Recently I admitted to my primary supervisor that I had been suicidal at times on my PhD. Now I have been summoned to a meeting with members of my faculty in order to discuss this. The primary focus appears to be on my lack of progress. Can I be kicked off my PhD?

I"m sure the reason they are calling you to a meeting is due to concerns about your health. They won't want to kick you off your PhD; they just want to help you to finish it. They are likely to offer you counseling which you should consider taking.

Thank you. I had another message of clarification from the facilitator stating that, from the University's perspective there are concerns about my ability to finish my PhD. The emphasis seems very much to be squarely centred upon my work. I have been offered counselling before; I have even taken time out of my PhD due to depression. I am concerned about my future on my PhD.

I am very sorry to hear of your situation Kraken. May I ask whether you took up the offer of counselling when it was made to you previously?

I can see that finishing your PhD is very important to you, but so is your health, so please don't jeopardise that for the sake of your studies.

If you are based in the UK, I don't think you could be asked to leave if a health problem has affected your progress. You may wish to invite someone else along to this meeting, such as a postgraduate tutor, though do let your supervisors know first.

Hi Kraken,

Sorry to hear you've been feeling so down. I agree with Hazy Jane - your health must be your priority.

Your supervisors have a duty of care to you, they cannot kick you off of your PhD especially it's a health problem that has resulted in you progressing. I don't think I've ever heard of someone being "sacked" from their PhD. This meeting sounds like it's an opportunity to talk through the issues that you've been having and finding ways to support you and ensure that you do finish your PhD. I think it's definitely worth accessing the counselling at your provider again too. Definitely take a friend or family member along to the meeting for support if you wish to.

Let us know how you get on.

Lindalou

I was interviewed by a panel for a post-doctoral research post at a top university this week.
In terms of the new research topic for the post, I doubt there was anyone better who could have handled it, given my own PhD background and research topic. I was very disappointed to have been turned down a couple of days after the interview. I was just wondering if people on PhD Forum have had much experience of panel interviews? How fair are they really? I still cannot help thinking that they can be window dressing in terms of fairness. Of course I am seeking feedback, but I wonder if people have previously encountered or found out about the chosen candidate only to find out that they were selected on arbitrary grounds?

Hey lwalktall,
I know how you feel I got rejected for a fellowship application a couple of days ago without even an interview!!!! And I'm certain my supervisors wrote excellent references and my topic is so relevant and interesting that even laypeople envy that I work in such a field. But alas, the admissions committee didn't think so. As far as panel interviews go, yes I had a similar experience with a job interview at a think-tank a few years ago (before I started my PhD). They were interested in my work, I knew what I was doing and saying and exhumed confidence, but a couple of days later (also) I got turned down. They are VERY subjective- it's all about individual judgement: you could've had a solid interview but for some minute and trivial reason they preferred someone else. I know of a case in which a guy was selected for a postdoc simply because a faculty member liked him (not joking), and went as far as lobbying in his favour even though I know for a fact that other more qualified candidates applied and got rejected. Don't hold ur breath bout feedback- if u get it good but not sure u will.

Hi Kraken

I'm so sorry to hear about your plight- the way I understand it: when the message you received said that they have issues with your work, it means that they're worried your state of mind would affect your performance and may have affected your progress so far. This doesn't mean they will kick you out of the course. I know of a case in my dept of a woman who suffered from depression after giving birth and she was also given time off- she's currently in her 5th year and whilst I don't know if her work is good or not, I know for a fact that her supervisor was worried she won't finish and had a meeting with her and the director of the course about the issue. She ended up staying. I'm pretty sure they won't kick you out- they must talk to you first, and this is where you can present your case and convince them that the PhD won't be affected by your personal problems. When you sought counselling did they give you leave of absence or did you have to stay in uni and work?? That would've made a difference.