Hi,

I had my viva this week and was very straightforward, not particularly gruelling and my examiners were VERY positive about the work I had done. In the time where they make the decision I thought I had it in the bag however I was awarded a B (i). At Manchester University this is a resubmission within 6 months. Although this is not the worse case scenario I'm devastated as i have been responsible for every aspect of my study (getting funding, designing the study, recruitment, all the analysis etc.) and don't see how I could have done more.

The examiners unofficially told my supervisor that I would have passed under the guidelines at her university (sheffield) but as they wanted extra analysis done, that automatically makes it a resubmission. Also they said it was really A (ii) (award with major corrections) but because I have gone on to get a job as a postdoc they thought I would not have time to complete the corrections appropriately-so I feel i've been penalised for using my phd to boost my career!

I feel I've been robbed of my 'moment' after a 3 year build up and the worse part is that I don't really know what i've done that's so wrong. The same thing happened to a fellow phd student a fortnight before who has a fellowship at oxford whereas the only person to pass of our year worked on a project of someone else's design and was essentially a 'dog's body' to run the lab test. It just seems really unfair.

What also makes it worse is that I'm not so sure how often this happens as people are really shocked when i tell them as they don't think it ever happens. Does anyone have any similar experiences?

Cheers

I'm skiving at work so will have to be brief for now. I totally understand where you're coming from - all that effort, all that time spent on it and the personal high standards you have maintained throughout the research. It's often luck of the draw in a viva - I have personal experience of this. I know it doesn't seem like it now, but it could have been a lot worse. The fact that you have to do corrections really won't tarnish your PhD. Most people get corrections, including what are classed as majors - a - catchall term for anything ranging from restructuring of chapters to re-writing sections and further data collection and analysis. You never write on your CV: PhD - passed with major/minor corrections!

In summary, try not to be too disappointed. You've done extremely well and ought to be very proud of yourself. Congratulations, Dr Jimmynew!

Good post Wally! Not a similar experience as such but the thesis I produced, which was effectively a first and final draft and having received no criticism from my supervisors throughout the PhD, it came as a shock when the examiners failed to recognise my piece of perfection and delivered more feedback and suggested corrections than I ever got from my supervisors over the 3 years!!!

Jimmynew, me thinks it was all too good to be true! We'll both get there though...This, if little else, I do know!!!

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to say a really big thanks for all your positive feedback as has really been beneficial to hear other people's stories and sorry to hear other people have encountered similar situations.

After having the weekend to think about it I am feeling actually quite positive about it as it does seem Manchester does have very strict guidelines compared to other institutions as despite 'revise and resubmit' I don't have to include any new data or even change the context of any sections so really it does sound like I have major corrections. Being only 6 months makes me realise my supervisors were doing me a favour as i've already had the examiner's report and while there is nothing too difficult I need to perform, it would take me longer than a month (which is major corrections at manchester!). Plus it gives me more time to immerse myself in the thesis and get more publications out of it.

From what you have all said it does seem a bit of a poor system how a viva can be so subjective anyway due to different examiners but then when the actual guidelines differ between institutions it is almost a lottery what you'll get.

Once again thank you as you have all really helped me out and wish you all the best who are still trying to get their awards (we will get there!)

Cheers
James