I was wondering if there is any way to salvage a failed PhD (apart from appealing). For instance, can I rewrite my PhD, enroll at another university and then re-submit a year later?

Similarly, if I was awarded a MPhil as a "consolation prize", would I have to start a new PhD from scratch or is there some process whereby I can get it upgraded after rewriting?

I doubt you could re-write and submit at another university as most universities will have regulations along on the lines of: you have to spend a significant proportion of your time doing your PhD work at that university if you are to be allowed to submit. But I am sure there is more important reasons why you cant do this ( funding and intellectual property.... )

If you get yourself an Mphil as a consolation prize its not impossible to do another PhD. I personally don't know anyone in their right mind who would want to do another PhD having already spent 3-4 years on one and only come out with a masters.

Is there any reason to suspect that you would be more successful if you did another PhD ( be honest )?

Quite common with a uni down under at wagga wagga, you are left without a cert nor even a consolation prize and if you were to continue more money might have to be discharged like a mulitlevel marketing scheme. Best bet leave it to experience and save money and get on with life, think positive and don't let a uni get your future down. That uni is not worth it. After all look at all the bankrupt unis fleecing Asian students now when their investments fell by the wayside in Wall Street.

======= Date Modified 17 Aug 2009 20:57:16 =======
Skippy, have you failed? Or are going through a crisis of confidence?

If you're in the UK, it's unlikely you'll fail your PhD is it's half decent (I was told one in ten fail their PhD, but I believe the odds are much lower than that).

If you think your PhD is not up to scratch when you go into the viva, be prepared to fight tooth and nail to be referred/re-submit - this is the normal course of action. If you know the problems with your thesis and you can explain to the examiners what is potentially wrong/missing and what you think needs to be put right etc. a reasonable examiner will probably give you a re-submission opportunity.

You could start a PhD again, but you'd have to check out IP issues (as noted below), and check out self-plagarism issues if you've been awarded an MPhil.

But, if you haven't actually failed, you might be wise trying to focus on being impressive in the viva, rather than worse-case scenarios.