I think you'll be fine as you still have the guidance of your supervisor albeit from a distance. If you're in the latter stages of your research anyway, then the distance won't be too much of an issue as you can send draft chapters, chat on the phone etc. I bet you'll adapt in no time

My Principal Supervisor left a month ago and I was devastated. I was lucky enough to have a fantastic supervisor and we worked very well together. Initially, we were given the go ahead for him to become second sup. and my second to become Principal (on paper only, nothing would have changed roles-wise). Unfortunately, the School changed their mind (but didn't tell me about it) and he is no longer allowed to be part of my supervision team. So, I was devastated all over again - particularly as I'm half way through and coming up to my mid-point progression (similar to transfer stage). I can't give any positive outcome either as I'm now stuck with a Principal who has met me three times, a second who is flakey but nice enough, and no subject specialist - and all b/c the School wanted to 'build second supervision capacity' and meet some RAE 2008 objectives. DOn't care less what it means for my PhD unfortunatley. I hope your change in supervision is less troublesome!

Hi, I felt like this a lot in my first year - and still do now I'm in my second year. For me, PhD students are all super intelligent, totally motivated and driven to succeed - nothing at all like I see myself! Nevertheless, I remind myself that I competed with others to win my studentship, so I deserve to be here in that sense.

Whenever I attend conferences, seminars etc about being a postgrad student and completing a PhD, the main message I hear is that getting your doctorate is 10% intelligence and 90% persistence - I'm hanging onto this!! The only thing I would say to you is you need to find some reason to continue with your studies, one aspect that will keep you going. I struggle daily with my studies, but I won't let it beat me - is there anything you can think of that you can hold on to, that will drive you to finish?

Hiya, I am also in te social sciences - I used to use ibid. in my undergrad and MSc work, but since writing for my thesis, my supervisor has told me this isn't appropriate so I've had to as Corinne has said, rewrite the name/date/page etc each time. A pain but then I want to do what my supervisor has told me is right.

Thanks for the welcome guys

Having read some of the issues other people have had, I actually feel in a pretty lucky position and shouldn't really whinge at all!

Yep, I'm a Northerner and studied both undergrad and MSc here in the NE. Never ever contemplated a PhD, in fact I always said I'd never do one...which I sometimes think about when I'm feeling super stressed and totally out of my depth! My Supervisor is just great though, I had worked with him previous to this so that also really helps.

Fluffymonster, yep, you weren't too difficult to spot, seeing as you'd just done such a fab job of getting through your Viva when you told me about the forum!! Thanks for pointing me in this direction though, it really has already helped to find that there are loads of us struggling with the same issues as well as loving all things 'research'.

Having been pointed in the direction of this forum by fluffymonster, I've been visiting for the past couple of months and have found it to be very useful - phew, I'm no longer the only one feeling isolated, panicked, stressed, lost etc!

I just wanted to say hi to everyone here and I look forward to chatting with you (and most likely whinging a lot!). I'm in my second year of a full-time, fully funded PhD, in which (very broadly) I'm exploring young people's aspirations for education and employment in the North East of England. Very small-scale, in depth qualitative research, which is just the way I like it :) I worked in contract research before this, so the research skills themselves aren't the issue for me, rather the isolation of working for your doctorate - but it seems we're all in the same boat judging by the posts I've read.

So, that's me in brief - and I have lots of questions relating to my upcoming Mid-Point Progression, any advice will be gratefully received!