I am registered as a full-time PhD student at a russell group university. I have taken previous periods of temporary withdrawal. I am a mature student and have two sons with ASD. I requested and was granted temporary withdrawal as my eldest son was out of education. I am officially his carer and he is registered disabled with the DWP. Following court case my son was placed in a special school which he would attend and I returned to my PhD. My son once again suffered an increase in anxiety earlier this year and has been practically housebound since February. I have not been able to work on my PhD. All the research is done and I 'just' need to write up. My period of registration ends very soon. I have been told by my department and supervisors that the only option left is to withdraw with leave to submit which they will support. However, the graduate school say that under the circumstances I can request a further temporary withdrawal for 6 months. On a 'perfect' timescale the entire thesis would be finished months before the submission date (my supervisors want the finished draft 2 months prior). If I request temporary withdrawal it will be in the knowledge that I won't have a polished draft in four months from now. If my supervisors were asked if the new deadline were realistic do you think they would continue to support me if really I was going to submit on the deadline anyway even if I were realistically expecting a revise and resubmit verdict at viva? Obviously I would not say this in my request, but do I hide it from my supervisors too?

Sorry, maybe I'm just really tired today but I can't make sense of what you are asking. So your options are to withdraw now, and then you can submit at any time in the future (but presumably there may be extra registration fees etc), or to take another 6 months leave and then...? Are you saying you won't be finished within these extra 6 months, but you're going to pretend you will be? Or do you mean you will be set a deadline of 4 months, but you won't make this, but you will make the 6 month deadline?

Sorry for any confusion. It took a day or so to post my first message and so I had already acted. I have been in a SENDIST court all day today - I see this as Ninja level training for my viva! - 700 page Bundle, 7 hours, 3 opponents, 3 panel members - and so have not revisited my thread. My main supervisor has been out of the county over the last couple of days and so we have had no direct contact. I was told by my supervisor that the only remaining option was withdrawal with leave to submit. However the grad school invited me to apply for temporary withdrawal as I had been unable to work for the past 11 months as my eldest son (DWP designation of disabled required high rate care - I am his 'registered' carer) has been out of school. Grad school suggested 6 months but I have applied for 11 months as this is a reflection of the real situation. Nothing ventured ... I am keen to remain in the system (library access and affiliation are valuable). I see 6 months as really being 3 months to first complete draft and is a big ask. But if all else fails I would work to the last possible minute and would be more than able to defend in viva according to supervisor. I don't see R&R as a disaster - atm it seems a preferable option to me. <i am not being dismissive, unfortunately this is not the only really hard issue in my life so I have to deal with things pragmatically>

There is no issue with funding for any extra period.

It depends what you mean by 'finished' in 6 months - practically perfect edited and bound thesis that is an obvious pass <and passport to a glorious academic future> or good enough with a tail wind and a sound defence in viva with some corrections (maybe even R&R)?