Appeals Against the Result of Phd

At the beginning of this appeal I would like to clarify that I have no reservation neither regarding the examiners assessment nor their conduct during the exam. I was very pleased with my supervisors’ choice of examiners prior to the exam and consider myself lucky that they had agreed to read my dissertation. My examiners reputation speaks for itself, the exam was professionally adequate and took place in fair and appropriate atmosphere.

A significant and fundamental observation of the examiners as it stated (twice) in their report is that this dissertation should have not been submitted in that state, and that is essentially very true. What I have submitted was a draft, not a complete work. Unfortunately, I had no other choice but to submit the dissertation as it was at the end of January 2012. During my studies, more precisely during the second year of my PhD programme, I had experienced several sever personal problems mainly financial ones. Thanks to the tremendous help I have received from the school, from the department and the support from my supervisors, I have struggled to continue my studies and kept up with my doctoral research even slow. As my programme commenced on October 2007, the school regulation only allows 4 years to complete a PhD. On summer 2011, it was clear to me that I would not be able to complete my dissertation in the given deadline. Hence, I have applied for extension of my studies. In my request for extension I have specifically stated that I would be able to complete a full first draft of my dissertation by the end of 2011. The application was also supported by my supervisor Prof. Gareth Austin who noted that expected submission was at the end of the academic year 2011/12.

On October 2011 an extension of my studies had been approved. However notwithstanding with my request and with my supervisor’s recommendation, the extension allowed three additional months only until the end of January 2012, note