Thanks HazyJane. Here is more information about my case.

I am in Management Department, so that is more related to arts/humanities than to sciences

My primary supervisor just got another person (his former student who is now teaching in the department) involved with me. He is sort of like my secondary supervisor now. I am going to have a meeting with him next week, and will try to discuss my difficulty with him. But I am still not sure if I should be 100% open with him as there maybe something negative about my primary supervisor.

I feel that my primary supervisor hope that everything I have done so far will eventually fit together. But I still cannot see that in sight (although my primary supervisor still sound confident). And I need to submit the thesis next year already.

Hi all,

I am currently in the year before the last year that I ought to submit my thesis. But, everything is still unsettled. Part of the problem is possibly me, but my supervisor keeps on changing his ideas all the time. In every meeting between me and him, there is no move forward but changes, which basically erase what I have done so far. It is like I need to start doing my research again after every meeting I have with him. This is really frustrating. I hope to be able to arrive at a solid plan, but this does not happen so far.

Not long ago, after he change my project again big time, he mention that I ought to convert my registration status to 'part-time' student so that I would have more time to complete my PhD. But, this is impossible due to my visa status. I panic and quickly email my supervisor, who sent a reassuring email back to me that I should not be worry and that I will be finish on time. During the latest meeting, he also told me that he would like to co-author a paper with me to submit that toward for my PhD completion.

I talked to my other PhD friends and they say they think something fishy is going on. Why suddenly mention 'part-time' registration? Why co-author? Why change all the time? What is in his mind?

I am trying my best not to be pessimist, but it is hard not to think about it after hearing comments from my friends. This PhD degree really means a lot to me, I am afraid that I would not be able to make it, given what is happening to me.

Thanks for you advice in advance

Anon