Hello all. I'm a PhD student. I started last autumn 2017 and was immediately offered a fast-track through to complete in 3 years instead of 5-6 years. I had an excellent supervisor initially but now she has stepped back to 2nd supervisor position and I've been assigned a 1st supervisor with no supervision experience (he graduated last June). I talked to some other PhD students who have him since September and they are not happy with his lack of experience and poor feedback. A couple are transferring out to another Uni. To make matters worse his area of expertise is not even remotely related to my thesis. There doesn't seem to be anyone else in the Dept who is an obvious choice for me to approach apart from my 2nd supervisor. I've approached her and clarified my preference for her to continue but I got the impression her hands are full at the moment. I'm considering moving Universities but am not sure if I will necessarily be fast-tracked. Any ideas?

Do you need to be fast-tracked? It might sound good but you will end up with less knowledge and less experience the faster you move through your PhD. You've also got less chance for decent publications that you will need to get you a postdoc.

I'm assuming you're not in the UK as UK PhDs are a maximum of 4 years anyway.

I am in UK. Thinking of transferring to neighbouring Uni.

I don't think you can take 5-6 years to do a PhD in the UK? Unless you're doing it part time of course.

I would stick to where you're at. You can still work with your second supervisor and her availability might change as you go through your PhD anyway.

Yes, am part time. I may request she take the lead in year 3. Hopefully that can happen. Thanks for responses.