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.
Synopsis
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?
Background
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:
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Why is your research question or hypothesis worth asking?
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How is the current research lacking or falling short?
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What impact will your research have on the discipline?
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Will you be extending an area of knowledge, applying it to new contexts, solving a
problem, testing a theory, or challenging an existing one?
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Establish why your research is important by convincing your audience there is a gap.
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What will be the outcome of your research contribution?
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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.
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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.
Work 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.
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.
Resources
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.