SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY
PhD Research Proposal
All PhD candidates must complete and submit a proposal to the Chair of Postgraduate Studies (PGS) before commencing their research project. You
should consult your supervisor prior to submitting this proposal in order to ascertain his/her requirements. Note that the form is expandable so use as
much space as is necessary. If necessary, additional documents may be attached. The proposal will be reviewed by the Postgraduate Studies
Committee and may be returned to the candidate if revisions are required. In addition, you must complete the covering form “Application for
Approval of Registration of Ph.D. Research Proposal” available from www.canterbury.ac.nz/acad/phdtheses.shtml . Please submit both forms to the
PGS.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Date:
Student Name:
Student No:
Enrolment Date:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Supervisor(s):
Phone:
Email:
Title of Proposal:
Introduction (Present the problem and the significance of the problem in lay terms. This should lead up to a statement of the hypotheses or
objectives in the next section.):
1
Objectives (State your hypotheses and the scientific merit of your hypotheses. What new information may your research contribute to the scientific
community?):
Methods (Outline the experiments that you will use to test your hypotheses.):
Timeline (Summarise your work plan and milestones for completion of your project.):
Permits, Health & Safety Requirements (list any necessary permits, e.g. from ERMA, Animal Ethics, DOC collection permits or permission
to import foreign material, etc and H&S caveats
REQUIREMENTS:
2
Equipment needed (make sure that it is available and that you have permission to use it):
Student Signature:
Date:
3
Supervisor’s Comments on the Project Proposal:
Is this proposal acceptable to you?
Yes
No
Suggested Associate Supervisors:
Comments about costs (e.g. how will costs be met; if from a grant then state which grant.):
Supervisor’s Signature:
Date:
Reminder: do not forget to include the “Application for Approval of Registration of Ph.D.
Research Proposal” available from www.canterbury.ac.nz/acad/phdtheses.shtml .
THE STUDENT SHOULD SEND/GIVE THE COMPLETED FORMS TO
THE SECRETARIES, SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE
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