PhD student is forced to thank his university in his thesis, uses the acknowledgment section to vent years of frustration and get the last word: ‘They taught me how to do it without them’

Author image for Cata Holmes
Cata Holmes • Writer
Jun 27, 2026 2:00 PM EDT

Is there a more satisfying form of revenge than following the rules exactly as written?

I have to admit that this is probably one of my favorite kinds of petty revenge. Not because anyone got hurt or because there was some dramatic confrontation, but because it was so carefully executed. The university insisted on being acknowledged for its contribution to the students' success, and technically, that's exactly what happened. The fact that the acknowledgment highlighted how little support was actually provided only makes the whole thing funnier.

What makes the story even better is that the student didn't exaggerate or make accusations. Instead, they thanked everyone who genuinely helped them along the way and saved a small, perfectly polite paragraph for the institution that made the journey unnecessarily difficult. The best part is knowing that the thesis will remain publicly available for years to come, meaning future students may stumble across that acknowledgment and appreciate the subtle masterpiece hidden within it.

I also wanted to say that there's no perfect college experience. Of course, every university has its advantages and its flaws, so we cannot expect to attend a perfect school and pretend there will never be an issue. In my experience, I wanted to attend a pretty well-known college in my city and expected the best of the best. 

However, from the first day, I encountered some difficulties that made my experience a bit harsh and more complicated. So, I can understand the frustration that this man felt and his wish to make these thoughts public. But I also understand that every school has flaws, and to expect that nothing is going to happen is impossible. 

I really don't like it when people can't accept that things sometimes don't work out and carry their anger with them. Sometimes the best approach is to accept how things unfolded and move on with the rest of their lives. Good things happen, as well as bad things occur. Nonetheless, this is a good story to read, so enjoy and let me know in the comments what your opinion is and how you would have reacted.

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  • Graduate student smiling in cap and gown after completing a PhD program.
    via Unsplash+ (via Olivia Anne Snyder)

    Graduate student smiling in cap and gown after completing a PhD program.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • A weary me was sitting in front of my laptop, staring at the requirements for submitting the PhD thesis to the university. I had finished the main text to the satisfaction of my two supervisors, and I just needed to check the nitty-gritty formatting requirements from the university.
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  • Among the items missing was the acknowledgment section. The university even made a big fuss out of it, stating that it was mandatory to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of the thesis.
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  • I couldn't help thinking about how bitter the journey was. It started well I got a scholarship, performed well and had a great reputation in teaching - but it was a fallout after my supervisor retired due to unforeseen circumstances.
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  • Research funds dried out. The school scammed me of 10 grands from equipment purchase because of the errors of the administrative staff. They took away the only space I could use for research (which was just a desk) and left me figuring it out myself.
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  • In the end I could only finish the whole research on my own from the cash I earned from escorting (it was a successful career but that's another story). And then I needed to thank them to not make myself look like an ungrateful brat.
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  • Instead of writing a short note, I dialed my gratefulness to 11. Most other PhD students wrote 1-2 pages, and I made mine 3 pages long. I thanked almost everyone extensively — my supervisors, my family, my patrons, the student counselor and even the flight school I attended and mentioned the details of - the support they gave me and what I learned from them.
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  • At the very end of the 3-page essay, I dropped a very dry paragraph acknowledging the university, thanking them for the wake-up call for my development into another career and giving me an experience to foster autonomy by doing my own maintenance works and sourcing own fundings.
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  • Now this PhD thesis has passed the final validation and by university policy, this thesis will be forever publicly available in their library and online repository. And I am pretty sure a few of the juniors are going to have a look as a reference of how to write their acknowledgements even though they have zero interest in the body text.
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  • Newly graduated PhD student sitting on campus steps during graduation day.
    via Unsplash+ (via Olivia Anne Snyder)

    Newly graduated PhD student sitting on campus steps during graduation day.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Underwhelming Twin It would be tempting to be more blunt than that, if you're willing to burn bridges: Acknowledgements: University policy requires that every published thesis includes an acknowledgements section that outlines the people who supported the author in their academic endeavors. The author has intentionally left this section blank.
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  • redilupi One of my students added a "To all my enemies..." acknowledgement. Loved it!
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  • PotentialGur31 The passive-aggressive acknowledgement hall of fame just got a new inductee. Three pages of effusive praise and the university gets one dry paragraph about "fostering autonomy" is genuinely chef's kiss level pettiness. Also now I'm curious about the flight school.
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  • doctormoneypuppy And you've learned the most important life lesson - "ain't nobody" looking out for you better than you. Crush it!
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  • blitheandbonnynonny Did you thank your clients for helping you fund your research? I would love that.
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  • University students working together in a classroom during an academic discussion.
    via Unsplash+ (via Kateryna Hliznitsova)

    University students working together in a classroom during an academic discussion.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Cocoa AlmondsRock I love that you did this. I was really hoping to hear you'd listed every client from your time as an "for helping with my funding after the university pulled mine."
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  • whittlingcanbefatal I also had a minor petty revenge in my thesis acknowledgments. I thanked several people by their first and last name except for my advisor, who was acknowledged as dr. [last name]. Before I became his grad student, I worked in his lab and was told to call him by his first name. When I became his grad student, instead of telling me privately of the change, he scolded me in front of several people for using his first name.
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  • Ravenclaw Starshower Well done on the 'fostering autonomy' statement OP! I wish I had included that wording in my acknowledgements. I had some very unpleasant and unhelpful experiences with my supervisors during my PhD who were absent for the most part, so in my acknowledgment section I wrote "I would like to acknowledge the help given to me..." The help was minimal, but I mentioned it. Plus I didn't want to go so far as thanking them.
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  • Ophiochos Solidarity to you OP. Nice burn. This reminds me of someone at an Oxford college who gave extensive thanks to everyone else in his group 'except Dr Smith'. I also saw something buried like yours about how 'the PhD experience would not have been the same without Dr Bloggs'.
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  • Knitsanity My PhD thesis acknowledgement was similar but we were only expected to put a v short paragraph at the front. I effusively thanked some people and acknowledged the ones who had disappointed me but had to be included.
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  • Xerxesinxs in my undergrad project, I had to thank my faculty & supervisor so I did 2...the official one I submitted & the copy I kept for myself one I thanked them for all the "help" & one detailing their shenanigans I wish I had thought about this
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  • lonelygalexy I spent a lotta time writing the acknowledgement section because it felt like my Oscars speech. I didn't include the professors who i didn't like and i think it's the first time i was so open with my feelings in writing. The first person i thanked was myself lol. It might sound like a joke but i meant it.
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  • Electrical Angle_701 "I acknowledge that the work documented in this thesis was performed at Franz Kafka University, though not necessarily with FKU's assistance."
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