Vlog 290 - How to complete a PhD without a supervisor

[@SquareyCircley]

Just submitted recently. Have a supervisor who is lovely (friendly bloke, writes great recommendation letters) but academically pretty hands off -- I don't think he's read any chapter I sent him. If it helps anyone else, what helped me was finding other workshops and study groups in the field and finding other academics who were interested and willing to give me the nitty-gritty feedback on chapters.

[@banesovilj]

You were my real supervisor (without being aware of the fact) and I am very happy for that. Recently I have submitted my thesis and my formal supervisor from UIBE (that's in Beijing) was quite surprised by the amount of work I did. I hope she will be satisfied with the quality as well. She must be, because I've been following your wonderful vlogs and super-valuable instructions for at least two years! Thank you so much for everything Professor Brabazon!! Looking forward to watching and learning from your upcoming vlogs! Greetings from Serbia!

[@fuzzluvver69]

Another wonderful vlog. And this really rang true for me. When doing my PhD, initially I had two supervisors - one internal and one external. The external supervisor dropped out after only about six weeks, saying that she was too busy. This left me with one supervisor, who was a lovely person, but had no supervisory abilities, and in all honesty I think just wanted the work allocation time without having to actually do the work. We had two meetings in the entirety of my first year, and possibly one in my second year, and that was it. I wrote my entire thesis with no feedback or direction, just on my own instincts. The first actual 'supervision' I received was at my viva when the examiners gave me clear direction for my corrections, which I did to the very best of my abilities and thankfully the corrected thesis was accepted. But don't be mistaken, I am neither angry or bitter for the experience! Not at all! As much as great supervision would have been nice, I feel like I learned a lot from being self directed, and also due to the circumstances I was fully autonomous to be creative and set my own vision for the work. And in the end I was and still am proud of the eventual thesis that I wrote. To this day though, I still wonder if my supervisor ever actually read it...

[@nomandlovu2731]

You are so right! Anger and blame are unproductive emotions. If I had focused on those I would never have finished. Even now I have no hard feelings. I enrolled for me and completing was up to me. I am forever grateful to wonderful people like you who were the midwives in the final stage when I prepared to submit for examination. Indeed I take great pride that I never gave up! Thank you Tara 💕

[@jasminepersan2134]

ow my god I feel like your are speaking about my supervisor wow you are such gift for PhD student Tara.

[@officeofgraduateresearchfl9343]

Hang in there Jasmine - you've got this... txxx

[@rogerlevi7158]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was enrolled in a higher degree by research and withdrew after 5.5 years and part of the reason was my supervisors. I totally felt lost and that my thesis was progressing in a direction that was no longer interesting. I feel let down and saddened that I am now 12 months out and could have had my doctorate by know. Not all lost, I have enrolled into a double masters, one being health research at another university. So my original topic will be rekindled and I will get a thesis completed on the topic of my passion. Thank you for validating what many of us feel and often cannot express.

[@beienetchh]

I've got a great supervisor. However as I am extremely self driven and motivated, l found this extremely helpful. I am so grateful for you Tara. Love from 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@alysamali700]

How did Tara know that I need this video as I lost both of my supervisors due to institutional issues! Thank you for great videos as usual

[@fetabrown]

👏 Only 10 to the 300 mark. Through these videos you have been a lighthouse on the stormy postgrad seas.

[@angelap.8160]

Dear Tara, even though I am not doing any academic work, I love your vlogs! Your energy and charisma keep me inspired and motivated to become a more efficient and competent person in life. Amazing content!

[@user-sz4hz1iv8u]

Tara until listening to your story I thought I was the luckiest with my supervisors! Now I think we should co edit book on our supervisors :-) My first MA supervisor destroyed my grades to sabotage me not to write truth arguments on Bosnian War as he was working on my country policies and writing everything opposite of the truths. My phd supervisor is missing and in parallel to phd I did second MA where my supervisor changed my topic on Ukrainian war when I summited it to protect me form commission that was sold, and I thought he is sold too and does not want me to write truths so I persisted on my regular topic and I was punished by the grade. I will just tell you that whole thesis was analysis, from the fist line to the last, and one commission member was telling me " there is no analysis" so the two supervisors collided , while the third excused herself to leave as we already had arguments on the class and when she learned my phd is on that topic and its my native language she stopped circulating the half-truths ! I think I will write book or better make a movie on supervisors only!

[@nerdpoindexter]

Your videos have made such a massive difference to my studies that I reckon you can claim co-authorship at any time!

[@sunnyhong3688]

Oh it doesn't sound worse than mine. How to finish a PhD (recognised by good research conferences) with a poor supervisor (e.g., dishonest, disrespect, no new publications over 10 yrs, horrible proof-reading) is all about my story. BTW, you did a great guide during my 10-day Viva preparation. Thank you Tara!

[@ronti2492]

Cheers Tara, top vlog, and absolutely appropriate use of your wn experience to make the important points! Best and greetings from mature age ( 57) PhD , Kings College London!

[@shresthatripathy5450]

Lovely and encouraging as always. Waiting for this video from half decade. Thanks Ma'am, you are a queen of research. Many many wishes and respect for you.

[@theabsolutestaiteoftherese2136]

I've just had to submit my seventh change of supervisor form~ this vlog is definitely one for me. Thank you (as always)!

[@paulcule2091]

Supervise yourself:seek counsel from all.

[@dr.bangura4722]

Brilliant. "Respect every human being...the support staff...Administrators...etc." they may assist you when the PhD winter get super harsh. Tara, you are a voice of experience, indeed. This holds true. Respecting others no matter the status, helps a lot. I am benefiting now because of the respect policy I believe in for humanity. Cheers.

[@curiosophy4241]

Love you Tara! I truly need this vlog episode because I am a remote learner and my supervisor is only via email at the moment.

[@ayodejimatuluko]

This is a really helpful vlog, even for PhD students that are very well supervised. Thank you Tara!

[@kezzie1834]

You are a riot, I'm not doing a PhD and honestly watched this for the entertainment value

[@gilespeterson120]

Omg Tara is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. ~ wow - what a vlog post ~ Sensational, honest, brave and inspirational

[@Niueniue88]

Thank you Tara. I have been following your wonderful advice and both my supervisors have noticed the amount of work I'm churning out in these difficult times.

[@7466sd]

THANK YOU...I am starting my everyday watching Vlog as it matches my wird phd situation perfectly. I love you.

[@rhondadookwah395]

Excellently penned! a

[@VictorAgboga]

Scary title, Tara. Greetings once again from the University of Warwick.

[@officeofgraduateresearchfl9343]

I know Victor - I thought about the title and then realized - let's just be clear on this one!!!! txxx

[@trevoryingwane5714]

One of the great vlog!! On point and realistic at the same time.

[@Rody2013]

Dr. Tara. Thank you so much for sharing valuable advice! you are amazing person.

[@SzilviaVirag]

I'd argue the last thing you said isn't just the greatest skill set you need for the future of universities, but for life itself.

[@johannamartinez5463]

Your videos are amazing Tara. They give me all I need to listen to be clear and continue... thanks a lot

[@TheRightSideOfHistory]

As an immigrant PhD student, life is 50x harder. Thanks for this video Tara and I chuckled when you said “nowadays supervisors can’t do this because they have to meet minimum standards etc” 😥If only. My supervisor transferred to another uni after the first year and the uni (U.K.) never replaced her. They kept me waiting until the candidature period ran out. And viola!!! £25,000 gone to garbage. And now I’m unable to work, study or do anything else.

[@KarineHalpern]

Maybe there is a legal way to cope and change this good luck

[@AlphaNumeric123]

It so great to hear you can survive things like people bad mouthing you in academia

[@jfins341]

THANK YOU! Huge help! - You're awesome :)

[@RikoOkelo]

My undergrad and master's thesis was also not supervised properly. My only hope is that I can taste the feel of being supervised well on PhD in the future.

[@s.alhinaisaid4074]

Dr. How to define the gap through/from data collection?

[@jessicabeca1234]

Is it possible to get admitted without a supervisor for MASc? I’ve completed my application for Ryerson University (Canada) without having a supervisor, non of my potential supervisors have replied to my emails.

[@AcademicLife]

That was an unblievable story Tara. Your powerfull maner is wonderful. What was your thesis about? In some fiels students need materials that is available in university labs and working on them needs supervisore's suporting.

[@yadaminstituteofresearchly1137]

I appreciate your video. I have a question. My thesis that I did independently without registering university. Now I approached to some universities in europe, they welcome me to defend the thesis and get phd. My question is the thesis without name of supervisor valid? After I get phd will I have career growth with this phd I am going without a structure 4 years.