Hi all, I'm hoping you wise and experienced posters can offer a little advice!

Its a very long story so I shan't discuss everything (also for privacy), but I have been at my PhD for nearly 5 years (got a 6 month extension to submit after 4 years, then waited almost 5 months for viva).

Just over 18 months into my research I requested a change of supervisor. This was for varying reasons but centred on the incompetence of the previous supervisor. I wasn't the only PhD student who experienced this. With the new supervisor the project changed dramatically, but I was offered no additional financial or academic support by the uni (I was institutionally-funded) nor was I offered reassurance or additional time until the requested extension.
In Jan/Feb when I submitted there was an almighty brouhaha as the Uni refused to pay for the examiner my supervisor and I agreed on. I begged as many managers as possible, got the union involved, but the Uni refused to budge. I then went to the office of the Independent Adjudicator, but they could not act as the Uni refused to give a final resolution letter and said I should appeal post-viva (knowing the viva would be a disaster).

The viva was a disaster, even the examiners noted that they were not the right people to assess it (and there was no-one from my actual discipline there). The chair started playing with their phone halfway through (not on silent) , and I was given resubmission as they did not understand the concept: a theoretical piece whose central theorist neither had read and they were solely empiricists.

I have decided almost certainly not to resubmit, I have sacrificed too much (barely seen friends and family, almost bankrupt) and I need a job. I'll still work on the thesis in my own time, publishing parts etc but I'll look for a job outside academia.

The question remains though - and keeping in mind I have little concern for an academic reputation - whether I should appeal...

Anyone have any motivating/demotivating tales or advice? :-(:-s

Hi Dunni

Tea makes everything better!

The dates, even though they aren't definite, do give a bit of assurance and much more a framework to schedule work. My supervisor and I had anticipated May (you're right about the usual 3 months), and he assured me that most corrections can be done in a week or two, so we were still hopeful to make graduation.

No young family here either I'm afraid; but I submitted in Feb and today (first contact I've had since submission) was told the examiners are in discussion about 2 potential dates in June... both of which mean I miss the cut off for graduation - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Post-submission has been the worst stage of the whole process so far!

Hello everyone

I've hovered on this post for aaaages, but only now am I polite enough to contribute albeit with a selfish motive!
I've noticed a few posts about job apps and given I'm in the same situation (due to submit this Monday - arrrrrrrrgggggggh), I wondered if anyone had special or unusual insights. I know the market is tough and some people may not want to give away their critical advantage, but I've never spotted anyone on here who does anything like I do (promise!).

Just as an aside - I've already had a full-on proper lecturing job which ended last year (so I could get the thesis finished), and they said the reason they chose me at interview was the fact I was clearly enthusiastic, including when it came to things like student support.
Doesn't help when you can't get an interview though!