Signup date: 02 Apr 2018 at 3:57pm
Last login: 11 Aug 2023 at 12:58pm
Post count: 6
Your experience sounds very similar to mine, i am sorry that you had to go through this. But thank you for explaining what tyou did, its definitely given me some ideas about how to move forward. Because i dont want to quit, atleast not right now, and think i can finish this. It makes me so angry though that supervisors can treat students this way, it feels like being kicked when youre already down. I am glad to hear you completed your phd, it gives me hope!
I am sorry that you also have the experience of losing a parent. I think the milestone approach sounds good too, thank you.
Thank you for your message and advice. i think im going to try for 6 months and see where i am.
Hi,
In April, my mother got suddenly seriously ill, and we were told that the illness was terminal and that the decline would be rapid and would involve suffering. I am doing my PhD in another city and worked part-time for a month or so before interrupting formally.
My supervisor was initially supportive, in that they kept distance but was reassuring about my phd and interruption. no problems were mentioned about my work.
Flash forward 6 months, my mother has passed away and I want to return to the phd after taking some extra time off to process the extremely unusual sequence of events.
However, my supervisor has completely changed tack, and now has suggested I would be better never coming back as my work is not good enough and i don't appreciate the opportunity to work in their lab.
In the meeting, i was shocked but kept relatively calm, and asked why they think this.
They say that this has been an issue before my mother got ill.
However there is no record of anything like this being mentioned, and in fact they reassured me multiple times that my work was progressing the way it should.
The last two months before I suspended were chaotic, but I had very little control over that. I regret not interrupting my studies sooner.
They say they didn't want to upset me so didn't mention anything.
I am angry that they are trying to kick me out, I think its because senior scientists in the lab are leaving and there will be no direct support. I was not a perfect student before but nothing was flagged up.
In their defence, I did miss some meetings and now they are saying that my work was not independent enough. this could be true, but I was only 6 months in.
I dont know what I can do - I cant change labs without losing the funding. I feel like they will force me out through more formal mechanisms and more slowly - its very hostile now
What can I do..
Hi everyone,
I would appreciate insight into my issue with PhD funding .
I have been lucky enough to be awarded a research council studentship for my studies at University 1. however, I am still in the process of receiving a decision about University 2. University 1 want me to sign a contract soon to accept the studentship, and I am concerned that if I receive an offer from University 2, then I will be tied in wifh University 1.
Does anyone have any experience with receiving and accepting a funding offer from somewhere else after officially accepting the first? if I don’t sign the 1st University contract I will lose the studentship. What would be the legal consequences for dropping out? They are different research councils.
Thank you for your help
Sarah
PostgraduateForum Is a trading name of FindAUniversity Ltd
FindAUniversity Ltd, 77 Sidney St, Sheffield, S1 4RG, UK. Tel +44 (0) 114 268 4940 Fax: +44 (0) 114 268 5766
An active and supportive community.
Support and advice from your peers.
Your postgraduate questions answered.
Use your experience to help others.
Enter your email address below to get started with your forum account
Enter your username below to login to your account
An email has been sent to your email account along with instructions on how to reset your password. If you do not recieve your email, or have any futher problems accessing your account, then please contact our customer support.
or continue as guest
To ensure all features on our website work properly, your computer, tablet or mobile needs to accept cookies. Our cookies don’t store your personal information, but provide us with anonymous information about use of the website and help us recognise you so we can offer you services more relevant to you. For more information please read our privacy policy
Agree Agree