I just wanted to let people know that if I can get my PhD you can too! After 5 long years (varying between part and full-time throughout) I had my viva on Tuesday and passed with minor corrections :D

I had a lot of problems throughout, varying between personal relationship problems to serious laziness and procrastination. But throughout everything I stuck at it and the end was eventually in sight - I hope it will be for you too :)

Hi. I have no idea who you are but Congratulations on completing your PhD!! I am in the final year and have come to the university to work on a Sunday! What was your final year like? I can feel the stress gradually building up. So much work to do and so little time! :-S

Thank you! I am still in shock from finally finishing. I am going to try to work on my corrections today and submit them next week :D

My final year was VERY hard I will not lie to you! Particularly the last few months. I had extra stress as my flat was flooded by a washing machine in the flat above. I had to have new floors and ceilings which really really added to the stress and put me back a bit. My supervisors were so understanding though. I don't think I ever made a deadline! But I was so determined as it got to the point where if I didn't do it I would never finish. I know its madness but I probably wrote half my PhD in about 2 months. I turned my 1st draft around to a final version and submitted within 1 month. I am lucky because my English is very good, and my writing is good so I can turn chapters out very quickly (once I can actually be bothered to work!). I was just so focussed in the last few months. I didn't pay attention to anything else, hardly saw my friends or boyfriend at all. I was very selfish - but I got it done and will make it up to everyone now!!

Good luck!!

Congratulations!! thats super!!!! well done!!! (up) i too am just finishing up my corrections. and hope to get it done by end of next week.

i will be so happy when i hand in my hard bound thesis to senate house!! and i can start to recycle all those drafts and papers that i never need again !!! hehehehe

Thanks Lara, congratulations to you too! I threw all my drafts and various papers out as soon as my viva was over! It's such a great feeling to get rid of it all! I am looking forward to seeing a hard-bound copy of my thesis, it's just too bad that I need 5 copies as it is going to cost a fortune! It may have to wait until next month!!

Also is there an unwritten rule that you have to pay for bound copies of your thesis for your supervisors? I feel cheeky asking but then they earn lots and have generous research accounts - anyone know??

:-x

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Many congratulations Magic Gini! (up)

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aww thank you! :-)

thats a good question. my supervisor asked for a copy of my thesis. i promised him i would give him one. but later on , once i've submitted all my official copies. im not sure what the new rules are. i am going to have to ask my internal . some rules from QMUL tell me, that i only need to submit 1 hard bound copy. and 1 electronic. but i always thought, you had to have two, one for senate house and for the uni library.

i also want to do a copy for myself to have in the house.

how many supervisors are asking for a copy? luckily i only have to do 1 copy for my main supervisor.

Congratulations!!!(up)

Wow, from first to final version in a month - that's amazing!! That gives me hope! Although I'm not a particularly fast - or good writer - but great to know it can be done!

Hi Lara,
I have 2 supervisors who each want a copy; I also have to submit one to the library; one to my research centre and one for myself - so a total of five copies - with binding at £30 each, not including printing it's not cheap. Hopefully my supervisors will take pity on me!

Congratulations! (up)
It's a great feeling I suppose to throw all those drafts away. You have a done a pretty amazing job considering that you turned a 1st draft into final within one month. At the moment I'm taking one month to re-draft just one chapter (not the best writer also), but I'm at the beginning of my writing (maybe mid-point) and can't spend a whole day on this.

Enjoy your success, how long were you given for the corrections? and how long are you planning to take for them?