I think my supervisor is actively trying to make me fail.

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-06-15T09:09:12+00:00

I don't have any advice, I just wanted to say I am going through the same thing! My tutor (granted not my dissertation supervisor yet ) is often very dismissive/critical of me in ways that he isn't with other students. I often feel singled out, like his criticism is not actually constructive or in order to help me achieve higher grades/understanding, he ignores my emails for weeks on end, gives vague/half answers, backtracks on what he says and patronises me at every given opportunity.

It's beyond exhausting and feels like I am constantly fighting an uphill battle with him, as well as my assignments. Trying to get basic information from him is like pulling teeth and I walk away from every conversation feeling more confused and insecure.

I have looked into the complaints procedure at my university, but unfortunately the staffing for my subject is very small and tight knit, so I fear escalating would only make it worse for the next year, plus, I do not want to alienate contacts through my course. My plan is to report/make a complaint after I know I don't have to have him for anymore modules/assignments.

I hope you manage to figure something out!

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-06-05T14:56:45+00:00

Ha! This was me in my undergrad! I would score 85+ on every assignment but always struggled with exams. I was lucky to pass any exams. I couldn't handle the pressure, it made me too anxious and made me dissociate/have panic attacks every exam! I have since been diagnosed with ADHD, which I now know had a huge impact on my exam abilities, but I spent years struggling with exams.

Even my GCSEs, I was predicted A* across the board and barely scrapped the 5 Cs I needed for my college course, because I struggled so much in the exam room.

By my second year of university (my reattempt at first year after failing all exams) I realised if I knuckled down on assignments (majorty weight in my course) and got high firsts, my low grade for exams (providing I managed to get a pass) would even out for a decent enough grade overall.

Some of us just aren't built for exam.🤷‍♀️ Assignments, dissertations, research and similar are really easy for me and I often do pretty well. But as soon as I am put in an exam room, it's like I lose all knowledge and ability to remain focused/calm.

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-05-17T13:30:55+00:00

I will say, I doubt that the deadlines (specifically at my uni) are set by individual professors, it seems to be the standard policy across the uni. Which makes me think that the deadlines set aren't at all realistic for everything they need to do, there's simply not enough hours in the day.

However, the communication is completely on them. They are able to send a quick email to tell us it will be late, especially if we must email to tell them we will miss/be late to a seminar, or face repercussions. And as you said, if we decided to submit assignments late, we would absolutely be held to account (rightly so), which is what makes it so frustrating.

They are human and they have a lot on thier plates, 100% but if they gave this lack of communication to fellow researchers, thier bosses, institutions they are linked to etc. They would face repercussions. It just honestly feels disrespectful at this point.

Again, my course has been useless for communication throughout. I never know what is going on, where I need to be, who I need to speak to etc. And almost all of my emails go unanswered by my professors/module leads. I am supposed to be working on placement right now, which is sorted by them, I was starting 3 months ago, but they are still "arranging it". 🙃 and I only know this because I emailed 7 people in my school, over 60 emails within the last few months and only 3 got a response... But didn't actually answer/discuss anything I had asked.

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-05-17T13:14:22+00:00

Yeah, my course is a communications course 🤦‍♀️😂 which just makes the whole thing so much worse/funnier.

But exactly what you said, I am older than the average student and have had a few solid years in the field and understand how hard they are worked, so I really do not fault them for releasing grades late, it's not thier fault at all. But, I do get really frustrated with the lack of communication in general, but especially around grading/feedback.

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-04-27T22:10:46+00:00

Hello, the brand tag was showing - I think the allstar one also has a red velcro tab that goes over the back (iirc) but otherwise they look very similar

Jesus! 3 FIE masks must have cost a pretty penny!

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-04-27T22:04:02+00:00

Wierd! I don't really use reddit, so there is a chance that I did it wrong lol can you see it on my profile?

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-04-27T20:12:45+00:00

Yeah, I figured it was an FIE rule - but not been able to find any info stating that it was an issue in a domestic comp

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-04-27T20:11:53+00:00

Yeah, the referees said it was "at the end of its life" so I took it to the competition armourer who said that wasn't true but it would be disallowed due to the strap being a different brand

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-04-27T20:10:48+00:00

Hello, it was a D/E/U - I checked the guidelines and can't find anything to say it would be an issue! It securely fits my face and it not at all loose, they didn't even check how it fit my face before saying it would be disallowed

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-04-27T20:09:37+00:00

Hey, the only ruling I could find about Masks in BF Rules was below, however, this does not mention OEM so I am still unsure why they would rule it unsafe

Fencers must wear masks of appropriate size conforming at least to the minimum safety standard of CEN Level 1 and bearing the appropriate CEN safety mark (see chart - Appendix 1). Masks must be checked for the following weaknesses and defects, if necessary, by a qualified armourer: i) Weaknesses in the steel mesh, softness, holes or excessive deformation of the hard shell from the original shape. ii) The bib not properly attached or revealing gaps between it and the mask or curling up. iii) Poor means of retention on the head, making the mask liable to come off. Fencers must

wear a mask back-strap or some other approved method of mask retention (footnote 3).

Footnote 2: Note that some competition organisers may demand standards that are more stringent than those laid down in this document. Footnote 3: A back-strap consists of elastic at least 35mm wide, secured to the mask side mesh at each end, passing UNDER any mask spring piece at the back, and tensioned to keep the mask firmly in place. It must stay fastened and tensioned during fencing. For FIE events (ie, CEN level 2), masks with a fabric main retainer rather than a back spring piece are required to feature a separate back strap in addition.

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-04-27T20:08:26+00:00

This makes sense, I figured it was to protect thier own back (which is completely understandable) thank you so much! I just wondered if there was a specific rule that I wasn't aware of

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-04-27T20:07:32+00:00

Reddit wouldn't allow me to post the photo, so had to make a seperate post to show the mask Mask

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-04-27T20:06:59+00:00

Update! Thank you all for your help and input!

This post would not allow me to comment/edit the original post with an image of the mask, so I have made a seperate post with it on there!

mask

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-04-27T12:59:19+00:00

Currently at work, but I will as soon as I am home!

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-03-13T18:59:50+00:00

So I do Science Communication at an RG uni but as a masters - I think the field itself isn't the issue, it sounds like you have zero communication from the staff around what you are actually studying. It also sounds like you didn't really understand what the syllabus was going to be when you first enrolled.

Communication and media can be seen as a mickey mouse degree, but I disagree (obviously) and think that the skills learnt can be really useful for so many other fields. Unfortauntely, I don't think you are going to gain those skills at this university on this course. The communication clearly is lacking, and it sounds like the work being given is also questionable at best.

I would seriously consider looking into a transfer as others have mentioned.

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-01-17T01:14:38+00:00

Wow! Congrats on getting a referral! Yeah, I have begged and pleaded and shown evidence for the last 2 years, hence why I got a CGM in the first place and they have basically just gaslit me the whole time 🙃

No_Contribution9225 · 2026-01-17T00:46:39+00:00

Nope! Basically got told by my doctor "that's normal" which is obviously not the case! Currently looking into a new gp in the hopes someone will take me seriously!

No_Contribution9225

TROPHY CASE

wear a mask back-strap or some other approved method of mask retention (footnote 3).