Did you say you didn't enjoy it? Why carry on if you are not enjoying it? It would look better to achieve an MPhil than to fail a PhD (not that I'm saying you will).
It worries me that your supervisor thinks it would take years as they (should) know exactly how you are doing. You said you are 2 years in, which suggests you may be behind.

However, you have invested two years so it may be worth finishing. It really depends what you want to do afterwards, if you want to carry on you will need a PhD, if not why not write up anyway?
Maybe you didn't defend your work very well if you weren't confident, and English is your second language?
Good luck with whatever you decide. I would be inclined to stick out the 3 months and see how that goes, and get more advice from your department/students union.

hey rachellin, am not a native english speaker, so in a way i get what you mean and where you're at. having read your english so far, i think your english is absolutely fine. if i were you, i would pick up a thesis in your field and check out the first few chapters and then try to write my report that way -in the same format. i hope that helps. keep your chin up, don quit! we're all in it together. there are highs and lows and this is just one of them. you'll get through this.

I'd resubmit in three months, and then if they still dont think its up to scratch, then opt for the Mphil. Good luck!

hi rachellin

i agree with what everyone has been saying...but also - if you Really aren't happy doing it and it is more your parent's desire than yours (as you say)...then i also wouldn't feel bad abut quitting. Quitting is not necessarily a bad thing if it's not something you really wanted to begin with & are just trying to justify because you feel you should. Doing a PhD (and having to finish it) IS a dream/desire for some people..but equally for other people it's not.

I know this is going to sound totally cheesy (no tomato chucking from the forum please ;) - but i'd go with what you REALLY feel in your heart/soul..and if a PhD is not for you (& you have an MA already as you say) then I'd leave and do something you do want to do. 'Life is too short' and all that means that some people would regret not finishing their PhD..but for others that same statment might mean it's better for you to do what will make you happy rather than stay on with it.

Anyway - good luck with whatever you do!!!

I agree with hillyg, give it 3 more months and re-write it then think about quitting. My belief is that you have to try all your options before giving up something and for a PhD that went on for 2 years, I will give 3 months for a re-write. I think you owe that to the time you spend on the project so far and the time. At least this way you wont regret the decision (if you quit)as you did all you could.

Hi Rachellin,
Upgrade meetings are always tough in one way or another. Either the interviews aren't really bothered and you come away wondering what you achieved by the meeting, or they give you CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. If I were you I would take this meeting as a wake-up call and a chance to figure out what you really WANT to do. 3 months for another draft chapter - this means pulling out all the stops. MPhil - doesn't sound like your first choice. or Stepping away from the PhD - very tough decision and one that might haunt you. I would give it 3 months - work really hard (not that you aren't already of course) and see where you are at.

I wouldnt be disheartend (this is coming from someone who is hating phd life atm...) an excellent senior lecturer failed his transfer... but he carried on. He just got more help. Can you not look at teh comments you got and work on them? This lecturer found out that he was dyslexic... once he got help on that - he was fine. Maybe you could get help on your english adn how to write arguments etc. Once you present your ideas differently ... it maybe alot better. You have got nothing to lose in submitting another report. good luck.

Thanks everyone.
Even my own supervisor told me to opt for the MPhil. He thinks at this rate I'm going (upgrading in the 2nd year and failed), it's going to take years for me to finish.

It is certainly not the case that everybody gets through the transfer viva/interview. A friend of mine (a very capable student) recently had to re-do hers after further 3 months. If everybody gets through transfer without a good grilling and maybe a re-submission for a few, then in my mind the transfer committee is probably not being rigorous enough! Don't be too hard on yourself, as others have said a PhD is the highest level qualification, it's not supposed to be easy.

Don't quit but if you really want to wrap things up then go for the Mphil. It is a respected higher research degree and will certainly enhance your CV. It is not the case that an Mphil is simply seen as a PhD failure, plenty of people go for an Mphil in the first instance as a cheaper and quicker route to a research degree.

Good luck.

Don't you think not passing one's upgrading interview is already bad news. I've heard that generally everyone gets through it.