UK based humanities PhD student here with a full draft. I want to submit but haven't been given the green light because my main supervisor hasn't read my thesis. He even went and asked our administrator for one week extension so that I (e.g. he) can have more time.

Thing is, I have the full, complete draft. I'm aware of there are major holes in my conceptual framework and analysis that am prepared to defend them in my viva. I just want to submit!

My second supervisors has provide detailed feedback on each of my chapters with a focus on the conceptual coherence of my arguments. My main supervisor has yet to provide detailed feedback on ANY of my work over the past 4 years (not one chapter read), but has just sent some feedback on the first two chapters, with 6 left to go, stating that i need to make my arguments more coherent. Some of his comments are useful, others are like "if you read the rest, it will make sense". FFS.

He expects me to make these changes in order to improve my thesis but at this point I'm so done. I feel he's dragging this out as far as he can for some reason and I don't want to wait until the last day of my 1 week extension to submit. Do I go ahead and submit what i have and face the consequences or wait until he's read the remaining chapters? I think I have enough but I'm not sure he agrees, and that worries me.

Many thanks for your advice!

Hi Kain47,

I don't really have any prior experience to call on as I'm about 6 months (part-time student) from completing a first full draft of my thesis. However, my gut says to take this opportunity to get it 'right' as much as you possibly can as it could be the difference between minor and major corrections.

Just think, any changes that you have to make from herein are minuscule compared to the amount of work you've done to date!

Cheers,
RLD

Depends how much you trust your supervisor for doing their job properly, really. RLD is right where it can make the difference between major and minor corrections, but again this depends on how honestly your supervisor checks through your work. Also, I don't think it's always the case where you have to include ALL the edits your supervisor/advisor adds. So if there are any edits you find that you don't agree with, then you don't have to add them, and you already seem to be in the frame of mind to defend your writing at your viva. It's all a very personal affair this process, just do what your gut tells you.

I would absolutely listen to your supervisor's advice. It's what they're for. He is trying to help you to pass - really, he's unlikely to be interested in making you suffer unnecessarily! You admit yourself that you know there are major conceptual holes, so why not try to make them right?

The alternative is to take a risk, which could pay off.

Good luck either way!

I had a very similar experience as you and submitted my PhD thesis despite my advisers disapproval. I did receive minor revisions which I thought was great. The only downside was reading the letter written to the examiners by my advisers-which portrayed me as headstrong and stubborn. That sucked :(

Not sure I understand the system of whatever country you are in. What is the purpose of the 1 week extension? When are you supposed to make the changes? A week is such a short time - why don't you want to wait until the last day to submit?

Thanks for the replies everyone! It's been a long journey and all that is left is to step over the finish line! I have until next Tuesday to submit but I've decided to submit on Friday the PDF and Monday the hard copies. In my uni it's usual practice submit electronically first, then send the hard copies a few days later.

I feel rather calm about my decision, which I take to be a good sign, and content that I've done what I could. I've done some of the suggested changes, which were mostly about wording, and left the rest. I expect corrections and will (hopefully) be prepared for them!

@kelpie - in my original post I mentioned I'm a UK based, humanities PhD student. At my uni we're given a thesis submission date which I was prepared to meet. However my main supervisor asked for a "grace period" of one week, an unofficial extension to the original submission date. His reason was so that I could take the time to polish my thesis. However, he has NOT read my thesis in its entirety and therefore makes me question his reasons behind this extension. I suppose in the end I trust the feedback I've received from my second supervisor more than my main, who hasn't been supportive during the writing up.

I really have no advise to give you. When I first submitted, I had the green light from my supervisor - only to land an R&R after the viva... Sometimes not even supervisors know what they are doing.

As frustrating as it will be, I'd make use of the extension and his feedback to get the thesis as near to right as possible. If he asks for another extension, you make use of it. And again, and again, and again. His feedback may be the difference between major and minor revisions after the viva, so the odd week now may save you six months or a year after.

You comment "if you read the rest, it makes sense". This was an issue with my supervisor during write-up and is an argument he won. The section or paragraph should make sense on initial read (possibly based on what you've already said) without the reader having to go forward or back several pages to understand. This allows the reader a smooth read without interruption and having to jump around in the document, meaning they are more likely to continue reading and take in what you're saying.

If he is finally doing his bit and reading your thesis (even though he's not been supportive as you wish to date), you take full advantage of this and do not submit until he gives the green light. You then have two sets of opinions on your thesis and will be in a better position come viva day.

Ian

In Australia you can't submit without having both supervisors fill out forms that indicate their permission for you to submit. So I wasn't able to submit until those forms were prepared and they felt it was ready.

I agree with Mackem's point about that comment. You have to be able to articulate your ideas in a straightforward way. If the examiner has to reread sections to gain an understanding, that's going to be a big issue. It's something I try to teach my undergraduates regarding their writing, that it has to be smooth, coherent and without interruption.

I would wait for the green light to be honest. You run the risk of having to do large revisions/be a resubmit as opposed to just adjustments/no changes.

Seems like you've already submitted? Even your second supervisor was saying your conceptual cohesion needed work...I'd have waited.

It sounds like the first supervisor hadn't given the feedback by the time the final deadline came along so they had no choice but to submit without it!