PhD HELP PLEASE!

[soappyblue]

Hi, does anyone know if you can get your PhD thesis read by an academic before you submit. I was wondering if it's possible for an academic to read the thesis and give their judgement on whether the thesis is at an acceptable level to pass. I am really worried and nervous about my thesis and not sure if I should submit yet or not! Any advice would be really appreciated thank you

Your supervisor is the person to talk to. No supervisor wants a submission that is not up to scratch.

Are you in the UK?

As Ochon says, your supervisors should be advising you on whether it's ready to submit.

Try the page doctor online. They offer a reading and advice service

Have your supervisors not been checking some of your chapters as you progress anyway? Maybe ask some other academics or postgrads to read an individual chapter or section you're least happy with for some unofficial remarks and judgement.

I was supposed to submit my work this month and my supervisor advised that I take an extension of 3 months to make my findings and analysis chapters better. When I heard her say this I worked every hour of the day to make sure I made my work to a really good level. I added another 13k words with lots of detailed analysis. I met my supervisor yesterday and before even checking the revised work she said she wants me to take another 6 month extension so I can work on my thesis. Since I believe I've brought it up to a good level I want someone else to read through my thesis and give me a review as my supervisor isn't really interested

Is your supervisor telling you what work needs to be done? Their job is to guide you towards a passable thesis.

I've done the work she's asked me to however, regardless even without reading it she's saying she wants me to take a 6 month extension.

What about peer review? Obviously they can't do any work for you but they might be able to give you some good feedback. Don't you have a co-supervisor as well? Maybe they can give some support?

It would be madness to submit when a supervisor thinks it's not ready.

My supervisor has said I can either take 6 months to revise my work or if I want submit in a months time. So I'm confused with the different advice she's giving. Having done all the revisions she hasn't read my work but wants me to improve it more

@ComeOutSun my cosupervisor has only read my work twice throughout my entire journey

If I were you I would ask both supervisors to read it through, in it's entirety as it stands today, and then commit to meet with you at a certain point thereafter and make a decision then. Ready to submit or make these revisions/additions which they will list in some detail.

Isnt that their job? I know it's hard to dictate to senior academics (I remember) but really I think you need to gently hold them to account here.

Do you only have one supervisor?

Has she has previous successful completions?

Have you got any friends/fellow PhDers who could read it through for you?

But also, your supervisor needs to be more clear about what you need to do and whether it's hit the standard. It doesn't need to be perfect, but it does need to be 'good enough' and there are lots of things you can do to make it better and easy for the examiners. Are you aware of Pat Thomson's blog and Tara Brabazon's vlogs? Both are a wealth of info that will help get you over the finishing line.

There is little point in asking 'an academic' to read the thesis and give their judgement on whether the thesis is at an acceptable level to pass. 'An academic' simply won't have the expertise to do this.

The only academic who can give you this feedback is your supervisor, your co-supervisor, or an academic with expertise in the exact research area of your PhD.

OP,

It sounds like there is some confusion between you and your primary supervisor. And it is difficult to give advice beyond @JocelynBurnell ’s excellent advice without knowing more. I’m sorry, because it sounds very frustrating. But your supervisor has nothing to gain by delaying you so you need to get things clear.

What is your timetable of meetings with your supervisor? How often do you show her updates to your work?

Can you tell us in more detail on what grounds your supervisor suggested the six month extension? Are you positive that your supervisor literally never read the revision you had already made? Because I can see how she could form an opinion as to whether further work is needed in a couple of hours. I am sure that adding 13,000 words was a lot of work. However whether it was the right kind of work is a question for your supervisor.

If you really think that your supervisor has made a premature judgement, you need to discuss this with your advisor (if you have one - they are for situations like this) or your Director of PG Studies. Informally, because it is in your best interests to resolve this in as low key a manner as possible. Do feel free to come back here with more details if you would like us to help you sort things first.

You need to take your supervisor's advice. No professional/ethical/collegial academic will read it with the story you're telling.

You should be having regular progress reviews (we do them 3 times a uear) with a 2nd supervisor, so you have two sets of expert eyes on your thesis as it develops.

Have you engaged properly with the supervision process?

However whether it was the right kind of work is a question for your supervisor.

This.