I began a PhD in 1999 at a top UK university on a topic of serious interest since an undergrad (MSc. in same field). I was a semi 'mature' student and towards end of 2 yrs data collection got married and pregnant. After birth, in 2002 began write up but due to financial struggles started working. That, sick baby & other issues caused enormous stress, fatigue & procrastination. We returned stateside but child's health and husband's alcoholism, blaming, etc led to further delays, poor confidence.

I received extensions & in 2009 went back to UK for the viva w/kid in tow. I was well prepared for the viva but doubtful because the stress/health matters had handicapped my writing which led to incomplete chapters. I just about quit right before the viva. I passed the orals but was given a resubmit w/major revisions.

The home situation got worse after that & I could not focus. I was also having (menopause?) cognitive issues, which I'd suspected during the first submission, but everyone kept saying I was just trying to be a perfectionist. After another extension, I literally gave up....didn't even contact my examiners (one died already), I felt so useless & husband also kept saying I was a failure.

I've been working on contract in an applied aspect in the same field & things have improved at home, but friends keep saying I have to finish (I'm somewhat of a specialist in my field). I'm sitting on great data that still would make an original contribution.

Is it worth it and is there a likelihood that another university would take it on? Does the old univ. have intellectual rights to the thesis? I feel I really burned my britches-no contact in 4 yrs. One mentor said if all else turn it into a book, but I still have that nagging feeling to finish. I wonder whether I could register at another university but not to have to do the 'full' course requirements. I still have some student loans too.

Thanks to anyone with advice.

Sorry to hear about your experiences. The likelihood that another university will admit you is remote and yes the uni is likely to have IP rights to the data. Can you contact your old uni and see if anything can be salvaged?

I would go back to your supervisor (maybe cc department in), explain the situation like you have here, and see what they say.

Dear Hugh and TreeofLife,

Thank you for your considerate replies and thoughts. I feel afraid to go back to the last supervisor after so long, especially without having something to 'hand in.' If I go that route, and considering my previous writing blocks, maybe it would be better if I actually finish writing the thesis in complete form, and then go back to that department and ask whether they would accept the submission. If I try to rally support and then don't produce, I'd really be worse off and really lose credibility. Don't you think? In rethinking, I also think another university would have a hard time accepting the thesis from elsewhere.

I feel so torn about my future and feel such a lack of concrete direction, but I guess where there is a will there is a way, but one needs to muster the will.

Anyways, thanks so much for taking time to reply.

If you want something to hand in, could you approach your former supervisor with a work plan of how you aim to revise and resubmit the thesis? It shows you have thought about the resubmission seriously, and if you can resubmit you have a timetable to work to. If it really is too late to resubmit, you have only lost the small amount of time taken to write the work plan. It would be heartbreaking to work on finishing the thesis, only to find after all that effort that they could not accept it.

I was just wondering, though, how much do you really, passionately, want to be Dr Longlost? And how far you feel you ought to be working towards becoming Dr Longlost, because other people say you have to finish - but in your heart you don't have that passion. Does that makes sense? If the university said there was time to submit and they were looking forward to receiving the thesis, how would you feel? How would you feel if you were told it was too late to submit?

Best of luck with whatever you decide.