======= Date Modified 11 Jan 2011 23:05:40 =======
Hi there

Where have these 4 years gone?

I have been spending one year working hard to earn some money for my wedding, then after I got married, I focused on the PhD, in January 2010 I progressed to writing up, but the deadline for me to hand in is in the end of this month (January 2011) are there is no way that my conclusions will be ready in time (they are kind of written, but in a very basic draft).

I have not been 'naughty'. In fact, I have been working very hard. So hard that I have put on 4 stone and I am a nervous wreck in saint john's ward. I have not procrastinated. It is simple: my thesis is a big thesis in an interdisciplinary topic: 350 pages in the main and another 250 in the appendices, plus English is not my first language and it takes a bit extra for me to do the work. Then it is how I lead my life: I have to cook, clean, etc, etc. and most important, be a 30 year old wife for my husband. I do not see myself as a student after I got married: I consumed 4-5 hours a day on things that housewives do. Then came the thesis, but I made sure I did my best to work as much as possible. So no regrets, but now what?

20 days before the official deadline to hand in and the drama has started. No matter how hard I try (I currently work over 12 hours a day on thesis) the conclusions will not be ready in time.

So, what are my options now? PLEASE HELP.

:-(

Additional info: I am studying at the University of Birmingham. My topic is humanities related.

I think your first aim is to contact your supervisor and have a discussion about your options. They surely must be aware of your progress but in any case make your meeting with them open and honest, ie are there mitigating circumstances such as illness that may be taken into account for an extension? Your supervisor should be reading your thesis as you write-up so hopefully will be aware of the work needed for completion. I would think that it is not ideal to submit a draft of the thesis as this could lead to a MPhil or major corrections. Get in touch with the university tomorrow about this as it is urgent! Good luck

======= Date Modified 12 Jan 2011 01:06:38 =======
Hi Mrs!

I was in your position prior to submission (although our situations are very different-I'm single and recently turned 30!).

I was forced to submit my thesis by the end of September 2010 as it marked the end of four years of PhD study. I had no option for an additional extension. Basically, if I did not submit by the September 2010, I would not receive a degree! I was an ESRC student so there was added pressure for me to submit in time.

I submitted on the 30th of September, but I because my examiners were not finalised, I had just over 1 week to make improvements to my thesis whilst they organised my examiners. They basically turned a blind eye for a few days to allow me to finish it. I had to finish making the changes and I submitted in the first week of October 2010. My examiners received my thesis in November 2010.

My thesis was rushed piece of work and my supervisors did not read my thesis or approve my thesis before I submitted it because I simply did not have a finished thesis during the final few months of my extension year.

I'm still waiting for a viva date and I'm currently fearing the worst ie whwhether their contemplating pulling it from examination. My supervisors feel there is a possibility of an MPhil ie a failed PhD if I'm not prepared for my viva or if I produce a poor defence or if I'm not clear on my main research questions. They think that a pass with minor corrections is simply not an option and the most likely outcome will be a pass with major corrections, although there is a possibility of a fail/MPhil.

What I wanted to say is that I wouldn't wish my current feelings/state on anyone. I'm 30 years old and I want to move on from my PhD and perhaps find a husband and start a family (biological clock ticking away!). However, I'm left in a state of limbo knowing full well that there's a possibility I could fail at the last hurdle. I can't sleep, I'm very depressed and I feel like walking away from this thesis and admitting defeat because I know there's a chance I could fail. I've already requested that I walk from my thesis and not defend it if there's a chance I could fail it (ie I don't want to be humiliated or go through it and fail), but my supervisors are sort of ignoring my requests for quitting and are proceeding with the viva. I'm fully expecting an email from my supervisors stating that my examiners have decided not to proceed with the viva- given the state of my thesis. Reading over my thesis, I know 100% my thesis was substandard, but I know it contributes to knowledge given that's its completely new area of research and validates the work of my external examiners work so I'm clinging on to the hope that my examiners will allow me to resubmit. My internal examiner know my research very well (he made the final say on whether I should be upgraded or not) and my external examiner is one of the few academics specialising in my field. I also know that my examiners are not harsh examiners, so I'm hoping and praying I'll be ok. They also know that my thesis was unfinished and not checked by my supervisors before I submittied it.

My advice would be to plead for an extension if you can. Or, perhaps you could work on your thesis whilst examiners are organised etc etc. Contact your supervisors immediately. I was in big trouble because I kept my head in the sand and I failed to keep my supervisors informed of my progress during the final few weeks leading up to submission (and I'll probably suffer for it!). I'm dreading the final outcome and the viva as I'm expecting a grilling. I only needed 1-2 weeks to prove read etc etc but if you could get an extra few weeks then you would feel better for it I'm sure.

Best of luck!!

Thanks people. Pineapple I feel you as I am the same. I started the PhD very late in life. I got married in between but I have no children as mama PhD was not an option for me. 30 and PhD sounds... a bit over the top and I did not know how hard it would be to maintain a part-time job, to look after a house and a husband and to conduct research.

I have been trying to contact my supervisor (I have emailed him since last week) but he has not got back yet. Tomorrow I am going to campus to try and find him in person, without an appointment. The good news is that I am self-funded so that might be a bonus when I request an extension. I will keep you informed.