I am a second year phd student and like many my research is not going well, my research methods chapter was A1 but the next few chapters I got thumbs down from my superviors . I know that they are very disappointed with me. I have to complete my phd and get the degree otherwise as an overseas student my thousands of self funds will go to waste not forgeting the time , effort and confidence I have put into. Have someone experience something like this and then find themselves on the track again? Can someone 'fail' the phd ?

Well, I think you can fail and then be asked to rewrite (or submit) your thesis as a MPhil, so you don't leave the lab without any degree.
Why was it thumbs down? Did the experiments not work, were ther not enough experiments in it? Are the results not clear?

My problem was what I believe to be , having very little of my own argument. I think I am afraid to give too much of my own voice ,maybe lack of confident , i dont know .
And I dont think I want to get a Mphil when I have a MA.

Hi Iqbal, did you go through an Mphil/PhD transfer stage? This is a useful step as it involves other researchers at your Uni looking at your work and giving you feedback about whether you are on track (or not). Don't panic, if your thesis is not currently up to standard you still have time to pull it all together, perhaps by doing some further research and/or re-writing the last few chapters to incorporate your supervisors' suggestions. Good luck.

Ann, thanks for ur advise. You r right , I shd not panic and take it as a form of feedback to gear up my work. I did my Masters in Media got accepted direct to dphil.
I think the problem is , in my writing I tend to leave out my arguments , I feel that I am not 'qualified' to make any arguments. I spoken to few of my friends and they told me that this shd not be the case as at this stage , making my work original, I need to let the examiners/ readers to hear my arguments.

Hi Iqbal, sounds like you are getting some good advice and support from your friends. Very best of luck with your thesis writing, it's a long hard slog at times but you will get there! Take care :o)

it is possible to fail a phd, but your supervisor should see this coming & warn you of the possibility. iqbal, you appear to be clear on what the problem is, so if you remedy it, i do not think you will fail your phd & there is still plenty of time to rescue the situation. it's always very rewarding to give ur opinion on an issue. try it and see for yourself.

Thanks to all of you for giving me so much confidence. I am back on the track :)

You should speak to me.

I'm at: [email protected]