Hi
I am a third year part time MPhil/PhD student, who has had five supervisor/director of studies changes through no fault of my own. The uni I am at may not have anyone left to direct my studies, hence may need to transfer to another uni. I was due to transfer from Mphil to PhD this month (will be delayed), but just feel totally rundown by it all. I almost feel like walking away if I could but this seems a waste of three years. I have worked with so many different people who do it one way, then the next want it another way, I have started questionning the fundamentals of my research such as methodology and the point of doing it at all. I was asked today about my methodology from a perspective supervisor (qualitative phenomenolgy) and was a complete blank canvas - thats a first!

Has anyone any advice? I would be grateful.

Five changes? My God Moggy, no wonder you're all at sea! Is this just due to people leaving or have they been unsuited to your topic in some way? I hope you aren't a fee paying student as that is fairly terrible.
Personally I would want to see my head of department and receive some assurances that they will appoint a suitable (and securely employed) team of at least 2 supervisors, and that they wouldn't penalise you in any way for this disruption.
I think having to alter your research directionis very tiring and it would make anyone question their work. The sooner you can decide on a definite approach and stick with it, the better your chances of seeing this through. If you've really had enough though, do you have sufficient data/writing to cobble together and Mphil thesis? Then you could always take that and start afresh elsewhere if you really want the phd.

Hi, I have had a two person team throughout. Their knowledge of research degrees on the whole has been good, but not my topic of research. Yes I am fee paying, and the head of department has been a supervisor but said he does not have the skills!!! (Professor).
I actually do have enough to produce an MPhil thesis (all 60000words), but is this a possible route as I currently have no supervisory team at my uni?

Hi Moggy, I'm not able to give you any advice on this but it is your uni's responsibility to provide you with a supervisory team, especially since you are paying the fees yourself, can you even go see someone in your student union about it?