I should say, I questioned the length with my supervisor and he said the examiners aren't told what the word limit is so the worst that could happen is they can refuse to read it, which he's never heard of?! And he keeps telling me to expand bits which is making it longer.

Hi all,
I'm due to submit my thesis for an MPhil in the next few weeks.
Over the last 7 years of post grad study I've lost my father, had a nightmare job, my husbands been seriously ill, had a maternity leave and baby, moved up and down the country to different places following my husbands job and a miscarriage. Through the midst of all that I had a Skype call (how most of my supervision has been done!) where we decided it would be better for me to transfer from PhD to MPhil as the quality of my writing was not great (they actually thought I might be dyslexic). A few years on I am in a better place. I'm quite pleased with the way the write up is going.

We shrank the project for an MPhil but I have now realised that one of the reasons I struggled was because even for a PhD what I was trying to do was huge. My thesis is still approaching full PhD length anyway. Has anyone heard of an MPhil viva resulting in recommendation for a PhD with amendments? (I can dream!)

Hi Flack,
I can empathise, I have lost both my parents (I'm 32) - my dad died earlier this year the day before my progress exam report was due in. I then had to delay my viva because it was due the day before the funeral. I am doing a health sciences PhD part-time while working an essentially full time job and financially supporting my husband who has gone back to university full time as part of a career change.

I am the first person in my family to do any post-graduate study. My dad was very supportive and proud of both me and my husband (whose own parents are more like how you describe your aunt and uncle). I have 2 older 'business man' brothers who although I have a pretty good relationship with them, they don't understand what I am trying to do. I have found this difficult regarding their demands on my time, they don't understand how I have to prioritise my work loads and yet think they are being supportive with comments like 'Dad would want you to keep going, he was so proud of you' - not necessarily a good thing to hear when things are hard. Unfortunately I think it will be a few years before I fulfil their expectations of being involved as an auntie or providing cousins

Like you I have some amazing friends. They are very good at being there when I need them and also good at understanding why I can't always be putting time into social events. However they too don't have any experience of the actual work load. I have found the various support networks between the PhD students at my University really helpful - at the end of the day I have found that the only people who understand the workload are other PhD students. I would encourage you to use these support systems where ever they are available.

With your family - so they don't understand, perhaps they are never going to be the people to support you in your academic aspirations. But they are your link to your parents and therefore if you need them, maybe you need to try and pigeon hole which aspects of your life you share with them? If they can't do christmas - why not suggest you all meet for a family sunday pub lunch one weekend around christmas. And organise something christmasy with your friends.

Good luck and don't be sorry
Foxy
:-(

Hi Zelda
I like your summary - it makes sense to me.
Thanks for starting the thread. It's one of those questions that you sometimes think you're the only person who hasn't 'got' it!

I'll look up the Lincoln book too - thanks for the recommendation.

Hi Emmaki,
I am also part-time, working full-time, in theory with some protected time from work (although I am writing in my first language at least - although if English is your second language I'm impressed - it's probably better than mine!). I'm trying to get into my lit review and introduction too so your post was really well timed for me. I like the idea of breaking it down into small sections. I think I'm going to write a list of points and then go through them referring back to my notes and papers to expand each point... but it's easy having a plan isn't it, much harder to act on the plan! :p

Hi Catcat,
I can totally sympathise - I'm theoretically 18 months in, Part-time, but I transferred from a professional doctorate so have done modules and have a PG cert Social Research Methods under my belt from the first year and am struggling through the NHS ethics process at the moment. I had a bit of a laid back summer and now feel like I have dropped the ball. My literature review is still totally lame and unstructured. I started out believing there was very little prior literature in my field, gradually my project developed and there was a wider literature base for me to draw from. I'm now slightly drowning in papers... getting a grip on this has taken priority from my ethics now (hence being sat in the library with my lap top this morning!). Things will sort as you get into it. Suggestions of topics to go away and consider will come from your sup meetings and other things you read.

My next problem - how to start writing!

Good luck
Bex