I know writing up's horrible sometimes, but don't beat yourself up about it when you don't reach your daily goals. I used to do that, then I felt like I'd failed myself and it made me even less likely to get writing. It's best just to get on with the same thing again the next day, but if you can't write then do something else useful that'll feed into the thesis as a whole. Some days are just a bit useless, but hopefully good ones make up for them!

My worst wordcount killer was perfectionism, setting out to write the perfect chapter and then slipping over my deadlines. Sounds obvious, but it took me ages to realise there would always be flaws or things I could do differently, and I didn't have the time for perfection anyway if I wanted to submit!! My supervisor got worried about this and set me very strict deadlines when I had to get chapter drafts emailed off. I found having to write quickly rather painful because I was so aware some days of writing semi-crap woffle, spotting gaps in my references etc, but I just had to leave them in order to get the whole chapter done, albeit flawed! I kept inserting footnotes to myself about errors I knew about that had to be addressed before submission, then moved on to the next chapter. I felt like a chapter production line, churning them out one after another in a short space of time, but at least it got me writing and got the first draft done and there was something to build on.

Are things any better today? Good luck anyway, plod on and you'll get there eventually!!(up)

I'd agree with Gingersnaps about speaking to a Postgrad Research tutor or someone similar. I think you need more feedback on why you failed your viva, whether it was the project or you. If it was the project that was the problem in not allowing you to generate enough data, then surely they should have picked up on its potential weaknesses at the point of enrolment? Specialist academics should read PhD applications from prospective students before you enrol, in order to decide whether there is enough scope for a research project, whether PhD or MPhil. It's fair enough if the scope for a proposal isn't as great as they'd thought early on in the project, as that's the way research goes sometimes, but I'm surprised they don't even think there would be enough mileage for an MPhil.

If they think the problem is you, then you need to find out exactly why. Is it a lack of research skills, or something that could have been addressed by your university with appropriate guidance, supervision or training? They did take you on to do a PhD, so you must have proved you had enough experience or knowledge to reach a certain level of competence when you applied, otherwise why didn't they reject you at the application stage?

It sounds a horrible situation to be in, so good luck with finding out what the problems are. Maybe there will be a way out of this for you.

You should check your course handbook for assessment criteria, as percentages for grading might vary slightly between universities. These things should be transparent and available for all students so that they know how their work is assessed, though you might need to ask your course administrator or academic staff if there's no obvious sign of the info.

======= Date Modified 25 Aug 2009 17:53:58 =======

Wishful thinking indeed!! Depending on the contract, it probably works out at around 10p a day, considering all the work we put into PhDs!!

It's nice thinking about things like book covers though, I think about what sort of book launch would I like to have as well, it's probably a bit fanciful right now but the odd fantasy seems ok to get through the humdrum bits of the PhD!

I'm shocked at how fast I've slipped back into procrastination-mode since I've been doing the corrections and I've started on my TV detective timetable again, with corrections either side of a break at 3pm for Monk! I'm glad my Freeview box blew up, it reduces the possibilities for diversions a lot. Ho hum, I suppose I'd better press on...

======= Date Modified 25 Aug 2009 12:59:33 =======

I don't mean to be blunt as you've already said you're fed up with it all, but looking at this from your supervisor's point of view, what on earth would he think if he read this thread?? He would be taking on his first student who really doesn't sound like they want to do that PhD at all! Far better, IMO, for him to have an enthusiastic, motivated student who actually wants to be there, it is a far better basis for supervising someone to completion. PhDs take years and are hard work, it's nothing like undergrad study. I don't think it's fair on your supervisor to embark on the whole thing while not really wanting to do it. If you *really* have a problem with *that* PhD, as you've indicated, and don't want to do it, then drop out now and let someone else have that place. However, if you really can 'pull yourself together', as you suggest, then that's great and I wish you all the best with it.(up)

Starshine's right, your happiness is the most important thing. Realistically, what would happen if you went with your gut feeling and withdrew? Maybe a few people would be temporarily disappointed, but it's your life!

Hello, I'm sorry you're feeling like this.

You could ask to defer your PhD start date and take a year out to think things through/get a job/ look elsewhere. It wouldn't be a completely strange request if you've just finished your undergrad studies, though you have left it a bit late. If they're happy with that, that's great as it would be there for you next year, if you want it. But they might not be very happy if your PhD is part of a project and if they say no, you'd have to make a decision to either start and see how it goes, or drop out now.

As some of the other posters have said, maybe it would be ok to give it a go as the start date is so close? At least you'll have tried it and will be making an informed decision if you decide it's definitely not for you. PhDs aren't for everyone, but dropping out sooner rather than later would be best if that's your choice so you don't waste their funding. It's not uncommon for students to realise it's wrong for them at that time and place, and leave in the first year of their programme. I've seen a few do that... One went somewhere else to do the same subject and another couldn't balance it with work, so rejected the PhD idea completely.

It does worry me a bit that you're not very keen right at the start, as it's quite hard work doing a PhD and you need a lot of motivation to see it through. A few other posters on this forum have started PhDs a second time after dropping out of their first attempt, and it seems to have worked out well for them so it's quite possible, but it needs to be right for you.

Yes, there is, it's just not very obvious - look in research - research degrees http://www.lcc.arts.ac.uk/9299.htm

For any colleges you find that do graphics at Masters level, or whatever your chosen discipline is for a PhD project, I'd advise looking at the research profiles for staff and enrolled research students for that university and subject area. This should give you an idea of whether your proposal might fit with their current or potential research interests, as well as what types of projects are currently being undertaken there. You might find a few members of staff whose areas of expertise overlap with your interests, or include someone you'd like to be supervised by, then you could approach them informally with your PhD proposal. Most universities should have information on application procedures and relevant contact details for potential PhD applicants. Best of luck!

Your old college, LCC? Or one of its affiliated colleges, or anywhere that does your subject. Have you checked findaphd.com?

======= Date Modified 24 Aug 2009 14:27:38 =======

I completely agree!! I've often wondered whether I was completely barmy in combining the normal stress of a PhD with self-inflicted poverty while doing various part-time jobs.... Weird or not, for me, I'm fairly sure it's worth it, to paraphrase a crappy hair product advert.

btw if the money thing gets unbearable, you could always transfer to P/T PhD student status and work more - not ideal as it delays completion somewhat, but better than being really, really poor and it's good to have ongoing employment, particularly in the current climate. Unless you already are, in which case ignore that not very helpful comment...

======= Date Modified 24 Aug 2009 07:54:26 =======
======= Date Modified 23 Aug 2009 15:57:10 =======
Hi Missspacy,

I know what you mean about the boredom, the last stint is so unbearably tedious. The best thing to think about, I found, is to keep reminding yourself that it will soon be over and to dredge up any last vestige of energy and motivation you can muster. Good luck with it.

Regarding the corrections, some of mine are very specific, asking for odd sentences to be modified or clarifed. That's fine as they give the phrase or word, plus appropriate page and line number to work on, so it's easier to address their points. However, a couple of 'corrections' are quite long, without being terribly specific about what they actually want me to do, other than 're-think my contention' about certain points I've made. As someone remarked, they can't ask me to change my mind about my arguments, or do extra reading, as that would be more research and major corrections, so it's proving rather challenging. All I can do is strengthen my existing arguments in certain places to address those points. I can't bear the idea of them coming back with even more minor corrections either, but am mindful that one particular examiner may do that. I think I'll be depending heavily on my DoS to check some of the corrections, and am also going to do a covering letter stating precisely where each of their requested corrections has been dealt with in the corrected version.

With publishing it, I'd prefer to spend time adding extra bits and expanding some parts that weren't necessary for the thesis. It should make it more interesting to do, as I'm still a bit sick of it, I'm afraid. I didn't get access to some people for interviews, but think it's more likely for a book. I think getting well-known people in it and also spending time making it more reader-friendly is a good idea, it should expand the potential market for it. I may also take out some bits, possibly sections of personal interviews, I'm not sure yet - people who agreed to be used for a thesis may not want their experiences published in the same form for a book, I'll need to check with them as it all happened ages ago. Plus some stuff may need to be updated. I'll see how it goes.

Hi Lara,

I'm fine, and thanks for asking! Just doing my corrections, which is why I'm sitting at the computer on a sunny Saturday afternoon....:-( I can't believe I passed my viva back in May, it seems ages ago now. Some rather vital paperwork got lost after the viva, which delayed me getting the report plus corrections somewhat. It doesn't help that my DoS and I disagree rather strongly with the whole premise of a couple of the 'corrections', though obviously we can't really say an examiner is completely wrong and pick an argument about that right now, or it'll never get finished! It's quite a challenge to give them something that is satisfactory enough to get the thesis approved and signed off. By Christmas would be nice, admin procedures permitting!!!!!

Luckily, I have the carrot of several publisher's details waiting for me once I've finished the corrections. My sup wants the PhD stuff to be wrapped up before I start getting involved in other large projects like a monograph, but it's really nice to have it in the back of my mind when the corrections seem a bit deadly boring. It's nice to know that eventually the whole PhD experience will be a thing of the past, something you'll have to look forward to!

Good luck with the revision, I bet you know what you've written inside out by now, and also have lots of extra references at your fingertips to impress the examiners with. I had lots of post-its stuck in mine, with extra book and paper refs just in case they picked up on what I thought were glaring gaps in my thesis and I could show I did know about the wider field, it just didn't get written in. I didn't use them in the end, but it made me feel more confident during the viva.

I wonder how Armendaf is doing? Ok, I hope....

Hi Lara,

Woohoo, it's moving ahead at last - a viva date!! That sounds just the right amount of time to prepare, not too long to get bored with revision but not too soon to get in a panic. A month back in jail isn't long, in the wider scheme of things! As Missspacey asked, did they tell you who your examiners will be?

If you're based in London, you've theoretically got access to a wide range of universities covering a whole breadth of topics and academic expertise. I'd suggest doing what Sim suggested but widening it to look at all unis in London. I know some of our PhD students had short courses and training paid for out of their allocated student budget (usually used for attending conferences, travel etc). They managed this because they had made a case to their supervisors that it was essential for their research project and academically valid.

It might also be that you need an extra academic added to your supervisory team, to supplement your current supervisors. I know of several students who needed technical expertise to do their arts-based PhD projects, so they found staff from other unis who were added to their supervisory team officially as advisors, to provide expertise that was outside what was available within our university. These advisors get paid a nominal fee for doing this and the student can draw on them for help when needed. Sometimes the requirement for an extra person becomes apparent when the project gets underway, it's not unusual at PhD level and can't always be predicted before you start.

======= Date Modified 19 Aug 2009 10:27:59 =======
I agree moderation seems to have been rather quick off the mark and a bit OTT in the past few weeks. I noticed Pam's thread had disappeared and wondered what the hell had happened to it, then an innocuous thread about a teaching career went too, presumably because of a single post that several people found to be too offensive to remain on here. Personally I would rather posters were challenged by others and some type of discussion ensued, remaining there for others to read. A while back when posters were downright rude (rather than blunt) other posters said something and it virtually moderated itself. I thought that worked ok. It is a commercial forum, however...