I did my first PhD in information systems which was very much related to my job. I made tentative enquires at another Uni to do a second PhD in History, which is completely unrelated to my academic career. They have said yes on the basis that I register for an MA first and see how it goes. They have found a supervisor and all I need to do now is put in a formal application. It might be worth doing 'phone calls first before you start on the application process. One thing which might influence them is whether you are going for funding, it seems to be easier if you are funding yourself.

Beth12, first let me say how sorry I am and I can totally understand if you are feeling bad. Every university has a complaints' proceedure, most however, state you can not appeal against academic decisions. However given it was a resubmission did you have feedback from the examiners first time round? Also they must have filled in some paperwork to fail it. Is it possible to obtain this and see exactly why it failed? At that point you might want to make an appointment to see your student' union person and the Head of your Department and see what they say. Don't give up as there is always hope (but it is a long and arduous process going through a complaints' proceedure (it took me two years and I ended up at the OIA)). You might find your superviser knows someone at another uni who woudl be prepared to take it on and then you could submit there. Good luck and keep us informed, we are here to support you.

I worked full time for most of my PhD (I did 14 months working for the uni part time but left to go back to full time work). I did it by having lists for everything with approx time limits. This meant if I have some time, an hour, ten mins three hours, I was able to look at what needed doing and then do it. I found the reading difficut because I kept having to go back to it but I coped by making masses of notes and photocopying/buying masses of stuff. It is hard and I was envious of friends on full time full funded PhDs but then again many of us graduated at the same time, with my part time having taken as long as their full time. You can do it, but it is difficult.

My thesis is locked in a cupboard, in a locked office, with no possibility of publication ever due to the nature of it. If I had had the choice I would have made sure I had at least one article from it before I let 'let in into the real world' just so, as beefy says, your rights are established. It is too easy for people to obtain the whole thing once you have allowed it on EthOS.

I am not in academia but I do use the title in my professional life (as do my colleagues who have a PhD). Def change it with the bank, the driving licence is the other document to change it on I gather (not done this one yet). However watch out, my PA booked a hotel for me using the title and I ended up being asked for medical advice!!

I have a similar story, I submitted, my supervisor said it was 100% certain to pass, my viva was cancelled because my thesis was 'so unsatisfactory'. I took it though the complaints proceedure and the OIA and they uphelded the majority of my complaint. I then went back, re-wrote the whole thing and had a very sucessful viva and graduated last year. It can, and does, happen. I am surprised they did not cancel the viva, this at least give the candidate a second chance.

It is possible to submit, in most institutions, without your supervisor's support. BUT if you do so and it comes out as a fail or MPhil then you will have very little chance to complain about supervision. Have you had a formal review of your work (in some unis this happens each year)? Can you talk to the head of department? How much have you written up, as it might be possible to have another prof read it and then ask for a report?

Hi Lilbobeep, my first viva was cancelled as my thesis was 'so unsatisfactory'. After three years I went back to it. Started re-writting on the 21 April and send it, completely re-written (with about three paragraphs not re-written) to my sup on the 22 July. it went back and forth a few times but it was submitted in the October. So a short answer is 12 weeks (and I was working FT). But as Chuff says chunk it down, I had a massive list, with timings so however much time (from 10 mins to 10 hours) I had I knew there was something to do. It is so worth it in the end, and one really good thing is you know exactly what your examiners want (because of the major re-write, including changing my philosophical slant, my examiners changed so I had no idea as I entered the viva what would happen, it could have been another re-write). Go for it, and keep us posted!

Hi Nichola, although I can totally understand people's comments about having a break you may find there is a time limit on putting in a complaint. It might be worth indicating in writing that you are considering a complaint. Having gone through a uni complaints' proceedures (and in the end went to the OIA) you need to make sure you have very strong evidence that supervision was inadequate. You can not complain about an academic decision.

I gave mine a copy of my thesis and a DVD of Shaun the Sheep! He really likes the programme and I found one he did nothave. As he does not drink it was a little difficult as it is so easy to buy champers.

My first viva was postponed as the examiners judged that my thesis was not of doctoral standard. Three years later I had gone through both the Uni's complaints proceedure and the OIA (who up held the majority of my complaints). I started with a new supervisor and, eight months later had a very sucessful viva, and wonderful graduation day seven months after that. Taking the uni through the complaints' proceedure taught me more about the use of evidence to prove a point than the first attempt at a PhD did, it also put me in very good position for re-writing. It took me four years part time to achieve a PhD (three and a bit years pre first viva, eight months pre second viva), it took me three years to go through the complaints' procedure. You can 'win' but it will be a long experience and in the end you will have to do the additional work. That said I am so glad I did complain, I know things have changed, and I have made it much more difficult for my experience to be repeated at the uni i was at. It might not have benefitted me directly but it has benefitted many more students. And I have my PhD. I took the attitude of saying, in five years time what am I going to regret more, not complaining and finding out the uni had carried on ignoring regulations, or spending the time complaining? PM me if you would like to 'talk' it over.

My acknowledgement to my supervisor said: 'to XXXXX, thank you'. I had major problems with my PhD and my first superisors. The supervisor who picked it all up and supported me to viva knew exactly what I meant by that very simple, but extremely heartfelt, sentence.

I was in a similar situation last year. Due to massive problems with the Uni (which I will leave to rest in peace) I started to completed re-write the whole of my PhD on the 20 April 2009. The re-write included completely changing my methodological stance and reading about 10 books and over 20 articles. I sent the whole thing on a memory stick to my prof on the 22 July. During this time, three months, I was also working full time. Basically I had lists for everything, the paragraphs, the pages, the chapters, the books, the articles, the washing! I cut back on everything, sleep, wine, going out, checking forums and just focused. People thought I was mad. However my prof thought it was okay, I had my viva in December and the minor revisions took about five days. I graduate this year, much to the delight of my parents and husband. It is a horrible situation to be in, and I can totally understand your fustration, but it can be done. Keep us all informed!

Congratulations Dr Bilbo! I have been so inspired by your posts and have hung around on here to see your progess. I am delighted for you.
Enjoy the champagne!

Hi Dan, mine (even though minor) went to the external, as he wanted to see the final document. Sent them through on a Friday heard from my DofS informally on the Tuesday and the uni formally on the Wednesday that he accepted all of them. I would wait till Thursday and then gently 'nudge' people. Many people go away for Easter and I know at my uni there is a cut off of May to graduate this year, and that is to have it all bound (which can take upto two weeks). My next challenge is to obtain more tickets for grad!