Ok I'm currently attempting to write up my thesis, which is an EPSRC Industrial CASE award.

I've just been informed by my university (after having no contact with them for about 4 months, and my supervisor not returning my emails for longer than that) that I have failed due to non submission.

My question is what happens now? as I'm part of an industrial CASE award do I have to pay any of the funding back??? I am desperately trying to get something that I can submit in and I did ask for an extension before my deadline but heard nothing, and as this is the ground state of my universities communication I, stupidly I know, assumed that I had the extension I requested.

I'm so stressed by all this ( and I'm sorry if this vent makes little sense) I genuinely do not know what to do.

Any ideas or comments would be greatly appreciated.

I'm not sure about the funding but I would suggest that you gather together all the correspondence you sent them (emails, dated letters etc) and try to find someone in research admin at the uni, or a postgrad tutor, or a student representative who can help you put the case forward that communication has been poor and the situation was not clear. It might help you make the case that you should be allowed an extension (although that will probably incur a fee).

seems to me like, as they've paid you the money, its better for everyone that you're allowed to submit. I'd battle pass the 'official line' from admin and talk to someone who can actually do something.

I'm on a CASE - how long did they give you to write up in total? I'm into my 4th year and haven't heard anything about any final dates and I'm getting a little concerned that I might suddenly get a demand to submit in 1 week or something!