Hi, I really hope that someone can help me understand the examination results. Today I received my results from my examination (I am based in Australia), and I have been told that I have major revisions to make to my thesis. The university has given me six months to get these amendments done.

What I am confused about is that my supervisory panel has written to me, congratulating me on a good outcome and that I have not long to go now. I thought that a" good outcome" would be either no amendments necessary or minor revisions. How exactly are major revisions a good outcome? And does a six-month deadline for the changes to be made indicate how bad my thesis was? My stomach has been hurting since I read the email.

A good outcome is passing your Viva which you have done.
Congratulations.

Major revision just means you have a lot of changes to bring it up to the necessary standard to have it published. Nobody cares about this sort of thing but it can dent your confidence a bit to be told you have major corrections.
It probably won't take you 6 months and honestly I would just swallow your disappointment and get it finished so you can move onto the next stage of your life.

After getting over the initial disappointment of being told "major changes", I realised that it could have been worse. So, time for me to put on my big girl pants and start working on the suggested changes.