aw i hope you hear something soon- we all have fingers crossed for you :)

de-activate your facebook!!!!

Get in a routine each day, start writing something- you should know your topic inside out now. I have no doubt you are very capable otherwise I assume you would not have mad it this far? Plan each chapter- and get going. It would be such a shame to throw it all away when you have got this far!

hi- you may have seen my posts but I was in the same situation. But- I was awarded my PhD recently after a resubmission- so it is possible - albeit after a bit more work (and probably anger/tears!!)


Please keep going. If you address all the points in the examiners report you should be ok. I know how bad it feels and I know no matter what anyone says you will still feel awful. My advice is to be proactive- the sooner you get started, the sooner you will get something ticked off the list, and the better you will feel :)

Hi- I had the same experience- please don't give up!! I can honestly say that following my viva I was at my lowest I had been ever in my life. But, I was determined to prove to my examiners I could do it- and I did. I can honestly say my thesis looks so much better now. It was hell, and I have just finished the minor corrections I was given following my re-submission. This process requires determination + perseverance + support. I know a lot of part-time students don't even make it as far as the viva so you have made a remarkable achievement to get this far. Please keep your chin up. Just follow exactly what they say in your examiners report and you should be fine :)

Hi All,

I am just wondering if anyone else has been faced with a similar situation:

I got a job as a research assistant after I submitted my PhD (I could not live on fresh air and hold out for the perfect post-doc position). I then had to re-submit my PhD within this time, which I have done (successfully this time). Whilst I have learned a lot during the past 6 months, I keep my eye out on the job vacancies at my current university. I have seen a few research associate/fellow positions I would be interested in. However, here lays the dilemma. My current contract ends 31st July 2013. I am not sure when to start applying for other positions. I feel that by Christmas, I might be in a better position with regards publications ( I have two papers in preparation and only one accepted- which was only a literature review). I also think it may look bad if I apply for something else with so long left in my current contract and I don't want to rock the boat with my current manager. The current department I work in will be facing many cuts next summer so I am not guaranteed any extension to my contract ( I am also not sure I would want one). However, there is a job advertised at present that I would be very interested in (contract until 2017).

I am not sure whether to take a chance and apply for this post, or hold off until after Christmas to look for jobs. If I had a few more publications under my belt it would be a no-brainer and I would go for it.

wow well done!!! you can now change your name to de-stressed :)

Glad to hear you are making good progress.

I know the financial side of things is always a major worry. I only had a part-time wage for four months after I submitted first time around. Luckily my husband was able to support me as much as he could. However, I still have a large credit card bill I am paying off!!

I used the online library resources available to me from my institution. Luckily, my revisions were mostly related to statistics (I kept in contact with my statistician via email). I also kept in regular contact with my supervisors via email. They understood how anxious I was and therefore were excellent at providing timely feedback (as was my statistician thankfully!!). They were willing to chat over the phone or skype if I needed it. Luckily I had to fly back to Ireland for a few family occassions so arranged my meetings around them. I think if you tell your supervisor your worries they will try to help as much as possible (hopefully). I really hope everything works out for you and you are able to get an extension. If not, don't panic, you will do it!!

Yes, whilst the examiners are appointed by your university, students are often given the opportunity to advise on potential examiners, or are kept in the loop as to who may be a potential examiner. For example, you may attend a conference and meet someone who is in your area of work and who would know the topic well.

Sorry to hear you are under stress at the moment. I think it is best for you to check with the university if an extension is possible (different universities, different guidelines).

However, I also moved after my viva (I had an R&R decision also) - from Ireland to England- and so was a long distance from my supervisor also. It is possible to continue your work, although it is a little harder. I think the best thing to do is to sit down, have a look at what your examiners are requiring you to do, make a list of what you have covered so far, and what you have left to do. Try and work on one or two things each month. Break it down it smaller steps rather than looking at the whole picture. Now that the academic year is back in full swing, you may get more regular feedback from your supervisor. I arranged with my supervisor how often I would send her work, and what deadlines I had created for myself for revising each chapter. Perhaps arrange a meeting for December - then this will give youa date to work towards, and you can suggest that at this meeting, you go over all the revisions you have made so far. I had three supervision meetings after my viva- one to arrange what needed done, and two further meetings for going over revised chapters.

You are so close now- donb't give up :)

Hi Blackbyrd,

I think you definitely need to get some clarification.

In my university there were a number of outcomes- one of which is major corrections, followed by revise and re-submit. Following my viva my examiners informed me they were giving me a revise and re-submit decision, rather than a major corrections decision, to give me enough time to complete the revisions. This was due to me starting a new job and re-locating. They said I would not have to do another viva- technically I passed the viva but still had a bit of work to do. I was so disappointed- surely it should have been up to me to decide if indeed I needed the 12 months to revise and re-submit. Needless to say I didn't need the full year and re-submitted 4 months after viva and have since been awarded my PhD subject to a few minor corrections.

My advice to you, if indeed it is a revise and re-submit, is to carry on doing what you would have had to do anyway (i.e. your major corrections). You can re-submit anytime within those 12 months. Providing you address all the points in your examiners report, there should be no issues. I know it feels like the worst thing ever, but concentrate on getting stuck into your corrections. You are almost there and you have made a great achievement to get this far!! If indeed you are not required to do another viva, I take this as a very positive sign indeed. however, institutions may differ in whether a second one is required.



Don't beat yoursef up too much:-)

I am also concerend that you copied part of your introduction- this is an absolute no no- was your supervisor aware of this? I am afraid this will be extremely hard to defend in a viva. Was it a large section? Was it referenced?

Minor mistakes are fine- usually get awarded the PhD subject to minor corrections

If you get a resubmission decision you are not a doctor just yet- you have to resubmit and then wait on the decision following the resubmission. If you get offered the job you should be truthful with your future employer.

Hi Pineapple,

I have been awarded my PhD suject to minor corrections!! ( 7 weeks after I resubmitted). I am so relieved as I had convinced myself I had failed. I hope this reassures you a little. The examiners were happy I had addressed each point in their report. I have my fingers and toes crossed for you.