TITLE
Research proposal: MEng/PhD
Candidate
Student number
Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering
University of Pretoria
Date
Supervisor/Promoter
(Signature)
Candidate
Date
(Signature)
Supervisor/Promoter
Date
(Signature)
Postgraduate Committee
Date
Summary Page
[The summary page may not exceed one A4 page in 11 point font, single spacing.]
1. Research questions
What are the research questions? List them in bullet list format.
2. Hypothesis
State the hypothesis of your study in one to two sentences.
3. Approach
Which approach do you plan to follow?
4. Contribution
State the contribution that your study will provide to your specialist field.
5. Peer reviewed journal articles
The faculty stipulates that for a master's degree one article must be submitted while one article has to be
accepted and one submitted for a PhD. However, to align with international trends and standards a good
rule of thumb is that a Master's dissertation should contain enough work to publish one (1) article in an
international journal while a PhD should have enough substance to publish three (3) international journal
articles. Students are thus requested to discuss the scope of their studies with their supervisors or
promotors to ensure that it is adequate for the proposed degree.
a. Master's degree students
Provide a preliminary title for one journal article that could be published from the proposed
research as well as a target journal. Also provide one or two sentences that describe the research
gap that will be addressed by this article.
b. PhD students
Provide preliminary titles for three journal articles that could be published from the proposed
research as well as target journals. Also provide one or two sentences that describe the research
gap that will be addressed by each article.
I agree that the proposed articles are publishable in the peer reviewed international journals as identified.
Signature
__________________________________
Supervisor/Promotor
Full research proposal
[This section may not exceed two A4 pages (excluding references and contact information) for a Masters
and ten A4 pages for a PhD]
1. Introduction
Introduction, background and motivation.
2. Overview of current literature
Current state of research being done in the field.
3. Motivation
The motivation for the research which will be undertaken.
4. Objective
Your specific objectives and goals with the research.
5. Proposed research
Your approach to the problem and specific steps to follow.
6. Contribution
Your contribution in perspective with current knowledge in the field.
References
IEEE or Harvard style
Contact Information
Postal address
E-mail
Tel number
Fax number
Cell number