Postgraduate conditions and the ESRC's 'Postgraduate training guidelines'

This paper serves two purposes. First, it provides information on the nature of postgraduate geography. This was facilitated by a survey of the membership of the Postgraduate Forum (Institute of British Geographers). Secondly, it uses this information to contribute to the debate surrounding the Economic and Social Research Council's 'Postgraduate Training Guidelines' (ESRC 1991). That is, it considers the new training requirements within the guidelines and compares them to current postgraduate experience. It is demonstrated that the 'Postgraduate Training Guidelines' are far removed from current experience. It is hoped that the article will generate debate in subsequent editions of this journal.