Hi All,
I'm writing this post on behalf of a good friend, she is an international student (Kurdish) studying at my UK institution. She called me in a panic yesterday (from Kurdistan, where she's been writing revisions for the past year) asking me to try to find out what's going to happen to her and what her options are. What happened is this:
One year ago she passed the viva with revisions (not sure if minor or major) and resubmitted about 2 months ago. At this point while the internal examiner accepted the revisions, but the external did not. Her supervisors are really angry about this and have told her not to worry but they need to find a third examiner to cast the deciding vote. My friend wants to know, if this vote goes against her, what happens next? Is there any possibility of appeal/re-examination etc.?

There's a few posts on here about this situation. For worst case scenario, read this:
http://www.postgraduateforum.com/thread-47992/?pageNo=3

So, appeals are possible, but vary by institution and outcomes are not guaranteed.

In these circumstances I would approach this in a practical manner. Find out what the external supervisor wants and give them what they ask for unless they are asking for your first born child. Get agreement with the internal supervisor that this is the approach to take.

I learned this from submitting papers over the last few years.
One reviewer asks for a whole load of stuff when everyone else says it's OK. I simply find ways to give them it, seeking absolute clarification if necessary. Bowing, scraping and fawning at the knee of the wise owl reviewer if that is required as well. I can't remember how many times I have "thanked the reviewer for their valuable and gratifying comments".
So far I have been lucky and have had everything published on the second submission, even in the face of initially very harsh comments such as "This work simply cranks the wheel, adding nothing of substance". Everyone loves to be fluffed. You have to put your ego to one side, ignore the personal stuff (which actually makes for great stories over a beer or a coffee) and deal with the core of what they want. Too many people allow their egos to take over, take everything too personally and start picking fights with the wrong people and this results inevitably in serious problems.

Treeoflife - thanks, this is a really useful post with many similarities to my friend's case, though so far, despite a disagreement, I don't think there is anything incompetent or illegal going on.

pm133 - very much appreciate your contribution and will pass on your advice, though I don't think as of yet my friend has been offered a chance to re-address the external's criticisms, from what I understand at the moment further revisions aren't on the table until the deadlock can be resolved by a third examiner.

Hi Scoutingforgreeks - Don't think any institution/supervisor would like any PhD candidate to fail and get an MPhil. So totally agree with pm133, please find out what would external examiner like for your friend to get her degree and if its minor corrections, then go for it. Else appeal and change of examiner is another option. However, before that, her supervisor needs to be absolutely sure that there is PhD worthy material in the thesis. Otherwise, a new examiner may reach the same conclusion. All the best and please keep us posted.