I'm just into my second year of my PhD and at my university that means the confirmation report and viva. I've submitted a 5,000 word report and one chapter and my presentation and oral exam are in about 3 weeks' time.
I thought I was doing okay until 1 week before my report was due when my supervisor sprung a load of changes on me. I don't know why she didn't do it earlier but I think part of it was down to communication problems - she was speaking in academic language I haven't fully embedded yet. I don't mean in terms of language about my subject area, I'm on top of that, but that for example when she told me I needed to improve the coherence of the report, I assumed she meant the general coherence of the argument but she meant that the research questions weren't coherent with the argument.
I worked so hard for this report, especially in the last week to change so much of it. I submitted and in her accompanying report she said she had 'moderate concerns' about progress.
I now feel that (a) I am likely to fail the confirmation (I can only hope I get asked to resubmit in 6 months but I can't see how I'll pass) and (b) I can't trust her to be straight with me as she never told me she had concerns so serious that they could jeopardise my position.
I'm not sleeping well I am so worried. She's set me some things to try to change before the confirmation viva but I just feel what's the point if I'm going to fail anyway? I feel like I've wasted two years of my life on an MRes and now PhD only to be told I'm rubbish at it. Someone please help me see the wood for the trees!
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Seriously stressed out by PhD confirmation
4 replies
bathsh3ba · 14/10/2019 06:46
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