Show that you understand the current state of research on your topic.
The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s 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 proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.
Download our research proposal template
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:
Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:
See an example
As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re 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 you’ve 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 …
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 you’ll 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 3–5 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 master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.
All master’s 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 master’s 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.
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Read our guidelines for how to plan and structure your PhD research proposal during your provisional year.
Research proposal facts Length : 20-30 pages (not more than 10,000 words) Due date : 9-10 months from your registration date Reviewed by : Two academics appointed by your supervisor
A full research proposal contains the following sections:
Different academic disciplines have different styles in how they structure this material.
For a detailed breakdown of each section, visit Structuring your research proposal .
Please check with your supervisors as to the template they want you to use.
For more details about the research proposal development please read the Generic Guidelines for Full Doctoral Research Proposals .
A research proposal is not simply a list of good ideas worth researching. It should detail:
The transition from thesis idea to well-defined proposal is often difficult. It may take several months or more. During this period, you should:
This is independent study that may not require strong or direct supervision. However, once you have identified the key questions you want to explore, it’s time to write the research proposal. For this, you should work closely with your supervisor.
Your proposal is your research and thesis writing roadmap. It also provides your supervisor and other faculty staff with information they can review, suggest improvements (if needed) and approve.
If your proposal is detailed and explicit, this will put you on the right path to conducting proper research, documenting it clearly and producing a final thesis with a high chance of acceptance.
Be aware that your first proposal is often not your final one. You will undergo a process of refining and revision, incorporating critical comments and suggestions from your supervisors and other academic staff. These revised drafts will be further reviewed before final submission to the faculty.
When developing your proposal, it’s useful to remind yourself of what the examiners will be looking for in the final completed thesis.
A good thesis will contain the following elements:
All doctorate research topics must be related to one or more specialist areas, including published literature and established methodologies.
However, that does not mean you should write for an informed niche audience. Since the proposal must receive the approval of the Faculty of Education and Social Work, it should contain enough detail to be understood by members of staff whose expertise may not be in the literature and methodology areas you have selected.
As the competition for PhD places is incredibly fierce, your research proposal can have a strong bearing on the success of your application - so discover how to make the best impression
Research proposals are used to persuade potential supervisors and funders that your work is worthy of their support. These documents set out your proposed research that will result in a Doctoral thesis. They are typically between 1,500 and 3,000 words.
Your PhD research proposal must passionately articulate what you want to research and why, convey your understanding of existing literature, and clearly define at least one research question that could lead to new or original knowledge and how you propose to answer it.
Professor Leigh Wilson, head of the graduate school at the University of Westminster , explains that while the research proposal is about work that hasn't been done yet, what prospective supervisors and funders are focusing on just as strongly is evidence of what you've done.
This includes how well you know existing literature in the area, including very recent publications and debates, and how clearly you've seen what's missing from this and so what your research can do that's new. Giving a strong sense of this background or frame for the proposed work is crucial.
'Although it's tempting to make large claims and propose research that sweeps across time and space, narrower, more focused research is much more convincing,' she adds. 'To be thorough and rigorous in the way that academic work needs to be, even something as long as a PhD thesis can only cover a fairly narrow topic. Depth not breadth is called for.'
The structure of your research proposal is therefore important to achieving this goal, yet it should still retain sufficient flexibility to comfortably accommodate any changes you need to make as your PhD progresses.
Layout and formats vary, so it's advisable to consult your potential PhD supervisor before you begin. Here's what to bear in mind when writing a research proposal.
Your provisional title should be around ten words in length, and clearly and accurately indicate your area of study and/or proposed approach. It should be catchy, informative and interesting.
The title page should also include personal information, such as:
This is a summary of your project. Your aims should be two or three broad statements that emphasise what you want to achieve, complemented by several focused, feasible and measurable objectives - the steps that you'll take to answer each of your research questions.
You'll need to clearly and briefly outline:
This section of your PhD proposal discusses the most important theories, models and texts that surround and influence your research questions, conveying your understanding and awareness of the key issues and debates.
It should focus on the theoretical and practical knowledge gaps that your work aims to address, as this ultimately justifies and provides the motivation for your project.
Here, you're expected to outline how you'll answer each of your research questions. A strong, well-written methodology is crucial, but especially so if your project involves extensive collection and significant analysis of primary data.
In disciplines such as humanities, the research proposal methodology identifies the data collection and analytical techniques available to you, before justifying the ones you'll use in greater detail. You'll also define the population that you're intending to examine.
You should also show that you're aware of the limitations of your research, qualifying the parameters you plan to introduce. Remember, it's more impressive to do a fantastic job of exploring a narrower topic than a decent job of exploring a wider one.
Concluding or following on from your methodology, your timetable should identify how long you'll need to complete each step - perhaps using bi-weekly or monthly timeslots. This helps the reader to evaluate the feasibility of your project and shows that you've considered how you'll go about putting the PhD proposal into practice.
Finally, you'll provide a list of the most significant texts, plus any attachments such as your academic CV .
Demonstrate your skills in critical reflection by selecting only those resources that are most appropriate.
Before submitting this document along with your PhD application, you'll need to ensure that you've adhered to the research proposal format. This means that:
To get a better idea of how your PhD proposal may look, some universities have provided examples of research proposals for specific subjects, including:
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What is a research proposal.
A research proposal gives details of the direction of your future research, usually based on a research question and a chapter-by-chapter approach to answering it.
For PhD applications, this proposal will be assessed to see:
There may be other factors affecting whether you get a place at the University of Brighton:
A successful proposal will leave the panel in no doubt on these, and you should prepare to show the strength of your idea and demonstrate your suitability.
Within the proposal, you should take the opportunity to clearly outline your research idea; your research methodology and critical approaches; your experience in this field of research where you can; and how your work will be offering an original contribution to knowledge, theories and/or practice.
Find more details about a PhD in your discipline at the University of Brighton
The strongest proposals are often ones that have been written jointly between a prospective student and prospective supervisor.
As Professor Pollen states in our film, supervisors have an understanding of the language used in proposals and the skillsets that asessors will want to see -- whether for a university position or a funding application.
To develop a strong proposal, we recommend you work with a possible supervisor at the University of Brighton who can help shape your project for feasibility and suitability within our institution. This person may then become your lead supervisor.
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What journey leads to a PhD application? This film was made by the University of Brighton for UKRI and features University of Brighton students and academics as well as those from other partner universities.
You may be responding to an advertised call for a particular project that has already achieved funding. Alternatively, you may want to propose a personally developed project.
If you are responding to a call then the advertisement will have clear guidance as to what research experience and interest a candidate will need. This should help you structure your PhD research proposal.
If you are proposing a personally developed project then it should be carefully written to show the viability within the university's current research environment and a specific supervisory possibility at the university.
Some applicants have found our repository of theses helpful for the development and refinement of their research idea. You can find over 1000 theses completed at the University of Brighton over the past 40 years at our repository of successful PhD student theses .
Our research database has useful leads to potential supervisory staff and a strong idea of the university's current research priorities online:
Once you have identified a potential lead researcher of a research project most aligned to yours, do not hesitate to email them.
Explain who you are, your motivation to do a PhD in their field of study and with them. They will let you know if they are interested in your project and would be interested in potentially supervising your PhD. If they cannot commit, they may be able to help you identify another researcher who could be available and interested.
By liaising with a suitable supervisor, your proposal will benefit from expert help and be channelled towards the appropriate disciplinary environment.
If you are in doubt about whether we can offer the appropriate supervision, please contact the Doctoral College .
Find out more about your opportunities for a PHD on our FAQ page
A research proposal should include the following:
1. Indicative title of the topic area
This should accurately reflect what it is that you want to study and the central issues that you are going to address.
It may be useful to present this in the format of a statement (perhaps a quote) and a question, separated by a colon. For example: '"The tantalising future of research": how are research proposals developed and assessed?'
2. Context / rationale / why is this study important? (300 – 500 words)
Introduce your specific area of study. You should identify the theoretical context within which your research will be developed by discussing the discipline(s) and or field/s of study relevant to your research.
This means outlining the key theoretical area(s) you will draw upon to enable you to find out what it is that you want to know (for example, how it is underpinned from methods in the social sciences; arts and humanities; life, health and physical sciences).
What we are looking for here is an indication that you understand and have done some research into the wider theoretical context.
Developing the context is just one part of this section; you are building a case / rationale for the study area. Why is this study important, which theoretical areas support this? Can you identify any gaps in current understanding that help you build the case for this research study?
For example, this section might take the form of: a series of statements on the current landmark areas of thought; a recognition of what has not yet been done thoroughly enough or where there is territory for research between these landmark studies; and where your study will fill the gaps you have identified.
3. Literature review (approximately 700 – 900 words)
Here you are demonstrating that you are aware of what has been and what is currently being written about your topic.
It will certainly include the up-to-date and relevant past landmark academic literature. It may also include other evidence of current thought and attitude, for example, government documents or media coverage. Practice-led PhD studies may make reference to innovation and trends in industry or professional practice.
We are looking for you to make links between this body of literature and your proposed area of study. This will support the ways you have identified gaps in the current global knowledge-base. A PhD thesis arises from original research leading to new knowledge or a significant contribution to existing knowledge. If, at this stage, you have some thoughts on how your research is likely to contribute to knowledge then include details in your proposal.
This section should include citations which are compiled into a reference list at the end of the document (see point 7).
4. The research questions or hypotheses (approximately 200 words)
Having told us what you want to study and why, and then illustrated these ideas with reference to a body of literature, the next task is to distil your ideas into a tentative set of research questions, hypotheses, aims and objectives (as per the underpinning discipline requires) that are manageable and achievable within a normal PhD timeframe (see 6 below). There are typically between three and ten questions/aims of this kind.
5. Research approach/ methodologies / methods (approximately 400 words)
There will be many research approaches open to you. In your proposal, suggest the methodological approach that you might take and make a reasoned case as to why the research questions you have posed are best addressed by this approach.
You might also suggest what methods you would use to generate data that can help you address your research questions.
6. Timescale/research planning (approximately 200 words)
A full-time PhD should take three years to complete, although you may require more time to acquire the relevant skills prior to commencing your research. Part-time study will take longer (up to five - six years). Within this timeframe, you will need to demonstrate your awareness of time management and planning, for example the length of time for primary research/ fieldwork.
7. Reference list
You should include a reference list of all the sources that you referred to in the text using a recognised referencing style appropriate to your discipline (for example Harvard or Vancouver for Sciences).
Evidence of thorough background reading might include between ten and twenty citations at this point. They should demonstrate to an expert that you are knowledgeable of the landmark work in your field.
There are a number of books widely available that may help in preparing your research proposal (as well as in completing your research degree), here are a couple to point you in the right direction:
Bell, J (2010, 5th edn) Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-time Researchers in Education & Social Science , Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Baxter, L, Hughes, C and Tight, M (2007, 3rd edn) How to Research , Buckingham: Open University Press.
The University of Brighton prides itself on the quality of its research in areas that intersect with professional practices and direct impact through in-the-field relationships with co-producers.
We are very supportive of doctoral projects that bring positive results from these methodolgies and practices.
Some of the subject areas that have supported personal practice as research include: design, art, architecture, media production and creative writing, with successful approaches including autoethnographic methods and public participation or site-specific interventions.
Some of the areas that have benefited from significant professional practice and industry relationship-focused research have included: engineering, nursing, business administration and teaching.
The research proposal will still need to demonstrate your capability as a researcher with a project that is workable and fits with the university's interests and capacities.
You should, however, adapt your proposal to demonstrate the value that your practice can bring to the research. This should be in tandem with a clear understanding of the relationship between practice and research.
A clear competence in practice should be evidenced, but do be aware that your proposal will be judged on its research and the new knowledge that is developed and shared, rather than the quality of practice in and of itself.
Personal practices, experiences and data gained through professional relationships may form part of a standard PhD thesis and proposal as description of work and resulting data. You will only be appyling for a practice-led component to be taken into account if this will form a significant part of the representation and examination of the knowledge-base. In such cases, the thesis is signficantly shorter.
Some pitfalls in the applications for practice-led or practice-focused research include:
Your potential supervisor will be able to advise where a proposal will include significant elements beyond the traditional thesis. For further information, please contact the Doctoral College .
A set of designed objects submitted as part of a practice-led PhD project in medical therapeutic design, by Dr Tom Ainsworth, who went on to become a teacher, researcher and supervisor at the University of Brighton.
All Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) students must write an acceptable research proposal.
This has a clear and explicit purpose:
All research proposals must address the question of what you plan to accomplish and why you want to and how you are going to do it.
A research proposal is usually around 2,500 words long although there is no upper or lower limit to this.
In preparing a research proposal, the first thing that you have to do is to decide what it really is that you want to know more about. The questions that you want to research have to viable as a research project and lead to the creation of new knowledge and understanding.
Your research proposal should include a section on each of the following areas:
This should be concise and descriptive. | |
This section needs to explain the background and issues of your proposed research - how you came to be interested in this subject. You can summarise what you know of the existing literature in this area, perhaps identifying where it does and does not provide enlightenment on what you are interested in. Most importantly, you must make a convincing case as to why your research would create valuable and useful knowledge. | |
Here you need to formulate your research questions clearly. You should have an answerable question that is clear and sufficiently well defined/focussed for you to do the research implied within an appropriate time frame. | |
In this section you need to clarify what theoretical resources you will be drawing on and why. You should demonstrate your knowledge of the research problem and your understanding of the theoretical and research issues related to your research question and their relevance and usefulness to your particular project. Give consideration to the larger issues within your chosen theoretical framework and how they will affect the research process. Give credit to those who have laid the groundwork for your research. | |
This section is very important as it informs the admissions committee how you plan to tackle your research problem. It is your work plan and describes the activities necessary for the completion of your project and should consist of a description of how you intend to go about the research. You could demonstrate your knowledge of alternative methods and make the case that your approach is the most appropriate and most valid way to address your research question. Explain about the data you will collect; how you will collect it and how your will analyse it. Explain what skills you will need and whether you have them or how you will acquire them. You need to think about practical issues: if you are intending to undertake fieldwork, where and for how long? Consider questions of access, for instance, will organisations etc. where you intend to undertake fieldwork wish to give you access (physical, time, documents) to what you need? |
You will need to give consideration to issues of power and confidentiality. You should read any appropriate ethical guidelines and ask yourself how/whether you project follows these. [All research students at Oxford University are required (before they commence fieldwork) to complete the Central University Research Ethics Committee (CUREC) checklist and obtain permission to undertake any fieldwork].
It is important that you map out a reasonable schedule of your work so that you can monitor your own progress and manage your project effectively. Start with your intended finishing date and do not underestimate the amount of time that it takes to finalise your drafts into a finished product.
A key indicator of the work of much research is whether it is of publishable quality. You might like to give some consideration at this stage as to what sorts of things might be publishable and where you would like them to appear. This is especially important if you wish to pursue a career as an academic in a UK university.
When you have completed all of this then get other people, your peers as well as those more experienced than you, to read it and comment. This will help you to revise the proposal before you submit it. You can also make contact with departmental staff whose research interests are in a similar area to those you intend to undertake. They would be happy to give you advice and to discuss possible supervision.
The purpose of your proposal is to show that you have a relevant theme, a viable project and the competence to carry it out. The information is vital when we evaluate your proposed study and decide if we have the right staff expertise to supervise you.
The format and length of the proposal is likely to vary according to the type of project. Typically a proposal is no less than 1500 words (3-4 pages) long and will cover the following points.
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Advice and guidance on writing a proposal for a student research project.
A research proposal should describe what you will investigate, why it is important to the discipline and how you will conduct your research.
Simply put, it is your plan for the research you intend to conduct. All research proposals are designed to persuade someone about how and why your intended project is worthwhile.
In your proposal you will need to explain and defend your choices. Always think about the exact reasons why you are making specific choices and why they are the best options available to you and your project.
Your research proposal aims should be centred on:
301 Recommends:
Our Research Writing workshop will look at some of the main writing challenges associated with writing a large-scale research project and look at strategies to manage your writing on a day-to-day basis. It will identify ways to plan, organise and map out the structure of your writing to allow you to develop an effective writing schedule and make continuous progress on your dissertation project.
The format of a research proposal varies between fields and levels of study but most proposals should contain at least these elements: introduction, literature review, research design and reference list.
Generally, research proposals can range from 500-1500 words or one to a few pages long. Typically, proposals for larger projects such as a PhD dissertation or funding requests, are longer and much more detailed.
Remember, the goal of your research proposal is to outline clearly and concisely exactly what your research will entail and accomplish, how it will do so and why it is important. If you are writing to a strictly enforced word count, a research proposal can be a great test of your ability to express yourself concisely!
The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project, so make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why. In other words, this is where you answer the reader’s “so what?” It should typically include: introducing the topic , outlining your problem statement and research question(s) and giving background and context. Some important questions to shape your introduction include:
If your proposal is very long, you might include separate sections with more detailed information on the background and context, problem statement, aims and objectives, and importance of the research.
It’s important to show that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review convinces the reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory (i.e. how it relates to established research in the field).
Your literature review will also show that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said. This is also where you explain why your research is necessary. You might want to consider some of the following prompts:
Following the literature review, it is a good idea to restate your main objectives, bringing the focus back to your own project. The research design/ methodology section should describe the overall approach and practical steps you will take to answer your research questions. You also need to demonstrate the feasibility of the project keeping in mind time and other constraints.
You should definitely include:
Make sure you are not simply compiling a list of methods. Instead, aim to make an argument for why this is the most appropriate, valid and reliable way to approach answering your question. Remember you should always be defending your choices!
To ensure you finish your proposal on a strong note, it is a good idea to explore and/or emphasise the potential implications of the research. This means: what do you intend to contribute to existing knowledge on the topic?
Although you cannot know the results of your research until you have actually done the work, you should be going into the project with a clear idea of how your work will contribute to your field. This section might even be considered the most critical to your research proposal’s argument because it expresses exactly why your research is necessary.
You should consider covering at least some of the following topics:
This part is not about stating the specific results that you expect to obtain but rather, this is the section where you explicitly state how your findings will be valuable.
This section is where you want to wrap it all up in a nice pretty bow. It is just like the concluding paragraph that you would structure and craft for a typical essay, see our essay planning template for guidance. You should briefly summarise your research proposal and reinforce your research purpose.
Your research proposal MUST include proper citations for every source you have used and full references. Please consult your departmental referencing styles to ensure you are citing and referencing in an appropriate way.
Try and avoid these common pitfalls when you are writing your research proposal:
You might also need to include a schedule and/or a budget depending on your requirements. Some tools to help include:
For guidance regarding specific research proposals (including templates), please check with your specific departments.
Dissertation planning
Writing a literature review
Research methods
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A guide for writing a research proposal for all MScR, MPhil and PhD degrees in the School of GeoSciences.
If you are applying with your own project, you need to include a research proposal with your application. The proposal should not exceed four (4) pages in length for PhDs and two (2) pages for MScR.
Give an introductory statement explaining what your proposed research topic is and why it is important. | |
Outline existing theoretical and/or empirical debate and state how your proposed research relates to this body of knowledge. | |
What specific issue or question will your proposed research examine? | |
What method, or methods, will you use to answer your research question? | |
Note any ethical issues arising from your research. (ethics can be interpreted in a broad sense as well as, for example, matters of consent and confidentiality). | |
Provide a timetable for your research and the period of writing up your thesis. If you intend to do fieldwork overseas, say what this will entail and how it fits into the timetable. | |
References should fit within the 4 pages (or 2 for MScR) and should not exceed one page. |
Please upload a PDF document in A4, font size 11, Arial or another sans serif font equivalent in size.
The University has provided a comprehensive guide on writing a proposal.
You can view or download it as a PDF:
Table of Contents
Before conducting a study, a research proposal should be created that outlines researchers’ plans and methodology and is submitted to the concerned evaluating organization or person. Creating a research proposal is an important step to ensure that researchers are on track and are moving forward as intended. A research proposal can be defined as a detailed plan or blueprint for the proposed research that you intend to undertake. It provides readers with a snapshot of your project by describing what you will investigate, why it is needed, and how you will conduct the research.
Your research proposal should aim to explain to the readers why your research is relevant and original, that you understand the context and current scenario in the field, have the appropriate resources to conduct the research, and that the research is feasible given the usual constraints.
This article will describe in detail the purpose and typical structure of a research proposal , along with examples and templates to help you ace this step in your research journey.
A research proposal¹ ,² can be defined as a formal report that describes your proposed research, its objectives, methodology, implications, and other important details. Research proposals are the framework of your research and are used to obtain approvals or grants to conduct the study from various committees or organizations. Consequently, research proposals should convince readers of your study’s credibility, accuracy, achievability, practicality, and reproducibility.
With research proposals , researchers usually aim to persuade the readers, funding agencies, educational institutions, and supervisors to approve the proposal. To achieve this, the report should be well structured with the objectives written in clear, understandable language devoid of jargon. A well-organized research proposal conveys to the readers or evaluators that the writer has thought out the research plan meticulously and has the resources to ensure timely completion.
A research proposal is a sales pitch and therefore should be detailed enough to convince your readers, who could be supervisors, ethics committees, universities, etc., that what you’re proposing has merit and is feasible . Research proposals can help students discuss their dissertation with their faculty or fulfill course requirements and also help researchers obtain funding. A well-structured proposal instills confidence among readers about your ability to conduct and complete the study as proposed.
Research proposals can be written for several reasons:³
Research proposals should aim to answer the three basic questions—what, why, and how.
The What question should be answered by describing the specific subject being researched. It should typically include the objectives, the cohort details, and the location or setting.
The Why question should be answered by describing the existing scenario of the subject, listing unanswered questions, identifying gaps in the existing research, and describing how your study can address these gaps, along with the implications and significance.
The How question should be answered by describing the proposed research methodology, data analysis tools expected to be used, and other details to describe your proposed methodology.
Here is a research proposal sample template (with examples) from the University of Rochester Medical Center. 4 The sections in all research proposals are essentially the same although different terminology and other specific sections may be used depending on the subject.
If you want to know how to make a research proposal impactful, include the following components:¹
1. Introduction
This section provides a background of the study, including the research topic, what is already known about it and the gaps, and the significance of the proposed research.
2. Literature review
This section contains descriptions of all the previous relevant studies pertaining to the research topic. Every study cited should be described in a few sentences, starting with the general studies to the more specific ones. This section builds on the understanding gained by readers in the Introduction section and supports it by citing relevant prior literature, indicating to readers that you have thoroughly researched your subject.
3. Objectives
Once the background and gaps in the research topic have been established, authors must now state the aims of the research clearly. Hypotheses should be mentioned here. This section further helps readers understand what your study’s specific goals are.
4. Research design and methodology
Here, authors should clearly describe the methods they intend to use to achieve their proposed objectives. Important components of this section include the population and sample size, data collection and analysis methods and duration, statistical analysis software, measures to avoid bias (randomization, blinding), etc.
5. Ethical considerations
This refers to the protection of participants’ rights, such as the right to privacy, right to confidentiality, etc. Researchers need to obtain informed consent and institutional review approval by the required authorities and mention this clearly for transparency.
6. Budget/funding
Researchers should prepare their budget and include all expected expenditures. An additional allowance for contingencies such as delays should also be factored in.
7. Appendices
This section typically includes information that supports the research proposal and may include informed consent forms, questionnaires, participant information, measurement tools, etc.
8. Citations
Writing a research proposal begins much before the actual task of writing. Planning the research proposal structure and content is an important stage, which if done efficiently, can help you seamlessly transition into the writing stage. 3,5
Key Takeaways
Here’s a summary of the main points about research proposals discussed in the previous sections:
Q1. How is a research proposal evaluated?
A1. In general, most evaluators, including universities, broadly use the following criteria to evaluate research proposals . 6
Q2. What is the difference between the Introduction and Literature Review sections in a research proposal ?
A2. The Introduction or Background section in a research proposal sets the context of the study by describing the current scenario of the subject and identifying the gaps and need for the research. A Literature Review, on the other hand, provides references to all prior relevant literature to help corroborate the gaps identified and the research need.
Q3. How long should a research proposal be?
A3. Research proposal lengths vary with the evaluating authority like universities or committees and also the subject. Here’s a table that lists the typical research proposal lengths for a few universities.
Arts programs | 1,000-1,500 | |
University of Birmingham | Law School programs | 2,500 |
PhD | 2,500 | |
2,000 | ||
Research degrees | 2,000-3,500 |
Q4. What are the common mistakes to avoid in a research proposal ?
A4. Here are a few common mistakes that you must avoid while writing a research proposal . 7
Thus, a research proposal is an essential document that can help you promote your research and secure funds and grants for conducting your research. Consequently, it should be well written in clear language and include all essential details to convince the evaluators of your ability to conduct the research as proposed.
This article has described all the important components of a research proposal and has also provided tips to improve your writing style. We hope all these tips will help you write a well-structured research proposal to ensure receipt of grants or any other purpose.
References
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How to write a phd research proposal.
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Your proposal is your chance to tell us why you want to study your PhD at Sussex. Follow our guide to making your research proposal as strong as possible.
If you are considering studying a PhD, there are two options available to you.
If you decide to design your own research project, you need to write a research proposal which will form a central part of your PhD application.
Follow our step-by-step guide below to help you through the process of writing your research proposal.
You should contact the relevant academic department before applying to Sussex and check if there are any additional requirements for your research proposal.
Even at this early stage, you may be asked questions regarding your research, and so you should start thinking about:
If you need further advice you can contact our academic staff working in your field.
You can also ask research students and academic staff at your current university for help. It is good practice to discuss your ideas with others in your research area and use their suggestions to further your understanding and strengthen your proposal.
During this process you should start making detailed notes. You might also want to start planning your research proposal. If so, breaking it down into the traditional sections below may help you organise and manage your thoughts:
Choosing the right supervisor is one of the most important steps towards a successful and rewarding PhD.
Before approaching a supervisor, you'll need to have a clear idea of the research you hope to undertake.
Once you have established a relationship with a potential supervisor, you can ask them to read the first draft of your research proposal. They can give you valuable feedback and help you refine your ideas before you submit your application.
Discover how to find a supervisor
You may now be in a position to start writing your proposal. This is central to your final application.
A strong research proposal:
The exact content and structure of your research proposal will depend on your subject area.
Below you can see information from each academic school which shows what they expect a research proposal to contain:
Length: 8-10 pages
Your research proposal should include the following sections:
Introduction
You should:
Thesis statement
Write a summary of your overarching research question and include:
Literature review
You must show you have the ability to review current research (literature and papers) within your field of study. Your literature review should demonstrate that your research question is relevant, you are aware of the work of others in your field, and how your research will contribute new findings to the subject area.
Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework provides the rationale behind your research proposal. You must provide a critical review of existing theories, which are closely related to your research topic. Show how these theories frame your research questions and the overall structure of your research proposal.
Methodology
You must show how you will carry out the research and analyse your findings. Include potential sources, how data will be collected, and any difficulties there may be in conducting your research.
Ethical considerations
Outline any ethical concerns which arise from your research topic or your proposed methods. Read the existing codes of conduct in the social sciences before writing this part of your research proposal.
Bibliography
List the sources you have used in your literature review and any potential sources you may use for your research.
For more information visit the Business School .
Length: 2,000 - 3,000 words excluding references
Your research proposal should describe what you want to research, why it is important to do this research, and how you plan to conduct your study. Here is a suggested structure:
Provide a clear working title for your research.
The introduction will indicate the focus of your research and your main research question. It should also address:
Research context
Provide a concise overview of the context in which you plan to conduct your research.
This section provides a concise review of related research within your field of study. It demonstrates that you are aware of the work of others and how your research will contribute new knowledge. It should also demonstrate critical engagement with relevant conceptual and theoretical frameworks and make clear your theoretical position about the issues you are researching, how this frames your research questions and your methodological approach.
Methodology and methods
Indicate your methodological approach, followed by details of how you plan to answer your research questions. This should include information about:
Provide a timeline, including time to conduct the research, process and analyse your data and write your final thesis.
Provide a bibliography of all citations used in your proposal.
For more information visit the School of Education and Social Work .
Length: 2,000 words
You should identify which research group you want to work with and check that we can support your area of research before writing your research proposal.
Your research proposal should include:
For more information visit the School of Engineering and Informatics
Length: about 2,000 words
You must provide a working title for your research. This is likely to change over time, but provides a good starting point.
You should introduce the questions and issues central to your research and explain how your research will benefit the field.
Research background
Expand on the information you have given in your introduction and try to answer the following questions:
You must set out your research questions as clearly as possible and explain the problems you want to explore.
Research methods
Show how you plan to carry out your research:
Set out your timescale for completing your study. You need to think about dividing your research into sections and indicate how you plan to write up each section.
Include a bibliography, which lists the books and articles, you have referred to in the proposal.
Extra information
Some of these sections will be easier to write than others at this preliminary stage. The selectors who read your proposal know that it is a provisional statement and that your ideas, questions, and approaches will change during the course of your research.
You should treat the proposal as an opportunity to show that you have begun to explore an important area of study and that you have a question, or questions, that challenge and develop that area. It is also necessary to demonstrate that you can express your ideas in clear and precise English, accessible to a non-specialist.
For more information visit the Department of English
Length: 1,000-2,000 words
Include a short summary of your central question. You should tell us what you are attempting to research and why it is significant.
Thesis statement and literature review
Explain the subject matter of your project, and why you think the issues raised are important. You should also show us you are familiar with texts in the field, and can show how your research area is relevant, and in context to current academic thinking.
You must explain how your proposed project is original and will increase our understanding of the subject matter.
You must state clearly what you hope to discover at the end of your research.
Theoretical framework
Show how you plan to carry out your research and how you will analyse the findings.
Outline any ethical concerns which arise from either your research topic or your proposed methods of collating data.
List the sources you have used in your literature review and point to potential sources for your research.
For more information visit the School of Global Studies
You must provide a working title for your research, this is likely to change over time, but provides a good starting point for your proposal.
Include a bibliography, which lists the books and articles you have referred to in the proposal.
For more information visit the School of History, Art History and Philosophy
Length: 2000-3500 words (excluding bibliography)
Your title should give a clear indication of your proposed research approach or key question.
Include a short summary of your central question. You should tell us what you are attempting to research and why it is significant. You must state clearly what you hope to discover at the end of your research.
Explain the subject matter of your project and why you think the issues raised are important. Provide a summary of the key debates and developments in your chosen area and demonstrate your knowledge and grasp of the specific literature (global) that you will be engaging with during your research. You should show that you are familiar with texts in your chosen area, and what are the gaps in the literature that your research is attempting to fill, i.e., how your proposed research is original and will increase our understanding of the subject matter. Through this, you should detail how your research area fits into current academic thinking and/or policy discourse.
The theoretical framework provides the rationale behind your research proposal. You must provide a critical review of existing theories or concepts (global), which are closely related to your research topic. Show how these theories/concepts frame your research questions and the overall structure of your research proposal, and clearly state the specific theoretical concepts/analytical frameworks that you are engaging with.
You should outline your draft overall research question and any relevant sub-research questions and hypotheses through engagement with the theoretical literature.
State to what extent your approach is distinctive or new or builds on/deepens existing theoretical literature in your chosen area.
Research Design
Show how you plan to carry out your research (including fieldwork) and how you will analyse the findings. You should also show how this relates to your hypothesis. Put details of your research design in terms of approaches, methods and tools, along with some indication of specifics such as sample size (i.e., give an idea of the scope of your research project).
Outline any ethical concerns that arise from either your research topic or your proposed methods of collecting and collating data.
List the sources you have used in your literature review. Also, separately, point to potential sources that will be appropriate for your proposed research.
For more information about the PhD in Development Studies by Research visit the Institute of Development Studies website .
Length: 2,000-3,000 words
You must show you have the ability to review current research within your field of study. Your literature review should demonstrate that your research question is relevant, you are aware of the work of others in your field, and show how your research will contribute new findings to the subject area.
Outline any ethical concerns which arise from your research topic or your proposed methods.
For more information visit the School of Law, Politics and Sociology
Length: 1,500-2,000 words
You should identify the research group you want to work with and ensure that we can support your area of research before writing your research proposal.
If you are applying for an advertised research project you should tell us:
For more information visit the School of Life Sciences
You should identify the research area (and/or the researchers) you want to be involved with.
You should either:
If you are applying for advertised funding you should tell us:
For more information visit the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Length: about 2,000 words (not including bibliography)
You must provide a working title for your research. This is likely to change over time but provides a good starting point for your proposal.
Brief abstract
Write a paragraph summarising your proposed project.
Research questions and rationale
Introduce your main research questions and why you think your research matters. Indicate how you think your research will be an original contribution to the knowledge and understanding of the subject. Describe the form of your anticipated outputs if your proposal includes creative practice. You may want to explain how you think your research will connect with existing research interests at Sussex.
Conceptual framework
The conceptual framework should elaborate the rationale behind your research proposal. You should demonstrate a critical engagement with theories and secondary literature or other artefacts that are relevant to your research topic. Show how these theories frame your research questions and the overall structure of your research proposal. If relevant, reflect on the research dimension of your creative practice.
Methodology and Research Ethics
Show us how you intend to achieve your research aims and outcomes and how you will answer your research questions. Include information about specific methods and access to relevant sources. If your project involves creative practice in some way, it is important that you describe what facilities you will need and indicate your experience in the relevant production techniques. You may want to include a practice portfolio, or provide links to online examples of your work. Reflect on any ethical considerations relevant to the conduct of your research.
Indicative timeline
Provide an account of how you envisage conducting your research to completion within the period of registration. Note that we fully expect proposals and attendant timelines to evolve in practice, but we are keen to see your ability to design a research project, bearing this in mind.
Include any literature, audiovisual or online resources you have referenced in the proposal.
For more information visit the School of Media, Film and Music
Length: 1,000-1,500 words Your research proposal should contain the following sections:
You should assume you are writing your research proposal for someone who has a good understanding of psychology, but not an expert in your area of research.
You should identify any gaps in our knowledge in your research area, and how your research will fill them. At the end of the section outline your aims and hypotheses.
We are interested in your ability to think critically. You should answer the following questions:
You are expected to show how your initial idea can be developed and expanded over the duration of your PhD degree.
Reference list
You must add in a reference list in American Psychological Association format.
For more information visit the School of Psychology.
Once you have completed your proposal, check it through thoroughly. You should make sure all the information you have cited is accurate. Correct spelling and punctuation is also essential.
Write in clear sentences and structure your research proposal in a logical format that is easy for the reader to follow.
It is easy to miss errors in your own work, so ask someone else to proofread your research proposal before submitting it to Sussex.
Students who wish to apply for the MPhil and PhD programmes are required to submit a research proposal. Please follow the Communication Management Division guidelines provided below:
DIVISION OF COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
1. TITLE OF PROPOSED ARTICLE
The title (or working title) should preferably not be more than 15 words. It is possible, however, that the title can change or be adapted during the course of the study. A title should include the following two aspects: What (exactly) will be researched, specifying the relevant concepts that will be investigated; and the context/domain.
2. PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL
The research proposal is the work plan, outline, statement of intent or draft plan describing what, why, how, where , and when the research will be done. A well-planned and adequate research proposal is essentially a road map, showing where the journey begins; the destination to be reached; and the method of getting there.
3. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPOSAL
The research proposal should comply with the following: It should be a well-structured, easy to read document containing only the relevant information for the proposed study. Literature references that substantiate the rationale or need for the research should also be included. (See 4.3 Literature Review.) The research proposal should follow a logical sequence indicating the process as to how the research problem/question will be addressed.
4. STRUCTURE OF THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL
4.1 Problem statement
The problem statement must be clear and the use of unnecessary idioms or clichés should be avoided. The background to the problem (i.e. the problem or phenomenon in practice, that is the management problem); sub-problems (if any); the consequences thereof; the necessity to solve the problem or improve the status quo; how the study or research can contribute to solve the problem; and the contribution towards the expansion of scientific knowledge, are aspects that should be discussed in this section.
4.2 Research questions, objectives and hypotheses
The purpose of the research must be stated clearly in the form of research questions, objectives and/or hypotheses, depending on the problem or phenomenon that is investigated.
4.3 Literature review
The literature review forms an integral part of the draft / final research proposals as well as of your final research script. The literature review examines, summarises and critically debates recent (and historically important) research studies and other information sources that are relevant to a proposed study.
A literature review should always address the following issues:
4.4 Importance, value or benefits of the study
Describe explicit benefits that will accrue from your study. The importance of “doing it now” should be emphasised. Indicate the benefits, uses, and value of the research and its contribution to solve communication problems. Also indicate how future research on the topic could benefit from this study. This section should convince the reader that the study would contribute towards the scientific evolution of communication theory and its practical application.
4.5 Research design
The research design describes what the researcher intends doing in technical terms. The study may be viewed as exploratory or formal. An exploratory study develops propositions, hypotheses or research questions; the goal of formal studies is to test the hypotheses or answer the research questions.
The following descriptors are suggested:
4.6 Scheduling
Include a time frame or schedule for the proposed study.
4.7 List of sources
Supply a list of the sources used to compile the proposal.
4.8 The length
The length of the research proposal should be about 15 – 20 typed pages. The typeface should be Arial and the line spacing should be 1.5.
SELF-ASSESSMENT TABLE FOR RESEARCH PROPOSAL
The following table can be used as a guideline for assessment of the Research Proposal:
1 = Poor 2 = Inadequate 3 = Fair 4 = Good 5 = Outstanding
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1 Suitability of title |
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2 Significance of introduction |
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3 Problem statement, aim, objectives, research questions |
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4 Explanation of research design |
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5 Outline of final report (intended structure) |
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6 Scientific approach |
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7 Formulation and logic of reasoning |
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8 Technical aspects |
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9 Reference technique |
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10 Bibliography |
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Understand what a successful PhD research proposal needs to include and how to go about writing one for your project application.
Summary A research proposal summarises your intended research. Your research proposal is used to confirm you understand the topic, and that the university has the expertise to support your study. The length of a research proposal varies.
Writing a PhD research proposal: A 6‐step general guide for prospective PhD researchers Introduction This short guide is aimed at helping you to write a good research proposal. It is intended to help you to think about your proposed PhD research in a clear, structured and meaningful way.
Applying for a PhD or research master's and not sure where to start with your research proposal? Use these guidelines to prepare a strong application.
The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor's 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.
Read our guidelines for how to plan and structure your PhD research proposal during your provisional year. Research proposal facts. Length: 20-30 pages (not more than 10,000 words) Due date: 9-10 months from your registration date. Reviewed by: Two academics appointed by your supervisor.
A PhD proposal is an outline of your proposed project. It needs to: Define a clear question and approach to answering it. Highlight its originality and/or significance. Explain how it adds to, develops (or challenges) existing literature in the field. Persuade potential supervisors of the importance of the work, and why you are the right person ...
Research proposals are used to persuade potential supervisors and funders that your work is worthy of their support. These documents set out your proposed research that will result in a Doctoral thesis. They are typically between 1,500 and 3,000 words. Your PhD research proposal must passionately articulate what you want to research and why ...
For PhD applications, this proposal will be assessed to see: whether the project is likely to be completed within three years of full-time research whether it can be effectively supervised at the university whether you are competent and keen enough to complete it.
Get guidance on how to write an original, high quality PhD research proposal for study at the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies.
A PhD research proposal should be 1,000 words in length. A good PhD proposal will explain clearly (1) what the research aims to achieve and what it is about; (2) why the research is important and in what way it is original or new, and (3) how the research is to be conducted (methodology).
Your research proposal should include a section on each of the following areas: Title. This should be concise and descriptive. Background and Rationale. This section needs to explain the background and issues of your proposed research - how you came to be interested in this subject. You can summarise what you know of the existing literature in ...
A PhD proposal is an outline of your proposed research that is designed to: Formulate and define a clear, interesting research question; this may take the form of a hypothesis to be tested, or an open-ended enquiry. Establish the relevance and value of the proposed research question in the context of current academic thinking, highlighting its ...
Writing a good PhD research proposal. The purpose of your proposal is to show that you have a relevant theme, a viable project and the competence to carry it out. The information is vital when we evaluate your proposed study and decide if we have the right staff expertise to supervise you. The format and length of the proposal is likely to vary ...
We prefer a PhD research proposal of between 2,000 and 2,000 words in length (not counting abstract and references). Before making your final application is likely that you will need to revise your proposal several times, to ensure that it is clearly written, well structured, presents a good review of existing literature, outlines the ...
Proposal format The format of a research proposal varies between fields and levels of study but most proposals should contain at least these elements: introduction, literature review, research design and reference list. Generally, research proposals can range from 500-1500 words or one to a few pages long. Typically, proposals for larger projects such as a PhD dissertation or funding requests ...
A guide for writing a research proposal for all MScR, MPhil and PhD degrees in the School of GeoSciences. If you are applying with your own project, you need to include a research proposal with your application. The proposal should not exceed four (4) pages in length for PhDs and two (2) pages for MScR.
GUIDELINES FOR GRADUATE PROPOSALSGeneral Guidelines for All ProposalsAs a first point of contact for the proposal, the tit. e should be compelling and descriptive of the work you will undertake. Make sure that the proposal has a clear focus and identifies a subject area and an. rgument about that subject area, as well as a methodology or ...
Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Guidelines Writing a thesis proposal is an important and valuable precursor to preparing, researching and writing your doctoral dissertation. Although the nature, style and content of your dissertation proposal will vary depending on the kind of dissertation you plan on writing, the following are intended to serve as general guidelines.
It is important that the proposed research is realistic and feasible so that the outcomes can be achieved within the scale of a typical research degree programme, which is typically three years full-time for a PhD (or two years for an MPhil). Most good research proposals are usually between 2000 and 4000 words in length.
Find out what a research proposal is and when you should write it. This article also has expert tips and advice on how to write one, along with research proposal examples.
Formulating the proposal may, for some research projects, take longer than the collecting of data. proposal must not be very long. It is a plan of action, not a full research report, dissertation or thesis itself. The proposal document in entirety should not exceed 10 typed pages for an MSc and 15 pages for a PhD.
If you decide to design your own research project, you need to write a research proposal which will form a central part of your PhD application. Follow our step-by-step guide below to help you through the process of writing your research proposal.
The research proposal is the work plan, outline, statement of intent or draft plan describing what, why, how, where, and when the research will be done. A well-planned and adequate research proposal is essentially a road map, showing where the journey begins; the destination to be reached; and the method of getting there.
A research proposal is a short piece of academic writing that outlines the research a graduate student intends to carry out.