PostDoc Discussion Forum

Hi all,

I’m currently in a predicament/crossroads in life and would really appreciate some help on this matter. I’m 2 and 1/2 years in a funded PhD project, but currently things aren’t going so great.

There have been a lot of setbacks in experiments ,due to factors commonly attributed with long duration testing (months duration) that you can’t control, and lack of proper supervision, I was down 3 of my selected advisory team for nearly a whole year and my primary advisor was giving bad advice or pointing out issues with experiments after results were gathered when these issues could have been pointed out at the beginning when we were discussing methodology.

Other factors that negatively impacted my experience were clear favoritism of senior PhD students under their care and I eventually learned from other grad students who were under the advisory team’s care that faced very similar issues, be it with final year bachelor’s research projects, PhD work that made students leave with a Masters or PhD work were students left with no Masters or PhD. Also those previously mentioned favorited graduate students created a very hostile environment in our office towards me and the other graduate students in different fields.

My advisory team is now saying it may be best if I just finish with a funded Masters in Science Research (Biosciences), a really good one in their words with a clear 1:1 grade, as they worry that I won’t have the confidence and knowledge to defend myself during a viva. I’ve brought up all these issues with the grad department of my university, but they weren’t of any help and just gave me the choice of a basic appeal or master decision.

I’m still passionate in doing a PhD and wanted to know if others had similar stories where they went on to do a Masters and later on did a PhD with another university or finish with a Masters, join the industry sector, and then went back for a PhD with more personal funds as I think knowing this could help strengthen my decision making.

I know my family, friends and the other grad students I work with fully support me on whatever decision I make (even getting excited of the idea of me achieving a Masters degree as in their words “That’s no easy feat and I get a chance to start making real money”) but I’m really trying to figure out would it be better with finishing with a masters and doing a PhD later on in life, especially after gaining more experience and confidence or fight for continuing my PhD and face more emotional drainage and risk not getting it at the end?

I apologize for the long rant and poor grammar, English isn’t my strong suit, but this has been on my chest now for days and I think I really needed to see a more outside perspective or personal experience to really help me with this decision.

Thank you all.

Man, that sounds like a tough spot to be in, and I’m really sorry you’re dealing with all of this. The PhD journey is hard enough without the added stress of poor support and a toxic environment. It’s no wonder you’re feeling stuck right now.

It’s clear you’re passionate about your research, and it’s a real shame that your advisory team hasn’t been there for you the way they should have. Unfortunately, your experience isn’t as uncommon as it should be. I’ve seen people in similar situations where they ended up transitioning to a master’s and later returned to finish their PhD, either at a different university or after gaining some industry experience. So, you’re not alone in thinking that might be a better path.

Here’s the thing: if your current environment is draining you emotionally and isn’t giving you the support you need, it might be worth seriously considering the master’s option. Sometimes stepping away, gaining more experience, and then coming back stronger can be the best move. Plus, having that master’s under your belt is no small thing—it’s a solid achievement that opens up a lot of doors, both in academia and industry.

On the other hand, if you’re still determined to finish the PhD now, it might be worth exploring if there’s any way to switch advisors or even universities, though I know that can be a challenging process. But if staying in your current situation means risking your mental health and still possibly not getting the PhD, it’s worth weighing those risks heavily.

It’s great that you’ve got the support of your family, friends, and other grad students. Sometimes a fresh start with a master’s might give you the confidence and clarity you need to eventually return to a PhD with a better support system in place. And who knows, with more experience and perhaps a bit more funding, you might find a PhD program that’s a better fit down the line.

Whatever you decide, it’s important to take care of yourself first. The path you choose should be one that aligns with your well-being and long-term goals, not just what feels like the “right” thing to do on paper.

Take your time with the decision, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need to talk through it more. You’ve got this, whatever you decide.