Hi Jamie

Sorry to hear about your situation:it does seem unfair to me.

I have yet to submit but I have asked people about the standard required and what I have heard is that at least some of thesis should be of publisable standard and that what they want to see is that you have 'just about', reached professional academic standard. I have also been told your allowed some mistakes and loose ends as long as you can discuss them.

So based on the above criteria it does seem unfair you have major corrections. But at least you didn't fail (obviously that would be totally uncalled for).

And while it does sound your examiners held you to a higher standard than is , from what I have seen, the usual, hopefully the corrections won't be too arduous and you will pass easily.

That's all you can really do at this point. ..focus on following thier correction recommendations to the letter and moving on from this.

Don't let this experience make you feel less than you are; it sounds like you have fone very well with the publications and conferences. It really does seem like you got overly strict examiners.
(Makes me quite worried about my own viva, but that's the subject got another post).

Best

Newlease

Really sorry to hear this.

It is horrible but I am just noticing how they were debating between minor (which most people get anyway) and major, and that it was purely the issue of timing that made them swing to major (ironically - they wanted to be kind and give you more time). This could be interpreted as minor corrections are needed so that the PhD is awarded but they will take some time to complete... vs. major corrections - will I even be able to carry them out and satisfy the examiners...?! Major is a scary word. But the fact that they were debating and told you they were debating suggests to me that you shouldn't be so worried (although it is still a terrible shock). They obviously don't think that your work is trash if they wanted to give you minor corrections but didn't in the interest of giving you more time.

I hope this helps a bit. Also - take some comfort in the fact that your papers have been peer reviewed (even if the examiners snorted at that - most people in academia do not). You will get the PhD awarded in the end.

All the best

First of all congrats, you have already passed your viva and got a job such an achievement to celebrate. To pass is a very important milestone, in the eyes of someone who is waiting for the viva like me. My friend was just like you well published etc. and he was given a painful 18 months. Fairness does really vary which is a sad fact. In my university, it takes a month to receive the list of corrections. Enjoy your moment and you will hear back from the examiners in due course. Not easy but try :).

I second that. Some of my colleagues were given major corrections just to be able to get everything done on the time given as according to my university regulations if you are given three months you have to deliver within the given time.

Sympathies, Jamie_Wizard. I had a very similar experience and a harsh viva which took everyone (including my internal examiner) by surprise. I was similarly given the longer timescale to do my amendments, even though in the end they only actually took me 2 weeks. Hope you are looking after yourself in this post-viva period - I found it really tough, and all I can say is you will get through this and will have your PhD, but allow yourself some time to deal with the shock.

Hi Jamie, I've been reading some material on how academic examiners award PhD's, including reading a fair few guidelines for examination published by universities themselves (for examiners and for students) and a couple of things stood out to me.

The majority of the guidelines reiterated that almost all examined PhDs will receive a minor or major or R & R amendments recommendation. Very uncommon to rare to receive no amendments and equally very rare to be awarded no PhD or a lower award. So the guidelines tended to reassure candidates that receiving any of three results from minor, major or R & R, was okay and most of us would fall in these categories. And that pretty much all candidates on working through and submitting the recommended changes, would then receive their PhD almost without exception.

The second point was that a couple of universities stated that if examiners disagreed on the category, the university always went with the lower category. So if one examiner was adamant that the lower category was needed, then that is the way the university would go-no matter that other examiners believed a higher category was more accurate.

I understand why you would be anxious and worried and disappointed but I don't think your PhD is in any form of jeopardy. It is going to be a little delayed though. This is very usual from my understanding and most of us go through a version of this, so I don't think it will impact on your employment. They will also be used to this process. Best wishes though and hope there are some things you can do to help get through this next stage without too much anxiety.

Hi Jamie, I hope you don't mind me hijacking this thread...but Piju could you tell me more, from what you've read, are examiners looking for and what sorts of things would make one fail?

Newlease

Hi Newlease-I just put some things together in a pm-it includes a couple of references to journal articles as well. Back to you Jamie :)

I agree with the others - it sounds like they are trying to help you, albeit in a roundabout way! I was given several months to do my corrections when really I only needed a week. They told me that they were giving me longer as knowing that I had young children and a job to do, they didn't want me to feel pressurised. Congratulations - you have passed! I bet the corrections won't be as onerous as you fear and, when they are done, you can put this behind you.

This is really interesting and reassuring for all of us - thanks for sharing Pjlu.

Jamie - I was so caught up in what I was saying that I forgot to say - big congratulations!

Tudor

Hi Jamie

I'm pleased to hear that you're going to discuss the report with your supervisor. This was something I found really helpful (I didn't get a report, but a list of points that could have been written on the back of a cigarette packet!). I found that after discussing what was actually needed, some of the corrections were smaller and more targeted than they first appeared - hopefully this may be the case for you as well. It is difficult when you get corrections/feedback you can't agree with, and you feel the point of your work has been overlooked - been there too! - and it becomes very much just a case of doing what they want to get your PhD. Two things my supervisor said that I found helpful - remember all the parts of your thesis that they passed without comment or correction (as we tend just to focus on the negative comments in times of high pressure), and remember you can do what you like with your work once the thesis has been passed, and can change it back or do whatever you want with it for other publications.

All the best with it.

Hello, Jaime
I agree with many of the statements listed; additionally, major congratulations on what you've accomplished thus far. I just graduated with a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership (June 2017) and I can attest to the fact that the relationship between the Ph.D. candidate and the dissertation committee can be extremely intense. Sometimes you feel like they are expecting you to jump through too many hoops, it can be frustrating and some people decide that they can't stand it and the quit the program. Please take this advise, follow their suggestions to the letter and try not to take any of it personally. I know this difficult. Also, keep in mind that your committee members have to sign off on your completed document. If your committee is anything like mine, that consideration looms high on their list. I wish you God's grace with your dissertation. Earning my Ph.D. was the happiest day of my life. My committee was tough. One of my committee members was a Ph.D. from Harvard University. Every draft I submitted, she sent me 4 pages of notes. Earning a Ph.D. is an enormous task!!!! Hang in there! You'll be so glad once you've completed the entire process

Hey Jamie_Wizard, have they diagnosed the chest pain? If it continues, look up chostrochondritis... it is a harmless but v.painful condition linked to stressed. Hope all's going well with the corrections.

Tudor

Jaime, your health is more important than anything! Take some time for yourself, regroup, spend time with loved ones. I don't know if you're a person of faith? If you are, ask the Lord to give you peace and wisdom. Speaking from experience, I prayed myself through the whole Ph.D. process. I will include you in my prayers tonight. Take Care or yourself!!!

Grace

In my experience, it takes a while to work through the post-viva emotions if you've had any kind of curveball experience with it. When you think about how long we spend on the PhD, how much feedback we get along the way and how much work goes into responding to that feedback, and then all the pressure of the viva occasion, it's not surprising that it can knock us for six at the end. And to be honest, I've now heard such hugely varying accounts of viva practice that I just think it's all subjective anyway. I have more faith in my Masters result, if that makes sense, because of all the exams I had to pass along the way for that. Good luck with your new job, hope all goes well :-)