Hello everyone,

This is my first post here. I was going to describe my PhD experiences but it would take too long and exceed the allowable word count! So briefly:

+ I registered at a "new" uni in 2001, where I had just completed my UG deg, with an internal DoS who had no expertise in my area but was one of the few members of staff who had a PhD. I had two external supervisors (E1 & E2), who were established Profs. elsewhere in the UK.
+ I didn't receive any funding so had to take a 9-5 technicians post that was supposed to allow me time to complete my studies but that never happened.
+ My originally accepted PhD proposal was based on funding that E1 was confident of getting but never transpired. E1's interest in the programme soon waned but E1 still stuck around long enough to cream off some of my theoretical publications, which I had written with E2.
+ Both E1 and E2 move institutions to New Zealand.
+ Because the funding of E1 didn't materialise, my originally accepted programme of studies was not possible. E2 made some impractical suggestions regarding what I could do (E2 was not much of an empiricist), but in the end it was clear I would have to forge my own revised programme based on other data that i had collected through my consultancy work.
+ In 2007, I decide to quit my position and PhD at the "new" university, take a bit of time out, and consider my options.
+ In 2009, I was able to transfer to another university for a "write up" fee. I have been using the data from my consultancy, which isn't great and have tried to construct research questions based on it that sits alongside the theoretical work I have been able to produce when I didn't have a clue what was going on, where I was going, and how I was going to complete. I am hoping that these mainly theoretical publications (I have over 30 articles, chapters, and conference papers now) will show that I am worthy of a PhD even if my empirical studies don't. I am very anxious about this however and fear that my examiners may fail me. After all this time, isolation and hardship, I'm not sure how I would react to failing. I have produced some "Leading Articles" in leading journals in my field so I would be devastated and highly embarrassed if I didn't receive a pass.

My situation is probably one that is not that common but I was wondering if anyone could offer any words of advice given what I have written here?

Wow, what a PhD journey you have had!  I think that despite the major set backs in this project you have salvaged many articles and conference papers that should add some value to your thesis. The fact that you have managed to transfer to another uni must suggest that they feel you have enough for a thesis.  Do you have new supervisors at this uni to talk it over with? If so I would use your new sups for advice on the best approach for presenting your 'data'/publications in your thesis.  Once you start to write-up the thesis you will discover your gaps if there are any. It will also give you an idea of what concerns examiners may have and what responses you will need to prepare.  Hopefully the examiners will be within the same field and aware of your contribution.

Good luck with it, you have come so far despite an awful situation, well done.

Hi Dunni - thanks for your reply and encouraging words.

The university that I transferred to have been good insofar as they have effectively paid for my "write up" fee and have provided some technical assistance. However, I wouldn't exactly say my supervisors (one is of a similar age, with a PhD, who i have co-authored with previously) they are hands on and I'm not sure they know exactly what I am doing either. All seems a bit casual for my liking, almost like they have seen what I have produced in terms of research outputs and aren't really concerned about me because they assume that it will be a given that I will get it done (either that or they don't give a monkey's!). I, however, don't share their view. Writing up and presenting theoretical arguments in international journals has been relatively easy for me, but the actual data side of things hasn't and my data doesn't reflect the quality of my theoretical analysis. This is my main concern when viva time comes round.

As for my examiners, one of them has indicated that he is keen to collaborate down the line and the other one is from another subdiscipline of my field but seems a good bloke. Anyone reading this is probably thinking I've got nothing to worry about, which I am hoping is going to be the way it turns out!

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I can understand your anxiety but if you read back through your two posts, it does sound as though you should be well able for your viva. I take your point that you don't feel your data is on a par with your theoretical arguments so I imagine you will have to focus your viva prep on having good rebuttals for that criticism, if indeed it comes in the viva. Afterall, a viva is a defence so if you defend well enough you should pass. Perhaps stress that for you, data is a 'tool' to demonstrate your theory - that may be enough. I know people who have been asked in their viva if there is anything that would be do differently if they were to start over. That maybe your chance to suggest improvements to your data? My impression is that everybody feels that there is one particular area of their PhD that is weak and for you it's your data, not your theory. For many people, I imagine it is the opposite.

My reading of what you say is that the staff at your new uni feel you are one of those people (and I guess we all know a few) who has a PhD in all but name and that the viva is a 'formality' to get the actual official accreditation. You're right not to underestimate it but it does seem that the strength and sheer volume of your publications and collaborative work mean that should you pass.

Good luck (up)

Thanks for your reply, Ady - I hope my viva is just a formality and that is the end of this sorry saga.

Some readers of this post may think it's odd that I've been able to write and publish papers but not get my PhD complete. That was just an artefact of working in the labs looking after needy students 8 hours a day. Writing a few sentences and reading a few paragraphs here and there was infinitely easier than trying to crunch data. Plus my plan was to get RAE returnable and then perhaps my situation could be changed to a more research-oriented one. I got myself into a position where I was returnable but my old institution failed to deliver once again.

I'm pleased to say that my new institution have evaluated my research work and have rated them 3* (international class). Hopefully I can get through the viva and come out the other side in a relatively good position.