Hi everyone, thought I 'd give an update on my situation. Around a month ago i was notified that I actually WON my appeal! The graduate school has realized there was an unfair and biased assessment on the part of the examiners and therefore I will get another viva, probably early 2009. That is a massive weight off my shoulders even though I am starting to be very stressed about the second viva. I will have new examiners obviously and a new chair person. My supervisors have suggested two external examiners who are well established in my field. So hopefully this time things will work out !

Well the more I think about it the more I think the viva is also a question of luck. I sent my appeal documents yesterday. And today I finally received (after two weeks) the external's report ...and I am outraged, so much so I stopped reading the document after the first paragraph. The guy slaughters my thesis again, saying there is nothing new in my research ( not true) and that my thesis is ill-written...well that means that my two supervisors, who are native English speakers, don't speak English properly and can't correct me and this guy, who is French, knows better! I am feeling sick !
On a positive note, the researcher I am supposed to work with as a postdoc in November has emailed me to say he still wants me for the job whatever the outcome of the appeal ... which again proves that my external is an idiot (to remain polite) !

Thanks Angelofthenorth for your kind words .. I can only describe that kind of experience as an earthquake as it is so unsettling. As for the question for the supervisor being in the room, same as for Angelofthenorth, none of my supervisors thought it was necessary, they thought I would pass with flying colours and that the internals would do their jobs. I must say as well that the chairperson, even though she saw me in tears and clearly under constant criticism (should I dare say "bullying") from the external did not say anything because "she has to remain neutral" ..all she managed to say at the end was "I can't say anything because I must stay neutral but on a personal note I am very sorry" ..yeah right, that helps...
I have collated all my bi-annual PhD progress reports to attach to my appeal form ...fingers crossed !!

In my case, I was consulted about the external examiner and my supervisors and I agreed that he "should" be suitable for my PhD.. except that the examiner only focused on one part of the study that is relevant to his expertise (my project is multidisciplinary) and completely ignored the other two parts ...and in the end anyway he "didn't like my approach"...so in any case, he may be an expert but that does not guaranty he will provide a fair judgment ... expertise does not mean good attitude ..and also my supervisor has met the guy several times and said he was ok ...people act differently depending on the context they are in: with colleagues, with students, etc ...
Just got the official letter today ... I am finalizing my appeal form...

Angelofthenorth, I can compeltely relate to what you are going through. A similar experience happened to me during my viva, just 6 days ago !!!:-(

Same situation: good supervisors, good progress, really enjoyed my work, presented my work at several international conferences and I have a postdoc lined up I should be starting beginning of November. Yet for 6 days now I have been feeling drained, discouraged.
The jury failed me and would consider only awarding me an MPhil after corrections .. The external was an absolute arrogant b####d who did not like my work at all (not the same method he used), criticised every single aspect of my work (he said I missunderstood the meaning of some words between French and English..he was French himself !!) and wouldn't listen to my answers. there were two internals in the room and a chairperson .. chairperson didn't say anything, even though the guy was clearly bullying me and I was in tears. One internal didn't say a word and the other asked a few questions but not really massively important ones. In fact, of the three main areas of work making up my thesis, the external only focused on one, the one he was more expert in. 3 hours of hell ... and a complete shock... I am filling in a formal complaint because the assessment was clearly biased .. I could understand I had some corrections to make in my thesis but 4 years of work to only get an MPhil after corrections ...I can't believe it! My supervisors are as shocked as me and clearly supporting me !! I don't know what I am going to do now because I have to wait for the appeal ...I don't know whetehr I will eb able to do my postdoc ..and I don't ahve any plan B ... Been crying for 6 days and don't see myself getting over it!