Background: 3rd year PhD student in Scotland. I am a US citizen, and have a tier 4 visa to study here. I am funded on US loans.

I am approaching my 4th year- the write up year that I will need. However, in order to get to the 4th year, I need to get my loans. My supervisors are not willing to sign the paper that says I've made academic progress so I can get the loans- therefore no money and my fees will not be paid. They are willing to sign it saying I have not made significant progress with an explanation; I was unwell/depressed and am currently attempting to get assistance via disability services (something that NO ONE told me in the 4 years I have been here until 2 months ago). Idk if I will get my loans in this case.

I am currently expected to write up theory for my thesis during Christmas, the section I am struggling the most with and have received no assistance on, other than it is wrong.

I am unsure what to do, as I have spent 3 years working on this, only to be told last week; "I do not have a thesis." I did have some issues along the way; deaths in my family and the subsequent depression.

If they won't sign, I obviously will have to leave the country. This causes a lot of issues as I have a lease, bills, a flatmate, etc as I have been here for 4 years (I did a second Masters before the PhD).

I don't know what I am going to do as I don't have any family or friends that can take me in or pay for me to fly back to the US. I'm terrified I will be unemployable as I've been doing this PhD for 3 years and will have nothing to show for it.

Suggestions, ideas?

I am in a very similar situation. I am about to write my thesis however I haven't got the results I expected due to problems I haven't been able to solve with the research. My experiments have not worked as expected. Not much I can do about it other than say that this doesn't work and try to explain why. I don't have many papers because of this. My mother died 2 months ago and now I have to find a job very soon. I have to write my thesis and submit it very soon. I am not even sure how I am going to be able to do that before my extended funding goes out. Somehow I need to find a job since I am also paying my mothers rent and bills until its sold. I have only worked in academia so I am not sure what kind of jobs I can look for with my background. I am really scared to be honest and my confidence is all gone. So much has changed for me with her death. I am still struggling with the loss of my mother and only family member.