Show that you understand the current state of research on your topic.
The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelorâs or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.
One trick to get started is to think of your proposalâs structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.
Download our research proposal template
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Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.
Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:
The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.
Your introduction should:
To guide your introduction , include information about:
As you get started, itâs important to demonstrate that youâre familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review  shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.
In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:
Following the literature review, restate your main objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.
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To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasize again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.
For example, your results might have implications for:
Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .
Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.
Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.
Download our research schedule template
Research phase | Objectives | Deadline |
---|---|---|
1. Background research and literature review | 20th January | |
2. Research design planning | and data analysis methods | 13th February |
3. Data collection and preparation | with selected participants and code interviews | 24th March |
4. Data analysis | of interview transcripts | 22nd April |
5. Writing | 17th June | |
6. Revision | final work | 28th July |
If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.
Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:
To determine your budget, think about:
If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Methodology
 Statistics
Research bias
Once youâve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .
Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.
I will compare âŠ
A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.
Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways youâll address the overarching aim.
A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3â5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.
A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.
A masterâs is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.
All masterâs involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a masterâs thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.
Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.
Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.
The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the âCite this Scribbr articleâ button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 21). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-proposal/
Other students also liked, how to write a problem statement | guide & examples, writing strong research questions | criteria & examples, how to write a literature review | guide, examples, & templates, what is your plagiarism score.
A research proposal is a supporting document that may be required when applying to a research degree. It summarises your intended research by outlining what your research questions are, why they’re important to your field and what knowledge gaps surround your topic. It also outlines your research in terms of your aims, methods and proposed timetable .
A research proposal will be used to:
Some universities will specify a word count all students will need to adhere to. You will typically find these in the description of the PhD listing. If they haven’t stated a word count limit, you should contact the potential supervisor to clarify whether there are any requirements. If not, aim for 1500 to 3500 words (3 to 7 pages).
Your title should indicate clearly what your research question is. It needs to be simple and to the point; if the reader needs to read further into your proposal to understand your question, your working title isn’t clear enough.
Directly below your title, state the topic your research question relates to. Whether you include this information at the top of your proposal or insert a dedicated title page is your choice and will come down to personal preference.
If your research proposal is over 2000 words, consider providing an abstract. Your abstract should summarise your question, why it’s important to your field and how you intend to answer it; in other words, explain your research context.
Only include crucial information in this section – 250 words should be sufficient to get across your main points.
First, specify which subject area your research problem falls in. This will help set the context of your study and will help the reader anticipate the direction of your proposed research.
Following this, include a literature review . A literature review summarises the existing knowledge which surrounds your research topic. This should include a discussion of the theories, models and bodies of text which directly relate to your research problem. As well as discussing the information available, discuss those which aren’t. In other words, identify what the current gaps in knowledge are and discuss how this will influence your research. Your aim here is to convince the potential supervisor and funding providers of why your intended research is worth investing time and money into.
Last, discuss the key debates and developments currently at the centre of your research area.
Identify the aims and objectives of your research. The aims are the problems your project intends to solve; the objectives are the measurable steps and outcomes required to achieve the aim.
In outlining your aims and objectives, you will need to explain why your proposed research is worth exploring. Consider these aspects:
If you fail to address the above questions, it’s unlikely they will accept your proposal – all PhD research projects must show originality and value to be considered.
The following structure is recommended when discussing your research design:
We’ve outlined the various stages of a PhD and the approximate duration of a PhD programme which you can refer to when designing your own research study.
Plagiarism is taken seriously across all academic levels, but even more so for doctorates. Therefore, ensure you reference the existing literature you have used in writing your PhD proposal. Besides this, try to adopt the same referencing style as the University you’re applying to uses. You can easily find this information in the PhD Thesis formatting guidelines published on the University’s website.
Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.
Here are answers to some of the most common questions we’re asked about the Research Proposal:
Yes, your PhD research proposal outlines the start of your project only. It’s well accepted that the direction of your research will develop with time, therefore, you can revise it at later dates.
Whether the potential supervisor will review your draft will depend on the individual. However, it is highly advisable that you at least attempt to discuss your draft with them. Even if they can’t review it, they may provide you with useful information regarding their department’s expertise which could help shape your PhD proposal. For example, you may amend your methodology should you come to learn that their laboratory is better equipped for an alternative method.
Ensure you follow the same order as the headings given above. This is the most logical structure and will be the order your proposed supervisor will expect.
Most universities don’t provide formatting requirements for research proposals on the basis that they are a supporting document only, however, we recommend that you follow the same format they require for their PhD thesis submissions. This will give your reader familiarity and their guidelines should be readily available on their website.
Last, try to have someone within the same academic field or discipline area to review your proposal. The key is to confirm that they understand the importance of your work and how you intend to execute it. If they don’t, it’s likely a sign you need to rewrite some of your sections to be more coherent.
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Feb 27, 2019
Here, we show you how to write a PhD proposal that will stand out from the hundreds of others that are submitted each day.
Before we do though, know one thing :
The research you describe when you write your PhD proposal wonât look anything like the research you finally write up in your PhD thesis.
Wait, what ?
Thatâs not a typo. Everyoneâs research changes over time.  If you knew everything when you were writing up your proposal there wouldn’t be any point doing the PhD at all.
So, whatâs the point of the proposal?
Your proposal is a guide, not a contract . It is a plan for your research that is necessarily flexible. Thatâs why it changes over time.
This means that the proposal is less about the robustness of your proposed research design and more about showing that you have
1. Critical thinking skills
2. An adequate grasp of the existing literature and know how your research will contribute to it
3. Clear direction and objectives. You get this by formulating clear research questions
4. Appropriate methods. This shows that you can link your understanding of the literature, research design and theory
5. An understanding of whatâs required in a PhD
6. Designed a project that is feasible
Use our free PhD structure template to quickly visualise every element of your thesis.Â
Your PhD proposal is submitted as part of your application to a PhD program. It is a standard means of assessing your potential as a doctoral researcher.
When stripped down to its basic components, it does two things:
Explains the âwhat’- Â t hese are the questions you will address and the outcomes you expect
Explains the âwhy’- Â t his is the case for your research, with a focus on why the research is significant and what the contributions will be.Â
It is used by potential supervisors and department admission tutors to assess the quality and originality of your research ideas, how good you are at critical thinking and how feasible your proposed study is.
This means that it needs to showcase your expertise and your knowledge of the existing field and how your research contributes to it. You use it to  make a persuasive case  that your research is interesting and significant enough to warrant the universityâs investment.
Above all though, it is about  showcasing your passion for your discipline . A PhD is a hard, long journey. The admissions tutor want to know that you have both the skills and the resilience required.
Exactly what needs to be included when you write your PhD proposal will vary from university to university. How long your proposal needs to be may also be specified by your university, but if it isn’t, aim for three thousand words.
Check the requirements for each university you are applying for carefully.
Having said that, almost all proposals will need to have four distinct sections.
2. the research context.
3. The approach you take
4. Conclusion
In the first few paragraphs of your proposal, you need to  clearly and concisely state your research questions, the gap in the literature your study will address, the significance of your research and the contribution  that the study makes.
Be as clear and concise as you can be.  Make the readerâs job as easy as possible  by clearly stating what the proposed research will investigate, what the contribution is and why the study is worthwhile.
This isnât the place for lots of explanatory detail. You donât need to justify particular design decisions in the introduction, just state what they are. The justification comes later.
In this section, you  discuss the existing literature and the gaps that exist within it.
The goal here is to show that you understand the existing literature in your field, what the gaps are and how your proposed study will address them. We’ve written a guide that will help you to  conduct and write a literature review .
Chances are, you wonât have conducted a complete literature review, so the emphasis here should be on the more important and well-known research in your field. Donât worry that you havenât read everything. Your admissions officer wonât have expected you to. Instead, they want to see that you know the following:
1. What are the most important authors, findings, concepts, schools, debates and hypotheses?
2. What gaps exist in the literature?
3. How does your thesis fill these gaps?
Once you have laid out the context, you will be in a position to  make  your thesis statement . A thesis statement is a sentence that summarises your argument to the reader. It is the âpointâ you will want to make with your proposed research.
Remember, the emphasis in the PhD proposal is on  what you  intend  to do,  not on results. You wonât have results until you finish your study. That means that your thesis statement will be speculative, rather than a statement of fact.
For more on how to construct thesis statements, read this excellent guide from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who, incidentally, run a great academic writing blog you should definitely visit.
This is the section in which you discuss the overall research design and is the most important component of the proposal. The emphasis here is on five things.
1. The overall approach taken (is it purely theoretical, or does it involve primary or empirical research? Maybe itâs both theoretical and empirical?)
2. The theoretical perspective you will use when you design and conduct your research
3. Why you have chosen this approach over others and what implications this choice has for your methods and the robustness of the study
4. Your specific aims and objectives
5. Your research methodology
In the previous section you outlined the context. In this section you explain  the specific detail  of what your research will look like.
You take the brief research design statements you made in the introduction and go into much more detail. You need to be relating your design decisions back to the literature and context discussion in the previous section.
The emphasis here is on  showing that there is a logical flow.  Thereâs no point highlighting a gap in the literature and then designing a study that doesnât fill it.
Some of the detail here will only become clear once you have started the actual research. Thatâs fine. The emphasis in your proposal should be on showing that you understand what goes into a PhD.
So, Â keep it general.
For example, when talking about your methodology, keep things deliberately broad and focus on the overarching strategy. For example, if you are using interviews, you donât need to list every single proposed interview question. Instead, you can talk about the rough themes you will discuss (which will relate to your literature review and thesis/project statement). Similarly, unless your research is specifically focusing on particular individuals, you donât need to list exactly who you will interview. Instead, just state the types of people you will interview (for example: local politicians, or athletes, or academics in the UK, and so on).
There are a number of key elements to a proposal that you will need to put in the final paragraphs.
These include:
1. A discussion on the limitations of the study
2. A reiteration of your contribution
3. A proposed chapter structure (this can be an appendix)
4. Proposed month-by-month timetable (this can also be an appendix). The purpose of this timetable is to show that you understand every stage required and how long each stage takes relative to others.
1. be critical.
When you are making your design decisions in section three, you need to do so critically.  Critical thinking  is a key requirement of entry onto a PhD programme. In brief, it means not taking things at face value and questioning what you read or do. You can  read our guide to being critical  for help (it focuses on the literature review, but the take home points are the same).Â
This is something that many people get wrong. You need to  ease the reader in  gradually .  Present a brief, clear statement in the introduction and then gradually introduce more information as the pages roll on.
You will see that the outline we have suggested above follows an inverted pyramid shape.
1. In section one, you present the headlines in the introductory paragraphs. These are the research questions, aims, objectives, contribution and problem statement. State these without context or explanation.
2. When discussing the research context in section two, you provide a little more background. The goal here is to introduce the reader to the literature and highlight the gaps.
3. When describing the approach you will take, you present more detailed information. The goal here is to talk in very precise terms about how your research will address these gaps, the implications of these choices and your expected findings.
Donât pretend you know more than you do and  donât try to reinvent your discipline .
A good proposal is one that is very focused and that describes research that is very feasible. If you try to design a study to revolutionise your field, you will not be accepted because doing so shows that you donât understand what is feasible in the context of a PhD and you havenât understood the literature.
Describe your research as clearly as possible  in the opening couple of paragraphs. Then write in short, clear sentences. Avoid using complex sentences where possible. If you need to introduce technical terminology, clearly define things.Â
In other words, Â make the readerâs job as easy as possible.
Weâve written a post on why you need a proofreader .
Simple: you are the worst person to proofread your own work.
A lot of students fail to do this. Your supervisor isnât your enemy. You can work with them to refine your proposal. Donât be afraid to reach out for comments and suggestions. Be careful though. Donât expect them to come up with topics or questions for you. Their input should be focused on refining your ideas, not helping you come up with them.Â
Admissions tutors can spot when you have submitted a one-size-fits-all proposal. Try and tailor it to the individual department. You can do this by talking about how you will contribute to the department and why you have chosen to apply there.Â
Follow this guide and youâll be on a PhD programme in no time at all.Â
If youâre struggling for inspiration on topics or research design, try writing a rough draft of your proposal. Often the act of writing is enough for us to brainstorm new ideas and relate existing ideas to one another.Â
If youâre still struggling, send your idea to us in an  email  to us and weâll give you our feedback.Â
Sounds good, doesn’t it? Be able to call yourself Doctor sooner with our five-star rated How to Write A PhD email-course. Learn everything your supervisor should have taught you about planning and completing a PhD.
Now half price. Join hundreds of other students and become a better thesis writer, or your money back.Â
13 comments.
A wonderful guide. I must say not only well written but very well thought out and very efficient.
Great. I’m glad you think so.
Thanks for sharing. Makes navigating through the proposal lot easier
Great. Glad you think so!
An excellent guide, I learned a lot thank you
Great job and guide for a PhD proposal. Thank you!
You’re welcome!
I am going to start writing my Ph.D. proposal. This has been so helpful in instructing me on what to do. Thanks
Thanks! Glad you thought so.
A very reassuring guide to the process. Thank you, Max
I appreciate the practical advice and actionable steps you provide in your posts.
Glad to hear it. Many thanks.
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Most popular articles from the phd knowlege base.
A Straightforward How-To Guide (With Examples)
By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewed By: Dr. Eunice Rautenbach | August 2019 (Updated April 2023)
Writing up a strong research proposal for a dissertation or thesis is much like a marriage proposal. Itâs a task that calls on you to win somebody over and persuade them that what youâre planning is a great idea. An idea theyâre happy to say âyesâ to. This means that your dissertation proposal needs to be  persuasive ,  attractive  and well-planned. In this post, Iâll show you how to write a winning dissertation proposal, from scratch.
Before you start:
– Understand exactly what a research proposal is – Ask yourself these 4 questions
The 5 essential ingredients:
The research proposal is literally that: a written document that communicates what you propose to research, in a concise format. Itâs where you put all that stuff thatâs spinning around in your head down on to paper, in a logical, convincing fashion.
Convincing  is the keyword here, as your research proposal needs to convince the assessor that your research is  clearly articulated  (i.e., a clear research question) ,  worth doing  (i.e., is unique and valuable enough to justify the effort), and  doable  within the restrictions youâll face (time limits, budget, skill limits, etc.). If your proposal does not address these three criteria, your research wonât be approved, no matter how âexcitingâ the research idea might be.
PS – if you’re completely new to proposal writing, we’ve got a detailed walkthrough video covering two successful research proposals here .Â
Before starting the writing process, you need to  ask yourself 4 important questions . If you canât answer them succinctly and confidently, youâre not ready â you need to go back and think more deeply about your dissertation topic .
You should be able to answer the following 4 questions before starting your dissertation or thesis research proposal:
If you canât answer these questions clearly and concisely,  youâre not yet ready  to write your research proposal â revisit our  post on choosing a topic .
If you can, thatâs great â itâs time to start writing up your dissertation proposal. Next, Iâll discuss what needs to go into your research proposal, and how to structure it all into an intuitive, convincing document with a linear narrative.
Research proposals can vary in style between institutions and disciplines, but here Iâll share with you a  handy 5-section structure  you can use. These 5 sections directly address the core questions we spoke about earlier, ensuring that you present a convincing proposal. If your institution already provides a proposal template, there will likely be substantial overlap with this, so youâll still get value from reading on.
For each section discussed below, make sure you use headers and sub-headers (ideally, numbered headers) to help the reader navigate through your document, and to support them when they need to revisit a previous section. Donât just present an endless wall of text, paragraph after paragraph after paragraphâŠ
Top Tip: Â Use MS Word Styles to format headings. This will allow you to be clear about whether a sub-heading is level 2, 3, or 4. Additionally, you can view your document in âoutline viewâ which will show you only your headings. This makes it much easier to check your structure, shift things around and make decisions about where a section needs to sit. You can also generate a 100% accurate table of contents using Wordâs automatic functionality.
Your research proposal’s title should be your main research question in its simplest form, possibly with a sub-heading providing basic details on the specifics of the study. For example:
âCompliance with equality legislation in the charity sector: a study of the âreasonable adjustmentsâ made in three London care homesâ
As you can see, this title provides a clear indication of what the research is about, in broad terms. It paints a high-level picture for the first-time reader, which gives them a taste of what to expect. Â Always aim for a clear, concise title . Donât feel the need to capture every detail of your research in your title â your proposal will fill in the gaps.
In this section of your research proposal, youâll expand on what youâve communicated in the title, by providing a few paragraphs which offer more detail about your research topic. Importantly, the focus here is the  topic  â what will you research and why is that worth researching? This is not the place to discuss methodology, practicalities, etc. â youâll do that later.
You should cover the following:
Importantly, you should aim to use short sentences and plain language â donât babble on with extensive jargon, acronyms and complex language. Assume that the reader is an intelligent layman â not a subject area specialist (even if they are). Remember that the  best writing is writing that can be easily understood  and digested. Keep it simple.
Note that some universities may want some extra bits and pieces in your introduction section. For example, personal development objectives, a structural outline, etc. Check your brief to see if there are any other details they expect in your proposal, and make sure you find a place for these.
Next, youâll need to specify what the scope of your research will be – this is also known as the delimitations . In other words, you need to make it clear what you will be covering and, more importantly, what you won’t be covering in your research. Simply put, this is about ring fencing your research topic so that you have a laser-sharp focus.
All too often, students feel the need to go broad and try to address as many issues as possible, in the interest of producing comprehensive research. Whilst this is admirable, itâs a mistake. By tightly refining your scope, youâll enable yourself to  go deep  with your research, which is what you need to earn good marks. If your scope is too broad, youâre likely going to land up with superficial research (which wonât earn marks), so donât be afraid to narrow things down.
In this section of your research proposal, you need to provide a (relatively) brief discussion of the existing literature. Naturally, this will not be as comprehensive as the literature review in your actual dissertation, but it will lay the foundation for that. In fact, if you put in the effort at this stage, youâll make your life a lot easier when it’s time to write your actual literature review chapter.
There are a few things you need to achieve in this section:
When you write up your literature review, keep these three objectives front of mind, especially number two (revealing the gap in the literature), so that your literature review has a  clear purpose and direction . Everything you write should be contributing towards one (or more) of these objectives in some way. If it doesnât, you need to ask yourself whether itâs truly needed.
Top Tip:  Donât fall into the trap of just describing the main pieces of literature, for example, âA says this, B says that, C also says thatâŠâ and so on. Merely describing the literature provides no value. Instead, you need to  synthesise  it, and use it to address the three objectives above.
Now that youâve clearly explained both your intended research topic (in the introduction) and the existing research it will draw on (in the literature review section), itâs time to get practical and explain exactly how youâll be carrying out your own research. In other words, your research methodology.
In this section, youâll need to  answer two critical questions :
In other words, this is not just about explaining WHAT youâll be doing, itâs also about explaining WHY. In fact, the  justification is the most important part , because that justification is how you demonstrate a good understanding of research design (which is what assessors want to see).
Some essential design choices you need to cover in your research proposal include:
This list is not exhaustive â these are just some core attributes of research design. Check with your institution what level of detail they expect. The â research onion â by Saunders et al (2009) provides a good summary of the various design choices you ultimately need to make â you can  read more about that here .
In addition to the technical aspects, you will need to address the  practical  side of the project. In other words, you need to explain  what resources youâll need  (e.g., time, money, access to equipment or software, etc.) and how you intend to secure these resources. You need to show that your project is feasible, so any âmake or breakâ type resources need to already be secured. The success or failure of your project cannot depend on some resource which youâre not yet sure you have access to.
Another part of the practicalities discussion is  project and risk management . In other words, you need to show that you have a clear project plan to tackle your research with. Some key questions to address:
A good way to demonstrate that youâve thought this through is to include a Gantt chart and a risk register (in the appendix if word count is a problem). With these two tools, you can show that youâve got a clear, feasible plan, and youâve thought about and accounted for the potential risks.
Tip â Be honest about the potential difficulties â but show that you are anticipating solutions and workarounds. This is much more impressive to an assessor than an unrealistically optimistic proposal which does not anticipate any challenges whatsoever.
The final step is to edit and proofread your proposal â very carefully. It sounds obvious, but all too often poor editing and proofreading ruin a good proposal. Nothing is more off-putting for an assessor than a poorly edited, typo-strewn document. It sends the message that you either do not pay attention to detail, or just donât care. Neither of these are good messages. Put the effort into editing and proofreading your proposal (or pay someone to do it for you) â it will pay dividends.
When youâre editing, watch out for âacademeseâ. Many students can speak simply, passionately and clearly about their dissertation topic â but become incomprehensible the moment they turn the laptop on. You are not required to write in any kind of special, formal, complex language when you write academic work. Sure, there may be technical terms, jargon specific to your discipline, shorthand terms and so on. But, apart from those,  keep your written language very close to natural spoken language  â just as you would speak in the classroom. Imagine that you are explaining your project plans to your classmates or a family member. Remember, write for the intelligent layman, not the subject matter experts. Plain-language, concise writing is what wins hearts and minds â and marks!
And there you have it â how to write your dissertation or thesis research proposal, from the title page to the final proof. Hereâs a quick recap of the key takeaways:
Hopefully, this post has helped you better understand how to write up a winning research proposal. If you enjoyed it, be sure to check out the rest of the Grad Coach Blog . If your university doesn’t provide any template for your proposal, you might want to try out our free research proposal template .
This post is an extract from our bestselling short course, Research Proposal Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this .
Thank you so much for the valuable insight that you have given, especially on the research proposal. That is what I have managed to cover. I still need to go back to the other parts as I got disturbed while still listening to Derek’s audio on you-tube. I am inspired. I will definitely continue with Grad-coach guidance on You-tube.
Thanks for the kind words :). All the best with your proposal.
First of all, thanks a lot for making such a wonderful presentation. The video was really useful and gave me a very clear insight of how a research proposal has to be written. I shall try implementing these ideas in my RP.
Once again, I thank you for this content.
I found reading your outline on writing research proposal very beneficial. I wish there was a way of submitting my draft proposal to you guys for critiquing before I submit to the institution.
Hi Bonginkosi
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, we do provide a review service. The best starting point is to have a chat with one of our coaches here: https://gradcoach.com/book/new/ .
Hello team GRADCOACH, may God bless you so much. I was totally green in research. Am so happy for your free superb tutorials and resources. Once again thank you so much Derek and his team.
You’re welcome, Erick. Good luck with your research proposal đ
thank you for the information. its precise and on point.
Really a remarkable piece of writing and great source of guidance for the researchers. GOD BLESS YOU for your guidance. Regards
Thanks so much for your guidance. It is easy and comprehensive the way you explain the steps for a winning research proposal.
Thank you guys so much for the rich post. I enjoyed and learn from every word in it. My problem now is how to get into your platform wherein I can always seek help on things related to my research work ? Secondly, I wish to find out if there is a way I can send my tentative proposal to you guys for examination before I take to my supervisor Once again thanks very much for the insights
Thanks for your kind words, Desire.
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Best of luck with your studies.
May God bless you team for the wonderful work you are doing,
If I have a topic, Can I submit it to you so that you can draft a proposal for me?? As I am expecting to go for masters degree in the near future.
Thanks for your comment. We definitely cannot draft a proposal for you, as that would constitute academic misconduct. The proposal needs to be your own work. We can coach you through the process, but it needs to be your own work and your own writing.
Best of luck with your research!
I found a lot of many essential concepts from your material. it is real a road map to write a research proposal. so thanks a lot. If there is any update material on your hand on MBA please forward to me.
GradCoach is a professional website that presents support and helps for MBA student like me through the useful online information on the page and with my 1-on-1 online coaching with the amazing and professional PhD Kerryen.
Thank you Kerryen so much for the support and help đ
I really recommend dealing with such a reliable services provider like Gradcoah and a coach like Kerryen.
Hi, Am happy for your service and effort to help students and researchers, Please, i have been given an assignment on research for strategic development, the task one is to formulate a research proposal to support the strategic development of a business area, my issue here is how to go about it, especially the topic or title and introduction. Please, i would like to know if you could help me and how much is the charge.
This content is practical, valuable, and just great!
Thank you very much!
Hi Derek, Thank you for the valuable presentation. It is very helpful especially for beginners like me. I am just starting my PhD.
This is quite instructive and research proposal made simple. Can I have a research proposal template?
Great! Thanks for rescuing me, because I had no former knowledge in this topic. But with this piece of information, I am now secured. Thank you once more.
I enjoyed listening to your video on how to write a proposal. I think I will be able to write a winning proposal with your advice. I wish you were to be my supervisor.
Dear Derek Jansen,
Thank you for your great content. I couldn’t learn these topics in MBA, but now I learned from GradCoach. Really appreciate your efforts….
From Afghanistan!
I have got very essential inputs for startup of my dissertation proposal. Well organized properly communicated with video presentation. Thank you for the presentation.
Wow, this is absolutely amazing guys. Thank you so much for the fruitful presentation, you’ve made my research much easier.
this helps me a lot. thank you all so much for impacting in us. may god richly bless you all
How I wish I’d learn about Grad Coach earlier. I’ve been stumbling around writing and rewriting! Now I have concise clear directions on how to put this thing together. Thank you!
Fantastic!! Thank You for this very concise yet comprehensive guidance.
Even if I am poor in English I would like to thank you very much.
Thank you very much, this is very insightful.
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Ready to write your PhD proposal? Itâs your opportunity to showcase your passion, explain why your research is necessary, and convince potential supervisors that youâre the right person to carry it out.
A PhD is a huge undertaking. You need to show how determined you are to take on this long, gruelling process and demonstrate the resilience that will see you through. You must be persuasive about why your research is important and worth funding. Your proposal must demonstrate that you have the skills needed to be successful.
Youâll include:
Sound daunting? Donât worry, following this simple structure will help your proposal stand out for all the right reasons. Hereâs how to do it.
What should you include in a phd proposal, before submission.
Your final thesis will look very different from the proposal. Think of it as a roadmap. It structures your thinking and shows the path you want to follow during your studies.
You need flexibility rather than a rigid plan. Create a distinctly defined original research question and a clear approach to your objectives. Then explain how you will answer this question through your research.
To be successful, itâs essential your proposal is feasible and demonstrates your critical thinking skills. Youâll show your understanding of current thinking and relevant literature in your field. Your proposal explains how you will add to this, develop current research, or challenge existing beliefs.
Every institution has specific requirements for a proposal, so check carefully before you write yours. They have set rules about formatting, organising, and word count.
Most proposals will need to include:
There are plenty of tools you can use to help you write it. Check out EssayJack which is specifically designed for academic writing. It lets you easily build each section of your proposal with helpful questions and prompts to keep you on track.
Thereâs an art to writing a good academic introduction . This section of your PhD proposal needs to be absolutely clear.
Make it easy for them to see what you are proposing. Share your research questions, explain why your research is significant, and the contribution it will make to existing literature.
Donât add lengthy explanations here. You donât need to justify your decisions. Focus on your aims and objectives and keep it as concise as possible.
In this section, youâll provide context to your proposal. Youâll show you have a deep, broad understanding of the research landscape.
Youâll show there are knowledge gaps in the existing literature and explain how your proposed study can fill them.
This section is the most important part of your proposal. After sharing the context, youâll now give the specific details to explain what your project will look like. It lets you go into far more detail about how you will undertake your research.
You have the challenge of showing a well-structured plan that maintains the necessary flexibility to allow your research to develop. Whilst you want a clear question and focus, keep some details general. For example, you donât need the exact questions youâll ask or a precise list of who youâll interview. Keep your methodology broad.
Explain your overall approach:
Think about your specific aims and objectives. As youâve highlighted the gaps in existing literature, make sure you carefully design your research to fill them.
Your conclusion is more than just restating your research question, although this is important. Use it to highlight the contribution your research will make to this field.
Itâs also vital you show your awareness of the limitations of your research, explaining the parameters you will introduce. Itâs far better to explore a narrow topic deeply than try to cover a wider one.
Help your potential supervisors evaluate how feasible your project is by thinking carefully about the time you have and the scope of your proposed research. You could share a proposed chapter structure and monthly timetable (or include them as appendices) to show you have thought about how long each stage will take compared to others.
This is your opportunity to show the significant texts and resources that give context to your research.
Show your critical thinking and reflection by only including the most appropriate sources. Check your institutionâs formatting preferences carefully to get the presentation right.
Donât ruin your chances by submitting poorly presented work. Spend time carefully checking the little details that make all the difference. If possible, ask an experienced academic to check youâre fitting the academic standards expected.
ProWritingAid is a comprehensive spelling and grammar checker that lets you set the style of your writing to "academic." This gives you specific suggestions suited for academia and twenty comprehensive reports to improve your overall writing ability.
Youâll see suggestions to help with the overall readability of your work...
...as well as a whole host of detailed reports on your writing.
With ProWritingAid, you can:
After running your proposal through ProWritingAid, read it aloud to check it has a logical structure and is easy to read. Remember to number the pages, add a contents page, and use headings to make it simple to navigate. The most important thing you can do before starting your PhD proposal is to read and re-read your institutionâs specific requirements carefully. Whilst articles like this provide a general overview, you need to be sure about the exact details theyâre looking for. Make sure you understand:
A good proposal is one thatâs persuasive. After explaining the gaps in current knowledge, make sure you show how your research will specifically fill these gaps. The more you show how much your work is needed, the greater your chance of success. But donât forget that your proposal is as much about you as it is your research. Show them you have a solid grasp of your field, and the resilience to see it through. Demonstrate you have considered the scope and scale of your work. Whilst there should be flexibility, youâre creating a road map, not sharing a pipe dream. Be confident about grammarCheck every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send. Helly Douglas is a UK writer and teacher, specialising in education, children, and parenting. She loves making the complex seem simple through blogs, articles, and curriculum content. You can check out her work at hellydouglas.com or connect on Twitter @hellydouglas. When sheâs not writing, you will find her in a classroom, being a mum or battling against the wilderness of her gardenâthe garden is winning! Get started with ProWritingAidDrop us a line or let's stay in touch via :
How to write a PhD research proposalCreating a focused and well-written research proposal - a concise and coherent summary of your proposed research - is an essential part of a successful PhD application. A research proposal is normally required for self-funded PhDs (where you develop your own idea for a thesis), but isn't usually needed for funded studentships or pre-defined research projects. What is a research proposal?A research proposal sets out the central issues or questions that you intend to address. It outlines the general area of study within which your research falls, referring to the current state of knowledge and any recent debates on the topic. It should also demonstrate the originality of your proposed research. What it should includeAs a guide, research proposals should be around 2,000-3,000 words and contain:
Crucially, it is also an opportunity for you to communicate your passion for the subject area and to make a persuasive argument about the impact your project can achieve. Your research proposal will be assessed by our academic schools to assess the quality of your proposed research and to establish whether they have the expertise to support your proposed area of PhD study. Thesis writing classes and support for international research studentsThe University’s English Language Centre (ELC) provides thesis writing support for international PhD students. Classes run throughout semesters one and two and are designed to help develop the academic writing skills needed to write up research effectively. The sessions are taught by tutors with their own research experience. They have PhDs themselves and have many years of experience in analysing writing in different disciplines. The course also provides an opportunity for students to receive individual feedback on samples of their own writing. The following classes are available:
In addition to these thesis writing classes, the ELC also provides a 1:1 Academic Writing Consultation service. Back to: Study Find a course
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How to write a PhD ProposalSamuels, P. (2017) How to write a PhD Proposal. Technical Report. ResearchGate, Birmingham, UK. A PhD proposal is a focused document that introduces your PhD study idea and seeks to convince the reader that your idea is interesting, original and viable within the allocated study period and with the resources available. It also provides a preliminary review of the literature and proposes how the research should be carried out. The purpose of this guide is to assist prospective PhD students write good quality proposals.
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Therefore, in a good research proposal you will need to demonstrate two main things: 1. that you are capable of independent critical thinking and analysis. 2. that you are capable of communicating your ideas clearly. Applying for a PhD is like applying for a job, you are not applying for a taught programme.
Written by Mark Bennett. You'll need to write a research proposal if you're submitting your own project plan as part of a PhD application. A good PhD proposal outlines the scope and significance of your topic and explains how you plan to research it. It's helpful to think about the proposal like this: if the rest of your application explains ...
When writing your PhD proposal you need to show that your PhD is worth it, achievable, and that you have the ability to do it at your chosen university. With all of that in mind, let's take a closer look at each section of a standard PhD research proposal and the overall structure. 1. Front matter.
he spine of your proposal and later, in your thesis. The following fe. t. ps may help you to write your research questions:1. C. oose a topic that interests you and your readers.2. Make an investigation on your topic by going through scholarly jour. als and see what questions are raised by your peers. Take note of.
How to Write a PhD Proposal in 7 Steps: A Proven Guide. Embarking on a PhD journey is a significant academic and personal commitment, and the first crucial step in this process is writing a compelling research proposal. A PhD research proposal serves as a detailed plan or 'blueprint' for your intended study.
A research proposal should present your idea or question and expected outcomes with clarity and definition - the what. It should also make a case for why your question is significant and what value it will bring to your discipline - the why. What it shouldn't do is answer the question - that's what your research will do.
Research proposal examples. Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We've included a few for you below. Example research proposal #1: "A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management".
1. Title. Your title should indicate clearly what your research question is. It needs to be simple and to the point; if the reader needs to read further into your proposal to understand your question, your working title isn't clear enough. Directly below your title, state the topic your research question relates to.
Here are a few aspects to include and remember when writing your PhD proposal: 1. Include a title page. The working title is usually around ten words long and indicates what you plan to study. Try to choose an interesting and thought-provoking title that attracts the reader's attention.
This means that the proposal is less about the robustness of your proposed research design and more about showing that you have. 1. Critical thinking skills. 2. An adequate grasp of the existing literature and know how your research will contribute to it. 3. Clear direction and objectives.
How to Write a PhD Proposal. 1. Introduction. A PhD proposal is a focused document that int roduces your PhD study idea and seeks to. convince the reader that your idea is interesting, original ...
Make sure you can ask the critical what, who, and how questions of your research before you put pen to paper. Your research proposal should include (at least) 5 essential components : Title - provides the first taste of your research, in broad terms. Introduction - explains what you'll be researching in more detail.
Introduction. There's an art to writing a good academic introduction. This section of your PhD proposal needs to be absolutely clear. Make it easy for them to see what you are proposing. Share your research questions, explain why your research is significant, and the contribution it will make to existing literature.
Including a timeline in your proposal can illustrate your time management capabilities to the Ph.D. program faculty. 9. Include a bibliography. At the end of your proposal, include a bibliography that lists all the sources you've used while creating the document. Include links to the sources if they're available.
As a guide, research proposals should be around 2,000-3,000 words and contain: A title - this is just tentative and can be revised over the course of your research. An abstract - a concise statement of your intended research. Context - a brief overview of the general area of study within which your proposed research falls, summarising the ...
A PhD proposal is a focused document that introduces your PhD study idea and seeks to convince the reader that your idea is interesting, original and viable within the allocated study period and with the resources available. It also provides a preliminary review of the literature and proposes how the research should be carried out. The purpose of this guide is to assist prospective PhD ...
Writing a compelling PhD proposal is a critical step in your academic journey, opening doors to research opportunities and funding. By understanding reviewer expectations, integrating theoretical frameworks, developing a strategic literature review, planning your project with a realistic and flexible timeline, and addressing ethical ...
The purpose of writing this research proposal is learning to explain the need and feasibility of your ideas and to sell them to an audience of peers. Writing a research proposal will help you to reach the following learning outcomes as derived from the Education and Examination Regulation coupled to the criteria for the proposal. Research ...
Learn how to write a rock-solid dissertation proposal, thesis proposal, or research proposal in this step by step tutorial, including practical examples. We...
Good research questions create a corridor to your research. Good research questions are the spine of your proposal and later, in your thesis. The following few tips may help you to write your research questions: 1. Choose a topic that interests you and your readers. 2.
All applicants for a PhD or MSc by Research must submit a research proposal as part of their application. Applicants must use the template form below for their research proposal. This research proposal should then be submitted online as part of your application. Please use Calibri size 11 font size and do not change the paragraph spacing ...
Most dissertations run a minimum of 100-200 pages, with some hitting 300 pages or more. When editing your dissertation, break it down chapter by chapter. Go beyond grammar and spelling to make sure you communicate clearly and efficiently. Identify repetitive areas and shore up weaknesses in your argument.
1.2 PURPOSE OF WRITING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL The purpose of writing this researchproposal is learning to explain the need and feasibility of your ideas and to sell them to an audience of peers. Writing a research proposal will help you to reach the following learning outcomes as formulated in the Education and Examination Regulation. You will be:
253 likes, 0 comments - drfred_phd on May 12, 2024: "Step by step guide on how to write an abstract Send me an email using details in bio to get help with your research proposal, thesis...". Dissertation Writing Service | Dissertation Coach | Step by step guide on how to write an abstract đŒ Send me an email using details in bio to get help ...