postgraduate research proposal sample

Research Proposal Example/Sample

Detailed Walkthrough + Free Proposal Template

If you’re getting started crafting your research proposal and are looking for a few examples of research proposals , you’ve come to the right place.

In this video, we walk you through two successful (approved) research proposals , one for a Master’s-level project, and one for a PhD-level dissertation. We also start off by unpacking our free research proposal template and discussing the four core sections of a research proposal, so that you have a clear understanding of the basics before diving into the actual proposals.

• Research proposal example/sample – Master’s-level (PDF/Word)
• Research proposal example/sample – PhD-level (PDF/Word)
• Proposal template (Fully editable) 

If you’re working on a research proposal for a dissertation or thesis, you may also find the following useful:

• Research Proposal Bootcamp : Learn how to write a research proposal as efficiently and effectively as possible
• 1:1 Proposal Coaching : Get hands-on help with your research proposal

FAQ: Research Proposal Example

Research proposal example: frequently asked questions, are the sample proposals real.

Yes. The proposals are real and were approved by the respective universities.

Can I copy one of these proposals for my own research?

As we discuss in the video, every research proposal will be slightly different, depending on the university’s unique requirements, as well as the nature of the research itself. Therefore, you’ll need to tailor your research proposal to suit your specific context.

You can learn more about the basics of writing a research proposal here .

How do I get the research proposal template?

You can access our free proposal template here .

Is the proposal template really free?

Yes. There is no cost for the proposal template and you are free to use it as a foundation for your research proposal.

Where can I learn more about proposal writing?

For self-directed learners, our Research Proposal Bootcamp is a great starting point.

For students that want hands-on guidance, our private coaching service is recommended.

Psst… there’s more!

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 .

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Examples of research proposals

How to write your research proposal, with examples of good proposals.

Research proposals

Your research proposal is a key part of your application. It tells us about the question you want to answer through your research. It is a chance for you to show your knowledge of the subject area and tell us about the methods you want to use.

We use your research proposal to match you with a supervisor or team of supervisors.

In your proposal, please tell us if you have an interest in the work of a specific academic at York St John. You can get in touch with this academic to discuss your proposal. You can also speak to one of our Research Leads. There is a list of our Research Leads on the Apply page.

When you write your proposal you need to:

• Highlight how it is original or significant
• Explain how it will develop or challenge current knowledge of your subject
• Identify the importance of your research
• Show why you are the right person to do this research
• Research Proposal Example 1 (DOC, 49kB)
• Research Proposal Example 2 (DOC, 0.9MB)
• Research Proposal Example 3 (DOC, 55.5kB)
• Research Proposal Example 4 (DOC, 49.5kB)

Subject specific guidance

• Writing a Humanities PhD Proposal (PDF, 0.1MB)
• Writing a Creative Writing PhD Proposal (PDF, 0.1MB)
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How to write your best postgraduate research proposal

Updated on 18 March 2024

What your research proposal should include and guidance on what we look for when selecting our research students.

This should be a really clear sentence that describes your research project (write this after you have written your abstract i.e. last)

A paragraph or two, no more than 200-300 words, that summarises everything that you have written in your proposal in as concise a fashion as possible (write this after you have written the main body of your proposal)

Introduction

This should be the first thing you write. It needs to be a description of the perceived research problem or gap in knowledge that you want to address. It should clearly state what that problem or gap in knowledge might be and how you aim to contribute new knowledge towards understanding/solving it. Give this a subheading of your ‘research aim’, It is often also advisable to describe this in terms of a research question (or questions) you want to answer or investigate.

After you have described this, you should try and outline 3 or 4 ‘objectives’ that you want to achieve that will help you reach the goal of your research aims. These are often practical activities you need to do; places you need to go or people you need to meet in order to achieve your overall goal.

It would be helpful in this section to identify who in our institution you think would be a good supervisor and why? We expect you to have some understanding of our research community and the kind of projects we support. Demonstrating this is very helpful for us in terms of having your proposal reviewed and providing feedback.

You should also be really clear up front about your funding situation. E.g. Do you have funding in place already? If not are you applying to funding providers/research councils? Or are you going to fund the research yourself? Knowing this in advance can help us tailor our support to you.

Research context (literature reviewed so far)

This section should demonstrate the knowledge you already have about the field in which you are working. It should contextualise your research by starting to lay out what other academics and researchers have said about the issues/problem you are aiming to address. It should allow you to cross reference their work exploring differing opinions, data and potential inconsistencies or gaps in knowledge where you can make a difference by investigating these issues. Material for this section often comes from previous work you have done like and UG or Masters thesis that has enabled you to explore this knowledge landscape. There is no expectation that it will be exhaustive (part of your project will be to do more of this anyway).

Methodological approach and/or possible methods of investigation

In this section you should explain a little bit about how you want to go about your investigation for example, do you envisage using quantitative or qualitative methodology. Will you formulate a hypothesis and perform experiments to try and disprove it? Will you be engaging with human participants through observation and interview? Are you a practitioner that will investigate through practical making activities and learn through reflecting on the outcomes? Thinking and writing about these things will really help us to understand where you are coming from and what the practical aspects of your project might entail.

Timeline (a plan of activity mapped out over 3 years)

It is important to think about how long it might take to do the work you are proposing. The classic structure for a PhD is usually timetabled over a 3-year period. Roughly this translates as performing a contextual/literature review in year 1, practical research activities and data gathering in year 2 and then writing everything up in year 3. It doesn’t always follow this structure but as a rule of thumb it can be helpful to map out your plan for research with this in mind. Providing us with a credible realistic timeline is much more convincing to us and potential funders than an open-ended project that is too ambitious or too vague to complete. Such a timeline is not set in stone, it just lets us know that you have thought about what you plan to do and are setting realistic and achievable goals. (This section would tie back to what you have said about aims and objective previously).

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How to write a research proposal

What is a research proposal.

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 it important?

Research proposals are significant because Another reason why it formally outlines your intended research. Which means you need to provide details on how you will go about your research, including:

• your approach and methodology
• timeline and feasibility
• all other considerations needed to progress your research, such as resources.

Think of it as a tool that will help you clarify your idea and make conducting your research easier.

How long should it be?

Usually no more than 2000 words, but check the requirements of your degree, and your supervisor or research coordinator.

Presenting your idea clearly and concisely demonstrates that you can write this way – an attribute of a potential research candidate that is valued by assessors.

What should it include?

Project title.

Your title should clearly indicate what your proposed research is about.

Research supervisor

State the name, department and faculty or school of the academic who has agreed to supervise you. Rest assured, your research supervisor will work with you to refine your research proposal ahead of submission to ensure it meets the needs of your discipline.

Proposed mode of research

Describe your proposed mode of research. Which may be closely linked to your discipline, and is where you will describe the style or format of your research, e.g. data, field research, composition, written work, social performance and mixed media etc. 

This is not required for research in the sciences, but your research supervisor will be able to guide you on discipline-specific requirements.

Aims and objectives

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.

A concise summary of what your research is about. It outlines the key aspects of what you will investigate as well as the expected outcomes. It briefly covers the what, why and how of your research. 

A good way to evaluate if you have written a strong synopsis, is to get somebody to read it without reading the rest of your research proposal. Would they know what your research is about?

Now that you have your question clarified, it is time to explain the why. 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.

Expected research contribution

In this section, you should consider the following:

• Why is your research question or hypothesis worth asking?
• How is the current research lacking or falling short?
• What impact will your research have on the discipline?
• Will you be extending an area of knowledge, applying it to new contexts, solving a problem, testing a theory, or challenging an existing one?
• Establish why your research is important by convincing your audience there is a gap.
• What will be the outcome of your research contribution?
• Demonstrate both your current level of knowledge and how the pursuit of your question or hypothesis will create a new understanding and generate new information.
• Show how your research is innovative and original.

Draw links between your research and the faculty or school you are applying at, and explain why you have chosen your supervisor, and what research have they or their school done to reinforce and support your own work. Cite these reasons to demonstrate how your research will benefit and contribute to the current body of knowledge.

Proposed methodology

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.

Highlight why you have chosen this particular methodology, but also why others may not have been as suitable. You need to demonstrate that you have put thought into your approach and why it's the most appropriate way to carry out your research. 

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.

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.

Consider the milestones you aim to achieve at each stage of your research. A PhD or master's degree by research can take two to four years of full-time study to complete. It might be helpful to offer year one in detail and the following years in broader terms. Ultimately you have to show that your research is likely to be both original and finished – and that you understand the time involved.

Provide details of the resources you will need to carry out your research project. Consider equipment, fieldwork expenses, travel and a proposed budget, to indicate how realistic your research proposal is in terms of financial requirements and whether any adjustments are needed.

Bibliography

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

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Writing your research proposal

When you apply for a research degree at the University of Portsmouth, you may have to submit a research proposal that outlines, among many other things, the nature of your research, and why it's important. 

To help make yours as compelling as possible, read our helpful hints for creating a clear, concise and engaging research proposal.

Prospective supervisors will not be expecting you to have all the answers at this stage; if accepted onto a research degree, your ideas will develop throughout the course of your studies.

What should a research proposal contain?

Title and abstract.

• Your title should be clear and easy-to-understand.
• The abstract is a concise and engaging summary of your research question and approach (around 300 words). It should be written as a standalone piece so that any prospective supervisor can understand what you plan to do, and why, from the abstract alone.

Introduction, background and rationale

• This section should provide a background to your research - what you want to investigate and why the research is important/needed.

Research aims, questions or hypothesis

• You should clearly communicate the research question(s) you would seek to answer in your intended research proposal. Depending on your chosen subject area you may also wish to specify some aims, objectives and hypotheses. If you are not sure whether this is necessary, discuss this with your potential supervisor.

Literature review

• In this section you will need to demonstrate your understanding of the key literature that relates to your research question(s), and outline your critical understanding of what previous research has found. You may also have identified any gaps in the current knowledge related to your area of research, and you can highlight these here.

Methodology

• A rationale and description of the approach you would intend to take to answer your research question(s). You should discuss the general approach you would take to answering your research question(s) e.g. in a Social Science PhD, whether you’d take a qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods approach, as well as considering the more specific issues e.g. would you use interviews or focus groups.
• Clearly outline any separate studies you expect to conduct and how they link or relate to each other. As a rule of thumb, most Science, Social Science and Engineering PhDs research proposals would be expected to contain 3-4 separate studies, each approximately equivalent to a Masters thesis project in size.
• What ethical considerations do you anticipate within your research, and how might you approach these?

Dissemination and impact

• Sharing the findings of your research is a fundamental part of being a researcher, and prospective supervisors will be interested to know how you anticipate disseminating your research findings.
• A research degree can take between 3-6 years to complete, so a timeline of the key stages of your research should be included.

Referencing

• Don't forget to include your references  

How long should my research proposal be? 

Most proposals are between 1,500-4,000 words, but the exact length will vary depending on which research area you're applying to join. 

Your potential supervisor can let you know any specific requirements for the area you’re applying to.

You are strongly encouraged to work with your potential supervisor to refine your proposal before you make a formal application. This way, you can make sure the project is a good fit with their interests and expertise.

Do your homework - make sure your problem hasn't already been solved.

Engage the reader - you don't want the reader to switch off!

Be realistic - especially about timescales and accessing data

Take your time - it's important not to rush writing your research proposal 

Seek feedback - it's always a good idea to get others to read your research proposal

Prepare to be flexible, your project can evolve or change

Important do’s and don’ts

• Write your research proposal in your own words.
• Acknowledge any sources you used for information or ideas presented in your research proposal.
• Make sure the research proposal you are about to submit looks fantastic - f irst impressions count!

Don’t: 

• Copy and paste text directly from sources such as journal articles without acknowledging them in the text. Some universities use plagiarism checking software on the research proposals submitted to them.
• Use AI or similar tools to produce your finished proposal.

My PhD supervisor supported my career ambitions and has been crucial in getting me where I am today.

Robert Lawerence, PhD Molecular Microbiology

Postgraduate Research Proposal Guide

Learn more about research proposals and the process involved in creating the perfect application. 

Follow our step by step guide

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Writing your research proposal

A doctoral research degree is the highest academic qualification that a student can achieve. The guidance provided in these articles will help you apply for one of the two main types of research degree offered by The Open University.

A traditional PhD, a Doctor of Philosophy, usually studied full-time, prepares candidates for a career in Higher Education.    

A Professional Doctorate is usually studied part-time by mid- to late-career professionals. While it may lead to a career in Higher Education, it aims to improve and develop professional practice.  

We offer two Professional Doctorates:  

• A Doctorate in Education, the EdD and
• a Doctorate in Health and Social Care, the DHSC.

  Achieving a doctorate, whether a PhD, EdD or DHSC confers the title Dr.  

Why write a Research Proposal?  

To be accepted onto a PhD / Professional Doctorate (PD) programme in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) at The Open University, you are required to submit a research proposal. Your proposal will  outline the research project you would like to pursue if you’re offered a place.  

When reviewing your proposal, there are three broad considerations that those responsible for admission onto the programme will bear in mind:    

1.     Is this PhD / PD research proposal worthwhile?

2.     Is this PhD / PD candidate capable of completing a doctorate at this university?

3.     Is this PhD / PD research proposal feasible?  

Writing activity: in your notebook, outline your response to each of the questions below based on how you would persuade someone with responsibility for admission onto a doctoral programme to offer you a place:

• What is your proposed research about & why is it worthy of three or more years of your time to study?
• What skills, knowledge and experience do you bring to this research – If you are considering a PhD, evidence of your suitability will be located in your academic record for the Prof Doc your academic record will need to be complemented by professional experience.
• Can you map out the different stages of your project, and how you will complete it studying i) full-time for three years ii) part-time for four years.

The first sections of the proposal - the introduction, the research question and the context are aimed at addressing considerations one and two.  

Your Introduction

Your Introduction will provide a clear and succinct summary of your proposal. It will include a title, research aims and research question(s), all of which allows your reader to understand immediately what the research is about and what it is intended to accomplish. We recommend that you have one main research question with two or three sub research questions. Sub research questions are usually implied by, or embedded within, your main research question.  

Please introduce your research proposal by completing the following sentences in your notebook: I am interested in the subject of ………………. because ……………… The issue that I see as needing investigation is ………………. because ………………. Therefore, my proposed research will answer or explore [add one main research question and two sub research questions] …... I am particularly well suited to researching this issue because ………………. So in this proposal I will ………………. Completing these prompts may feel challenging at this stage and you are encouraged to return to these notes as you work through this page.

Research questions are central to your study. While we are used to asking and answering questions on a daily basis, the research question is quite specific. As well as identifying an issue about which your enthusiasm will last for anything from 3 – 8 years, you also need a question that offers the right scope, is clear and allows for a meaningful answer.  

Research questions matter. They are like the compass you use to find your way through a complicated terrain towards a specific destination. 

A good research proposal centres around a good research question. Your question will determine all other aspects of your research – from the literature you engage with, the methodology you adopt and ultimately, the contribution your research makes to the existing understanding of a subject. How you ask your question, or the kinds of question you ask, matters because there is a direct connection between question and method.  

You may be inclined to think in simplistic terms about methods as either quantitative or qualitative. We will discuss methodology in more detail in section three. At this point, it is more helpful to think of your methods in terms of the kinds of data you aim to generate. Mostly, this falls into two broad categories, qualitative and quantitative (sometimes these can be mixed). Many academics question this distinction and suggest the methodology categories are better understood as unstructured or structured.  

For example, let’s imagine you are asking a group of people about their sugary snack preferences.  

You may choose to interview people and transcribe what they say are their motivations, feelings and experiences about a particular sugary snack choice. You are most likely to do this with a small group of people as it is time consuming to analyse interview data.  

Alternatively, you may choose to question a number of people at some distance to yourself via a questionnaire, asking higher level questions about the choices they make and why.

Once you have a question that you are comfortable with, the rest of your proposal is devoted to explaining, exploring and elaborating your research question. It is probable that your question will change through the course of your study.  

At this early stage it sets a broad direction for what to do next: but you are not bound to it if your understanding of your subject develops, your question may need to change to reflect that deeper understanding. This is one of the few sections where there is a significant difference between what is asked from PhD candidates in contrast to what is asked from those intending to study a PD. There are three broad contexts for your research proposal.  

If you are considering a PD, the first context for your proposal is professional:

This context is of particular interest to anyone intending to apply for the professional doctorate. It is, however, also relevant if you are applying for a PhD with a subject focus on education, health, social care, languages and linguistics and related fields of study.  

You need to ensure your reader has a full understanding of your professional context and how your research question emerges from that context. This might involve exploring the specific institution within which your professionalism is grounded – a school or a care home.  It might also involve thinking beyond your institution, drawing in discussion of national policy, international trends, or professional commitments. There may be several different contexts that shape your research proposal. These must be fully explored and explained.  

Postgraduate researcher talks about research questions, context and why it mattered

The second context for your proposal is you and your life:

Your research proposal must be based on a subject about which you are enthused and have some degree of knowledge. This enthusiasm is best conveyed by introducing your motivations for wanting to undertake the research.  Here you can explore questions such as – what particular problem, dilemma, concern or conundrum your proposal will explore – from a personal perspective. Why does this excite you? Why would this matter to anyone other than you, or anyone who is outside of your specific institution i.e. your school, your care home.  

It may be helpful here to introduce your positionality . That is, let your reader know where you stand in relation to your proposed study. You are invited to offer a discussion of how you are situated in relation to the study being undertaken and how your situation influences your approach to the study.  

The third context for your doctoral proposal is the literature:

All research is grounded in the literature surrounding your subject. A legitimate research question emerges from an identified contribution your work has the potential to make to the extant knowledge on your chosen subject. We usually refer to this as finding a gap in the literature. This context is explored in more detail in the second article.

You can search for material that will help with your literature review and your research methodology using The Open University’s Open Access Research repository  and other open access literature.

Before moving to the next article ‘Defining your Research Methodology’, you might like to explore more about postgraduate study with these links:  

• Professional Doctorate Hub  
• What is a Professional Doctorate? 
• Are you ready to study for a Professional Doctorate? 
• The impact of a Professional Doctorate

Applying to study for a PhD in psychology

• Succeeding in postgraduate study - OpenLearn - Open University
• Are you ready for postgraduate study? - OpenLearn - Open University
• Postgraduate fees and funding | Open University
• Engaging with postgraduate research: education, childhood & youth - OpenLearn - Open University

We want you to do more than just read this series of articles. Our purpose is to help you draft a research proposal. With this in mind, please have a pen and paper (or your laptop and a notebook) close by and pause to read and take notes, or engage with the activities we suggest. You will not have authored your research proposal at the end of these articles, but you will have detailed notes and ideas to help you begin your first draft.

More articles from the research proposal collection

Defining your research methodology

Your research methodology is the approach you will take to guide your research process and explain why you use particular methods. This article explains more.

Level: 1 Introductory

Addressing ethical issues in your research proposal

This article explores the ethical issues that may arise in your proposed study during your doctoral research degree.

Writing your proposal and preparing for your interview

The final article looks at writing your research proposal - from the introduction through to citations and referencing - as well as preparing for your interview.

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Writing a research proposal

Guidelines on preparing a thesis proposal to support your application.

These guidelines are intended to assist you in developing and writing a thesis proposal. Applications for admission to a research degree cannot be dealt with unless they contain a proposal.

Your proposal will help us to make sure that:

• The topic is viable
• That the department can provide appropriate supervision and other necessary support
• You have thought through your interest in and commitment to a piece of research
• You are a suitable candidate for admission

The process of producing a proposal is usually also essential if you need to apply for funding to pay your fees or support yourself whilst doing your research. Funding bodies will often need to be reassured that you are committed to a viable project at a suitable university.

The research proposal – an outline

Your proposal should be typed double-spaced, if possible, and be between 1,000 and 2,000 words. Your PhD proposal can be added under the 'Supporting Documents' section of the Postgraduate Applications Online System .

Your proposal should contain at least the following elements:

• A provisional title
• A key question, hypothesis or the broad topic for investigation
• An outline of the key aims of the research
• A brief outline of key literature in the area [what we already know]
• A description of the topic and an explanation of why further research in the area is important [the gap in the literature - what we need to know]
• Details of how the research will be carried out, including any special facilities / resources etc. which would be required and any necessary skills which you either have already or would need to acquire [the tools that will enable us to fill the gap you have identified]
• A plan and timetable of the work you will carry out

For more detailed information on each element of your research proposal, see our extended guidance document .

Three additional points:

• Try to be concise. Do not write too much – be as specific as you can but not wordy. It is a difficult balance to strike.
• Bear in mind that the proposal is a starting point. If you are registered to read for a PhD you will be able to work the proposal through with your supervisor in more detail in the early months.
• Take a look at the Department’s staff profiles, research centres, and research clusters. Can you identify possible supervisors and intellectual support networks within the Department?

Examples of Successful PhD Proposals

• PhD sample proposal 1
• PhD sample proposal 2
• PhD sample proposal 3
• PhD sample proposal 4
• PhD sample proposal 5
• PhD sample proposal 6
• PhD sample proposal 7
• PhD sample proposal 8

Related information

Applying for a PhD

Our Research Themes

Our Research Areas

Search for PhD opportunities at Sheffield and be part of our world-leading research.

Postgraduate research

Research proposals

Your research proposal must outline the topic of your proposed research, the questions it will address and some indication of how you will conduct your research. It is an integral part of the application process.

How long should it be?

Please check your department's details below to find out the required length of your research proposal as they vary quite considerably. You won't be able to edit your proposal after you've submitted your application.

Information for paper applications

If you're submitting a paper application, you should download and complete the following document and submit it along with your application.

Pre-arranged or advertised research projects

If you're applying as part of a pre-arranged/advertised research project, you should make it clear within your application. If you've already reached agreement with an academic department about a particular project, you must provide brief details of that project within the application form. You must also state the name of the academic member of staff that you have been in contact with.

Departmental guidelines

Details of what to include in your research proposal will be provided during the application process. To help you to prepare before you start your application, you can find out about course-specific requirements below.

Got a question about applying to York? Email our friendly Admissions Team for advice and support.

If you've already applied to study at York please use You@York to upload any documents. Please do not email documents to us.

[email protected] +44 (0)1904 322142

Related links

• Supporting documents

Applicants to our PhD/MPhil courses are asked to submit a clear, well-structured research proposal as part of this process.

It should usually be about 1,000 to 2,000 words in length (it can be useful to formulate this proposal in consultation with the staff member who will potentially supervise the work, if this is known).

The proposal should include:

• provisional title of research
• summary of the topic to be investigated
• previous research in this sphere
• your broad aims, and specific questions within this
• information about methods to be used, data sources to be mined, their quality/accessibility etc. (as far as may be possible at this stage).

Applicants to PGR courses (PhD, MPhil and MA by Research) in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies are asked to submit a clear, well-structured research proposal as part of this process.

The proposal should be around 1500-2000 words long. (It can be useful to develop this proposal in consultation with the staff member who will potentially supervise the work, if this is known.) The proposal should include:

• indications of relevant previous work in the field by others: key theoretical research or creative practice
• an overview of your own experience to date, relevant to the proposal
• your broad aims and specific questions within this
• provisional information about the likely methods to be used: will the work take place primarily through artistic/creative practice research, empirical processes of experimentation and/or theoretical investigation?

PhD Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment/PhD Mechanistic Biology

You do not need to submit a research proposal for this Doctoral Training Programme as all applications should be submitted against a particular research project and member of academic staff. You should clearly state these in your application. We strongly advise you to contact the member of academic staff directly to discuss your suitability for the project.

MSc Biology (by research)/PhD or MPhil in Biology

You do not normally need to submit a research proposal for Biology research degrees. You should clearly state the area you wish to work in and choose two to three academic staff you would like to work with.

You may wish to contact the member of academic staff you wish to work with, who may provide you with a research outline or ask you to submit a research proposal.

PhD Biology (4 years)

You do not need to submit a research proposal for this programme as all applications should be submitted against a particular research project and member of academic staff. You should clearly state these in your application. We strongly advise you to contact the member of academic staff directly to discuss your suitability for the project.

PhD Management

As a guideline, a proposal should be around 4,000 words and should contain the following principal headings:

• working title of the project
• general overview of the research area
• identification of the relevant literature to indicate you are familiar with the key academic debates within your proposed research (including a bibliography of cited references)
• overview of the key research questions/hypotheses you wish to address/test
• justification for the proposed methodology to be employed (for example, quantitative/qualitative or mixed methods)
• an indication of the timescale involved (for example, in the design, dissemination and analysis of questionnaires; gathering of quantitative data and checking for outliers).

PhD and MPhil Social Policy and Social Work

Research proposals should be between 2,000 and 3,000 words (including references) and should contain:

• A concise review of relevant literature
• A clear statement of the research question, hypothesis or objective and of how this fits within the existing literature
• A clear outline of the research methods to be used and how they will be applied
• An accurate list of references.

MPhil Chemistry/MSc Chemistry (by research)

The research proposal needs to outline the nature of your proposed study and give some indication of how you will conduct your research. The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that you and your potential supervisor(s) have matching research interests.

Your proposal can build on your chosen supervisor's area of work and may be prepared with the help of your chosen supervisor. It should be about 250 to 500 words in length.

PhD Chemistry

If you are applying for an advertised PhD project, please simply state the title of the project for which you are applying. If you are not applying for an advertised project, the research proposal needs to outline the nature of your proposed study and give some indication of how you will conduct your research. The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that you and your potential supervisor(s) have matching research interests. Your proposal can build on your chosen supervisor's area of work and may be prepared with the help of your chosen supervisor. It should be about 500-1,000 words in length.

PhD Biological Chemistry

You do not need to submit a research proposal for this course as all applications should be submitted against a particular research project and member of academic staff. You should clearly state these in your application. We strongly advise you to contact the member of academic staff directly to discuss your suitability for the project.

MSc (by research) Computer Science

For the MSc-R in Computer Science, the research proposal needs to outline the nature of your proposed study and give some indication of how you will conduct your research. The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that you and your potential supervisor(s) have matching research interests.

Your proposal can build on your chosen supervisor's area of work and may be prepared with the help of your chosen supervisor. It should be about 500 to 1,000 words in length. It must be in English and be your own words.

PhD Computer Science

For the PhD in Computer Science, the research proposal needs to outline the nature of your proposed study and give some indication of how you will conduct your research. The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that you and your potential supervisor(s) have matching research interests.

Your research proposal should provide details on:

• your main research question
• the relevant literature and your planned contribution to the current research in the area
• the econometric and/or theoretical modelling methods that you plan to use
• the data source (only if you envisage empirical work).

The proposal should be of about 1,000 to 2,000 words.

Before drafting the proposal you should make sure that your research interests are aligned with the Department of Economics and Related Studies.

The Department has six main areas of research (clusters):

• Economic Theory
• Macroeconomics and Finance
• Econometrics
• Applied Microeconometrics
• Health Economics
• Political Economy .

Find out more about the research interests of the academic staff .

Submit a research proposal of about 1,500 words, which covers the focus of your proposed study and the type of data and sample you envisage using for your data collection. When writing your Proposal, you should pay careful attention to the  guidelines we provide . You should also tailor your application as close as possible to a specific member of staff in the Department to increase your chances of acceptance. You can read up on our  research profiles  and read up on the kinds of  PhDs we would supervise .

You will need to write a research proposal for the following courses:

• PhD in English
• MA in English (by research)
• MPhil in English.

Write a preliminary outline of your proposed research topic. You should provide a summary of between 250 and 350 words in length and then upload a longer version. You will need to:

• Describe any previous work you have done in this area, with reference to relevant literature you have read so far
• State the academic factors, eg University facilities, resources or staff, which have led you to apply to York.

Your proposal should:

• be about 500 to 1,000 words in length and may include up to 10 relevant references
• outline your research question and/or the hypothesis you wish to investigate
• describe the possible methodology that you will use to conduct your research
• explain why your research is important and/or original, and its potential.

The aim of providing a summary of your planned research at this stage is to ensure that you and your potential supervisor(s) have complementary research interests. You may wish to contact the member of academic staff you would like to work with to discuss your outline proposal.

Submit a research proposal of up to 1000 words outlining your proposed topic.

This should include:

• a brief literature review
• an outline of your research question(s)/hypothesis and methods
• a short list of primary sources.

You should also specify how your dissertation will make a contribution to historical debates. Footnotes including sources will not count against your word limit.

PhD Linguistics

In your main application form, please include only 100 words outlining your topic, but upload a fuller research proposal as a separate document. This proposal should be between 1500 and 2500 words in length, and should contain at least the following:

• Title of proposed research project This should allow the reader to place the research, at a glance, within an academic sub-field, as well as identifying the main issue to be addressed. It should not be more than 20 words long.
• Background Outline the linguistic area in which you propose to conduct research. Why is it important and interesting? What is the need for further research in this area? You should provide a context for your research. Do this by referencing and briefly reviewing a number of key works in your chosen field, showing how your work is built on this prior research.
• Research questions You should give at least one overarching research question, plus a number of more specific sub-questions. Make sure these questions all emerge from and are firmly grounded in the literature you have reviewed. Ensure that these questions - particularly the specific sub-questions - are researchable; that is, they should not be too broad or too general. You should also explain how these research questions can be considered original.
• Data and data analysis All projects will involve the collection of data of some kind. In some cases, this will be based on native-speaker judgements. Other projects will require experimental data, the use of existing or specially-created corpora, longitudinal observation, or sociolinguistic interviews - to name but a few data sources. Will you be able to gain access to the data in the quantities required? Are there ethical concerns which need to be overcome? You should also be as specific as you can at this stage about the kinds of analysis you will perform. What specific techniques will you use? What statistical analyses will you be performing (if any)? Mention any software you envisage using.
• Fit with Departmental research interests Before you formulate your proposal, you should look carefully through the Department of Language and Linguistic Science web pages to identify staff members who might be able to supervise your research. You may mention the person or people by name. You are also encouraged (though you are not obliged) to contact individual staff members to find out if they believe your ideas to be viable and if they would in principle be interested in supervising your project.
• References You should provide a list of the works you have referred to in your proposal. Don't list other works which may be relevant: this is to assure the reader that you have read and understood the literature you have cited.

PhD/MPhil Language & Communication

In addition to the 250 to 350 word summary which you should provide as part of your main application form, please upload a fuller research proposal. The proposal should be between 1500 and 2000 words in length, and should contain at least the following:

• Title of proposed project This should allow the reader to place the research, at a glance, within an academic sub-field, as well as identifying the main issue to be addressed. It should not be more than 20 words long.
• Background Outline the area in which you propose to conduct research. Why is it important and interesting? What is the need for further research in this area? You should provide a theoretical (linguistic, psychological), social or pedagogical context for your research. Do this by referencing and briefly reviewing a number of key works in your chosen field, showing how your work is built on this prior research.
• Research Questions You should give at least one overarching research question, plus a number of more specific sub-questions. Make sure these questions all emerge from and are firmly grounded in the literature you have reviewed. Ensure that these questions - particularly the specific sub-questions - are researchable; that is, they should not be too broad or too general. You should also explain how these research questions can be considered original
• Data and data analysis All projects will involve the collection of data of some kind. Most projects in Language and Communication use naturally occurring data, such as everyday conversations, classroom interactions, clinical encounters, or online interaction. Will you be able to gain access to the data in the quantities required and within an appropriate timescale? Does your data have particular technical requirements such as video? Are there ethical concerns which need to be overcome? You should also be as specific as you can at this stage about the kinds of analysis you will perform. What specific techniques will you use? Mention any software you envisage using.
• Fit with Departmental research interests Before you formulate your proposal, you should look carefully through the Language & Communication web pages to identify staff members who might be able to supervise your research. You may mention the person or people by name. You are also encouraged (though you are not obliged) to contact individual staff members to find out if they believe your ideas to be viable and if they would in principle be interested in supervising your project.

A proposal should be around 1,500 to 2,000 words (excluding bibliography). It should include the working title of the project, the key words associated with your research and an idea of the original aspects of the project.

• Introduction : This section should briefly delimit the area of research, and identify the major issue, problem, or gap in knowledge which forms the background to your proposal, including any recent literature.
• Key research questions : You need to explain the issues you are addressing which have not been studied before, or not in the way that you intend to address them. Identify existing literature: candidates need to identify the main literature in the area and to demonstrate awareness of the major existing debates.
• Methodology : You should show awareness of different methodological tools that could be used to answer your research questions.
• An outline and timescale for the research : This schedule should attempt to break down the work required into manageable segments, which will often be based on sections of the thesis.
• Indicative bibliography (does not count towards the word limit proposed above) : The bibliography should include work that you have cited in the rest of the proposal as well as references to literature that will be followed up or used in the research project.

MD Medical Sciences

Your research proposal should provide a clear outline of the question or problem you wish to research, how this will contribute uniquely to the current research in this area and the research methods you intend to employ to achieve this.

To study an MD you must have a proposal that addresses issues of diagnosis or management in a clinical environment.

All other research degrees

Your research proposal should provide a clear outline of the questions or problem you wish to research, how this will contribute uniquely to the current research in this area and the research methods you intend to employ to achieve this.

Your proposal should be 500-1000 words, and include the following:

• background/introduction to your research interests
• main research aims
• methodology
• ethical considerations
• key literature references.

Give a description of at least 1500 words of your proposed research topic including the questions or hypotheses to be addressed, the sources to be consulted and the methods to be used. We are looking for your ability to articulate the problem or the area on which you are intending to focus. What challenges do you anticipate? What do you expect to find? Above all, how does your research fit with and add to what has already been done by other scholars in this field?

Provide an outline of your proposed research topic. It should be between 1,000 and 2,000 words.

MSc Music Technology (by research) PhD and MPhil Music Technology MSc Electronic Engineering (by research) PhD and MPhil Electronic Engineering MSc Physics (by research) PhD Physics

Provide a summary of your research interests or an outline of your proposed research topic.

Advertised research projects

If you are applying for an advertised research project , which gives full details of the project, you do not normally need to submit a research proposal but you must include the project name. You should contact the project leader, who may ask you to submit a research proposal.

If you are not applying for a particular research project, you should contact the member of academic staff you wish to work with, who may provide you with a research / project outline. The research proposal needs to describe the nature of your proposed study and give some indication of how you will conduct your research. The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that you and your potential supervisor(s) have matching research interests. The proposal should be 250 to 350 words in length. It must be in English, and be your own words.

PhD Plasma Science and Fusion Energy

You should use this section of the application form to address the following points:

• Referring to the Fusion CDT website, you should provide a preference-ordered list of the advertised projects in which you are interested, with a brief (one or two sentences) description of what interests you about each of these projects
• Explain, with justification, your relative interest in analytical theory, computational simulation, data modelling and experiment (it might be that you are interested in all these areas or only one of them - either is fine, but it is important that we understand your interests as clearly as possible).

Regardless of the preferences you express here, you will be considered for all available plasma strand projects.

This section should be no more than 500 words. It must be in English and be your own words.

Please see our guidance on writing a research proposal and sample proposals.

PhD in Global Development

Provide 1,000 words outlining the project and its importance, including the proposed interdisciplinary methodology and the project's contribution to the  Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre (IDGC)  research themes.

MPhil in Psychology

Attach a full research proposal (word document).

This should cover a summary of the topic that you propose to address that includes:

• key previous research in the area
• a statement of your broad aims and specific questions
• some information on the methods that you propose to use to tackle the questions.

Research proposals are typically two to three pages in length. We expect applicants to formulate this proposal in consultation with the staff member who will potentially supervise the work. For this reason, it is important that you contact a potential supervisor to discuss your research plans before submitting a formal application.

Research proposal summary

The research proposal summary (200 to 250 words) should be an abstract of your full research proposal (ie cover the same broad areas, much more concisely). While your potential supervisor should help you formulate the full research proposal, this summary should be entirely your own work. The clarity and quality of this summary will be assessed as part of your application.

If you are applying for an advertised research project, you don't need to complete a research proposal so please just state that you are applying for a advertised project in the research proposal summary box.

PhD Psychology/PhD Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging

For PhDs in Psychology/ Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, the only written work we require you to upload is the full research proposal (two to three pages).

The research proposal summary (200 to 250 words) should be an abstract of your full research proposal (ie cover the same broad areas, much more concisely).

While your potential supervisor should help you formulate the full research proposal, this summary should be entirely your own work. The clarity and quality of this summary will be assessed as part of your application.

Specific advertised research project

As we expect you to have developed your research proposal in collaboration with your potential supervisor, you need to name your potential supervisor in the preferred supervisor or research group, or field of research; not a more general research group or field of research.

If you are applying for a specific advertised research project, we do not require you to attach a research proposal; instead, you should:

• state that you are applying for an advertised project in the research proposal summary box, in the research proposal section
• on this page, upload a short personal statement explaining why you are interested in and suitable for the advertised research project.

Your proposal should be around 1500 to 2000 words. It should contain at least the following elements:

• A provisional title : this should indicate the focus of the PhD. It should include any key concepts, empirical focus, or lines of inquiry that you aim to pursue
• An overview of the research : in this section, you should provide an overview of your research. What questions are you trying to answer, or what hypothesis/ argument are you trying to explore? What are the main research objectives? What are the key aims of the research?
• A rationale: key literature and identify a gap in the literature : you need to ground your research in existing literature. In this part of the proposal, you should include the most important texts related to the research, in order to demonstrate your understanding of the research issues. You should highlight how your research will contribute to the existing literature. How does your work relate to the expertise within the department you are applying to?
• Research design and methodology : you need to explain how you are going to conduct your research; what information you would need, how you would collect it and how you are going to analyse it. You will rework on this with your supervisor(s) should you have been successfully admitted to the PhD course
• Timetable : You need to provide a realistic time table for the completion of your research
• References : You need to list the main published literature that you use to guide your research, as well any available data sources you may draw on.

Please supply a draft research proposal of about 1000 to 1500 words to include:

• Aims of your research
• Main research questions
• Rationale for research
• An indication of existing research in the field
• Proposed research methodology/methods
• Timetable to completion
• Bibliography.

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

How to write a research proposal

If you wish to study for a Manchester PhD, you may need to submit a research proposal with your application. This is crucial in the assessment of your application and it warrants plenty of your time and energy.

Your research proposal should:

• demonstrate evidence of intellectual purpose and originality;
• show that you are capable of communicating your ideas clearly, concisely and coherently;
• define the topic you are interested in and show good awareness of the research context.

Typical proposals range between 1,000 and 1,500 words; however, we advise you to consult with your School for specific guidance on word count.

Structuring your research proposal

Please check with the relevant School for the specific conventions and expectations of your research proposal. The following are general considerations that we deem important:

• Create a clear working title for your research project.
• Introduce your proposal, identifying the subject for research in terms of theoretical issues and relevant empirical applications, and highlighting why you wish to pursue this project.
• Review  the relevant literature and theories relating to your proposed research area, showing that you clearly understand the key arguments that have been developed and the ideas and findings of key researchers working on the topic. This should demonstrate your familiarity with the subject area, and your ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
• Summarise the central aims and questions that will guide your research.
• Outline  the research methods you will use, explaining how you will conduct your research. What form will the resources take? Where are they located? Will there be any problems of access?
• Indicate your project strategy and timetable. What are the main project stages? What would the annual completion expectations be? What are the perceived challenges, and how will these be overcome?
• Explain why your proposed  project is important. How will your research make an original contribution?
• Include a bibliography highlighting the key references that will support your research topic.

Before submitting your research proposal

Contact an academic member of our staff to discuss your research proposal and key objectives before you submit your formal application. This will enable you to fine-tune your proposal and check that we can identify a suitable supervisory team for you.

Find out more about choosing a suitable supervisor .

Refining your proposal

When you submit your research proposal for application purposes, you will not be committing yourself to the precise detail or methodology. Once we accept you onto a PhD programme, you can refine your original proposal following discussions with your supervisory team.

• Business Templates
• Sample Proposals

FREE 10+ Postgraduate Research Proposal Samples in PDF | DOC

After we formally graduate from the university, some of us would want to take a step forward into higher-level learning as a postgraduate student. This would apply to some courses such as those in business school, medical school, engineering, law, fine arts and etc. Higher learning has more chances of better job opportunities and higher pay. One requirement of a postgraduate degree is a postgraduate research proposal, which is an important document that can help you develop your knowledge and experience within your field. Read more about postgraduate research proposal in our article below and don’t forget to check out our free postgraduate research proposal samples as well:

Postgraduate Research Proposal

10+ postgraduate research proposal samples, 1. postgraduate research proposal, 2. postgraduate admission research proposal, 3. postgraduate tentative research proposal, 4. postgraduate medical research proposal, 5. postgraduate dissertation research proposal, 6. postgraduate applicant research proposal, 7. postgraduate study research proposal, 8. postgraduate phd research proposal, 9. mphil postgraduate research proposal, 10. doctorate postgraduate research proposal, 11. masters postgraduate research proposal, what is a postgraduate research proposal, how to write a postgraduate research proposal, i. introduction, ii. the body or main text, iii. the design: methods and procedures, iv. significance of the study, v. conclusions, why is a research proposal important, what is a postgraduate program, how long is a postgraduate course.

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Initially, postgraduate research proposal is a document proposing a research project, and as part of their application for admission to a research degree. It is also relevant to students who are applying to external bodies for postgraduate research funding. A university application for postgraduate study is most likely to include a research proposal or a personal statement , even if you are applying for a funded project defined by the prospective supervisor. With a postgraduate research proposal this will enable you to develop research skills as well as invaluable transferable skills which you can apply to academic life, your current employment or a variety of professions outside of the academia.

A postgraduate research proposal allows you to gain newer perspective and experience within your field by completing a major research project under the supervision of an academic. The research proposal is crucial to your application because it forms a basis for making a judgement about your sustainability for postgraduate research particularly:

• knowledge of literature: it shows the ability to understand the elements which is the forefront of the field of study or area of professional practice.
• research methods and methodological appreciation: understanding of the application of various techniques of research and advanced academic enquiry
• writing quality
• qualifications and experience: appropriate qualifications or experiences which suggest high expectation to succeed with this study

When writing your proposal, well-presented and clearly written proposals are more likely to stick in the reviewer’s mind. So let us begin with the basic components that makes up a postgraduate research proposal:

Provide a background information in the form of a literature review which sets the context for your research to help the reader understand the questions and objectives. Identify any gap in the knowledge or questions which have to be answered, specify your aims and objectives, including a brief description of the methodology and how will your research be beneficial and to whom. The introduction is your opportunity to demonstrate that your research has not been done before and that the proposed project will add something new to the existing body of literature.

In this section you should be able to identify the following:

• statement of the problem which describes the context for the study and it also identifies the general analysis approach. It is important in a proposal that the problem stand out—that the reader can easily recognize it.
• purpose of the study in which you are to define and delimit the specific area of the research and its central concepts.

It is important to present the proposed research methodology such as techniques, sample size, target populations, species choice, equipment and data analysis, and explain why it is the most appropriate methodology to effectively answer the research question. Justify the methodology by explaining what alternatives have been considered and why these have been disregarded. Also point out how your project fits with the research environment of your prospective institution and why this institution is the best place to conduct your research, in particular if this will provide you with access to unique expertise, pieces of equipment or data. Some examples of research methods are: sampling, instrumentation, data analysis and data collection .

Define how this research will refine, revise, or extend existing knowledge in the area under investigation. Also you can also briefly include a small section to present how your research interests, previous achievements, relevant professional experience and qualifications will support the completion of your research project.

Summarize all that there is to your postgraduate research proposal and come up with a conclusion that can help a reviewer identify the important information. Make sure these are concise, clear and informative.

The importance of a research proposal is to give an initial overview of the research project you are about to conduct. It helps identify what kind of research methods that are applicable in your research and the reason behind your research. It is also quite significant in order to get funding.

This is a degree that you study after you graduate from a four year bachelor’s degree or for some on the basis of relevant work experience.

Depending on your field, a postgraduate course can take about a year in full time or two in part time and does not typically exceed five years.

A postgraduate research proposal is a stepping stone that can help you fulfill your aspirations of completing an effective postgraduate research, that can benefit your future as a professional in your field of expertise.

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6+ SAMPLE Postgraduate Research Proposal in PDF

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1. select a research subject and conduct literature reviews, 2. identify literature gaps and define the study’s purpose, 3. construct the study’s introduction, hypothesis, and research questions, 4. outline the methods of investigation and the research design, 5. indicate the sample size, as well as the characteristics of the sample, 6. outline the data collection and analysis procedures that are required, share this post on your network, file formats, word templates, google docs templates, excel templates, powerpoint templates, google sheets templates, google slides templates, pdf templates, publisher templates, psd templates, indesign templates, illustrator templates, pages templates, keynote templates, numbers templates, outlook templates, you may also like these articles, 25+ sample construction company proposal in ms word.

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