Education Your Views: We escaped the PhD horrors

We were interested to read your recent correspondence from PhD students, and in the interest of balance, would like to put forward our more positive experiences of PhD life at Anglia Polytechnic University.

We began our studies at the Total Quality and Innovation Centre at Anglia Polytechnic University early this year, and in comparison with your other correspondents, have fallen on our feet. Our (very experienced) supervisor visits us every week and strongly encourages regular discussion of progress. He has organised monthly "cohort" meetings (with refreshments) to which all his supervisees are invited, where progress and issues of common interest can be discussed.

The staff have gone out of their way to make us feel part of the Centre, and have arranged induction activities and introductions to the senior university research management team. Although resources are scarce, we have been furnished with an office and computer equipment and are included in staff social activities.

Let's hope their support results in worthwhile research!

Jaki Lilly, Bob Scott

PhD research students, Total Quality and Innovation Centre, Anglia Polytechnic University, Chelmsford, Essex