How to Write a Research Proposal for PhD

by PhD Admissions Team of Road to Abroad

What is Research Proposal: A research proposal is a concise and coherent summary of your proposed research. It 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 also demonstrates the originality of your proposed research.

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.

Why is Research Proposal Important?

The proposal is an important document that you submit as part of the application process, mostly in the UK or other European countries. It gives you an opportunity to demonstrate that you have the aptitude for graduate level research, for example, by demonstrating that you have the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, concisely and critically. The proposal also helps the university match your research interest with an appropriate supervisor.

What’s in it?

There are some disciplinary differences regarding exactly what is included in the proposal. For example, disciplines such as Psychology may include a prominent hypothesis statement, others in the Social Sciences including Education, may expect a set of research questions that the study will answer. However, all research proposals should cover the four basic elements below.

The research topic addresses a significant problem and, therefore, advances the state of knowledge in that field.
Identification of an appropriate methodology and underlying theory to address the problem, including data collection methods and equipment (if required).
Details of how the collected data will be analysed in such a way that useful conclusions can be drawn.
An organised plan for any proposed work, including a timeframe.

What should be included in the research proposal?

1. Title

This is just a tentative title for your intended research. You will be able to revise your title during the course of your research if you are accepted for admission. Your title should clearly indicate what your proposed research is about.

2. Abstract (Optional)

Outlines the essence of the research project. It describes the purpose and motivation for the study, the problem, the data collection methodology and analysis, significant results and implications of the research.

3. Introduction

Here, you need to demonstrate an understanding of the current research climate in your area of interest. Providing context around your research topic through a literature review will show the assessor that you understand current dialogue around your research, and what is published.

Demonstrate you have a strong understanding of the key topics, significant studies and notable researchers in your area of research and how these have contributed to the current landscape.

The Introduction should be about 10% of your proposal.

Imagine you are writing for a general reader rather than an expert audience. The Introduction includes a brief review of relevant literature or knowledge in the field, so that you are able to present a gap in existing knowledge and, therefore, the significance and originality of your research.

4. Research Questions

The proposal should set out the central aims and questions that will guide your research. Before writing your proposal, you should take time to reflect on the key questions that you are seeking to answer. Many research proposals are too broad, so reflecting on your key research questions is a good way to make sure that your project is sufficiently narrow and feasible (i.e. one that is likely to be completed with the normal period for MPhil or PhD degree).

You might find it helpful to prioritize one or two main questions, from which you can then derive a number of secondary research questions. The proposal should also explain your intended approach to answering the questions: will your approach be empirical, doctrinal or theoretical etc?

What are you trying to achieve with your research? What is the purpose? This section should reference why you’re applying for a research degree. Are you addressing a gap in the current research? Do you want to look at a theory more closely and test it out? Is there something you’re trying to prove or disprove? To help you clarify this, think about the potential outcome of your research if you were successful – that is your aim. Make sure that this is a focused statement.

Your objectives will be your aim broken down – the steps to achieving the intended outcome. They are the smaller proof points that will underpin your research’s purpose. Be logical in the order of how you present these so that each succeeds the previous, i.e. if you need to achieve ‘a’ before ‘b’ before ‘c’, then make sure you order your objectives a, b, c.

5. Research Methods

Provide an overview of the methodology and techniques you will use to conduct your research. Cover what materials and equipment you will use, what theoretical frameworks will you draw on, and how will you collect data.

The proposal should outline your research methods, explaining how you are going to conduct your research. Your methods may include visiting particular libraries or archives, field work or interviews.

If your proposed research is library-based, you should explain where your key resources (e.g. law reports, journal articles) are located (in the Law School’s library, Westlaw etc). If you plan to conduct field work or collect empirical data, you should provide details about this (e.g. if you plan interviews, who will you interview? How many interviews will you conduct? Will there be problems of access?). This section should also explain how you are going to analyse your research findings.

It should also highlight potential limitations you anticipate, feasibility within time and other constraints, ethical considerations and how you will address these, as well as general resources.

6. Preliminary Results

Details any results that you may already have resulting from previous Honours or Masters’ research work, or perhaps from a pilot study. It is important to relate these results to the critical framework of your intended new research project.

7. Time table/ Plan

A work plan is a critical component of your research proposal because it indicates the feasibility of completion within the timeframe and supports you in achieving your objectives throughout your degree.

Lists the stages of the research project in timeline, spreadsheet or tabular format, and the deadlines for completion of these stages or tasks. You should include any anticipated challenges to completion

8. Significance of Research

The proposal should demonstrate the originality of your intended research. You should therefore explain why your research is important (for example, by explaining how your research builds on and adds to the current state of knowledge in the field or by setting out reasons why it is timely to research your proposed topic).

9. Bibliography

Provide a list of references that you’ve made throughout your research proposal.

How long should the research Proposal be

The proposal should usually be around 2,500 words or 2-4 pages long. Please mind that different programs may have different requirements, so always check the guidelines of the program you are applying to.

Also Read:

How to write an awesome Research Proposal for PhD

Eligibility criteria for PhD abroad

How to develop research ideas for PhD?

For more information regarding funding opportunities and PhD positions abroad, contact our team at Road to Abroad (+91 8383050912). For more general information about studying PhD in abroad in various countries like UK, USA, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, etc visit our PhD Consultation Page.

Searching for Open PhD Positions Abroad? Click here

road_to_abroad

509

Education Transcending Borders

How to Write a Research Proposal for PhD

by PhD Admissions Team of Road to Abroad

Why is Research Proposal Important?

What’s in it?

What should be included in the research proposal?

1. Title

2. Abstract (Optional)

3. Introduction

4. Research Questions

5. Research Methods

6. Preliminary Results

7. Time table/ Plan

8. Significance of Research

9. Bibliography

How long should the research Proposal be

road_to_abroad

You May Also Like….

Impact of Studying at Open University on PhD Admissions Abroad

Why Do PhD?

Top Mistakes by PhD Aspirants

Subscribe for Updates

Success!

Follow us on

Study MBBS Abroad

IELTS

Visa and Immigration

Study Abroad

Why Choose Us

PhD Consultation

Important Links