hi! has anybody experienced their major adviser leaving in their fourth year or any year?? what do you do? any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

Hi - sorry to hear your main advisor is leaving. I'm coming to the end of my 2nd year now and 3 out of the 4 supervisors I started my project with have left, including my main supervisor who left 18months into my project. I'm lucky because I still have regular contact with that supervisor and the head of my department has taken a much more active role in my supervision now. Will you still have contact with the advisor who is leaving? Will anyone else take over? Good luck - I know it feels like the end of the world at the moment but it does get better!

My Principal Supervisor left a month ago and I was devastated. I was lucky enough to have a fantastic supervisor and we worked very well together. Initially, we were given the go ahead for him to become second sup. and my second to become Principal (on paper only, nothing would have changed roles-wise). Unfortunately, the School changed their mind (but didn't tell me about it) and he is no longer allowed to be part of my supervision team. So, I was devastated all over again - particularly as I'm half way through and coming up to my mid-point progression (similar to transfer stage). I can't give any positive outcome either as I'm now stuck with a Principal who has met me three times, a second who is flakey but nice enough, and no subject specialist - and all b/c the School wanted to 'build second supervision capacity' and meet some RAE 2008 objectives. DOn't care less what it means for my PhD unfortunatley. I hope your change in supervision is less troublesome!

thanks guys.. but im sticking with the same advisor as it is too late to change him. He's going to do his advising from a distance...well, i'll be left alone to do things from now on ...:( i just dont know yet how to deal with it emotionally... do you think things will get better for us? it's as if we're always having a lot of difficulties... it's neverending.

It definitely gets better and there are pluses too. I have a lot more input into and responsibility for my project now and I'm generally much more independent, which is not a bad thing.

I think you'll be fine as you still have the guidance of your supervisor albeit from a distance. If you're in the latter stages of your research anyway, then the distance won't be too much of an issue as you can send draft chapters, chat on the phone etc. I bet you'll adapt in no time

Hey,
my 2 supervisors are both moving to another university (about 80 miles away) in October, at the half way point for my PhD. I have a 3rd who's at a university hundreds of miles away--I've only met her once!
It did knock me when I heard they were leaving, but now I think it'll work fine, and in fact might benefit me (eg giving me the opportunity to meet a whole new network of people). It would have been a different story in my 1st year though. I plan on visiting them every couple of months--can you do the same? And I guess be more proactive and organised about phone contact as email conversations can be a 'mare to follow...

Don't worry. Most students in my department leave after they complete their residencu requirement. In touch w/ advisor via phone, e-mail..i don't see anyone has any problem. You should be fine.