process on your uni website. But yes, I would probably just accept the result and move on if I were you. You got your MA and no one really cares about grading when applying for jobs or PhDs.

While it may be true that a basic pass at Mater's level may not affect your chances of getting on to some PhD programmes, I think some of the better Unis do expect passes at the merit level. In addition, if you are applying for funded PhD, then I would say that you would need at least a very high merit to stand any chance, and in most cases, they expect a distinction.

I think you have a case fort lodging an appeal on procedure grounds, but do check with the regulations in the degree handbook. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.