GUIDELINE:
FORMAT AND PRESENTATION OF A
RESEARCH PROPOSAL FOR HIGHER
DEGREES BY RESEARCH
Purpose:
Responsible Executive:
Responsible Office:
Contact Officer:
Effective Date:
Modification History:
Outlines the format and procedures associated with the development and presentation of a research proposal
Pro Vice Chancellor Research
Research Office
Director, Research Office
August 2012
Created: June 2006; updated: October 2006, Sept 2012
GUIDELINE: FORMAT AND PRESENTATION OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Rationale
The Research Proposal is an important document. A Research Proposal explains the why and how
of the research. The Research Proposal provides a means of answering several questions before the
student’s research candidacy is ratified.
Principles
1. The Research Proposal is a two-part process. The first part is the preparation of a substantial and
assessed written document. The second component is the oral presentation at a public forum
organised by the School.
2. Proposals vary in structure according to discipline. As such, supervisors are best placed to
guide students regarding an appropriate presentation framework. Typically, a thesis includes
the following components:
 Title
 Summary/Abstract
 Introduction
1. Overview
2. Topic and purpose
3. Potential significance
4. Framework and research questions
5. Limitations
 Review of the significant literature
1. Theoretical perspectives (conceptual or theoretical framework)
2. Related research
 Design and Methodology
1. Overall approach and rationale
2. Site or population selection
3. Data collection methods
4. Methods of data analysis
5. Ethical considerations
 Appendices
1. Timeline
2. Budget/funding
3. References
3.
Each HDR student presents both a substantial (as defined by the supervisor) written
Research Proposal and a verbal presentation.
4.
At least two readers (one of whom is normally external to the University) are appointed to
provide feedback on the proposal.
Procedures
When should the Research Proposal be presented?
The Research Proposal should ideally be presented no later than the end of the first semester
of fulltime equivalent study, but this may vary from School-to-School.
The successful presentation of a Research Proposal (together with ethics clearance) is
required before any primary data is collected (i.e. research proper may not start until the
Research Proposal has been approved).
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GUIDELINE: FORMAT AND PRESENTATION OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
What is the length of the Research Proposal?
The length of the Research Proposal is normally between circa 20 pages, but specific
requirements are set by the School in which the student is enrolled.
How is the Research Proposal submitted?
The draft Research Proposal must be submitted to the School Research Committee1. The
draft Research Proposal should be accompanied by a letter from the principal supervisor
stating that the supervisor:
 agrees that the Research Proposal is of the required standard; and
 accepts that the student can achieve the work outlined.
The School Research Committee reviews the draft Research Proposal and makes
recommendations to the HDR student and supervisor concerning its readiness to be
submitted to readers for comment. Where modifications are suggested, these will be
discussed with the student and supervisor.
If the School Research Committee is of the view that the Research Proposal is of an
appropriate standard, the School will make arrangements for obtaining final copies of the
Research Proposal, organising the oral presentation, advertising the presentation time and
place to the academic staff and HDR students of the University, and appointing two readers
for the Proposal.
How should the final copies of the Research Proposal be presented?
Three hard copies should be submitted to the Dean of the School (together with an
electronic copy) and all should be signed signifying that the work is that of the student. The
student keeps at least one copy and gives a copy to each supervisor. Electronic copies
should always be preserved.
The document should be:
 bound in a firm manner
 typed, double-spaced on single sided white A4 pages. Margins should be of 3cm.
 an approved method of citation and referencing must be consistently employed in
accordance with discipline requirements.
 the extent of external assistance, conditions and limits of data ownership, and any
obligations that require reporting or limit reporting of data and findings must be clearly
declared.
What is the oral presentation?
The oral presentation is a public seminar attended by fellow students, supervisors and other
reviewers (readers). The oral presentation will be followed by questions and discussion.
Students may use visual aids such as Powerpoint and a summary hand-out.
What happens at the oral presentation of the Research Proposal?
1
The School Research Committee has responsibility for overseeing the quality of research outputs in the School in
which the student is enrolled.
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GUIDELINE: FORMAT AND PRESENTATION OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
After an introduction by the chairperson (normally the Dean or Chair of the School Research
Committee) the student presents the Research Proposal for approximately 20minutes.
The readers provide comments (10 mins each) after which a general discussion will ensue.
Suggested Outline of the Research Proposal Presentation:
Component
Duration
Comments
Introduction
5 mins Chairperson welcomes participants and briefly explains the
process
Research Student
20 mins Topic is explored. The background and importance of the
Presentation
topic may take up to 10 mins. The remainder of the time is
spent explaining methodology, method, sample and
proposed instruments, timeline and anticipated budget and
expenses.
Readers’
10 mins Readers, who will later submit a written report, make
Responses
each
comment and may put questions to the candidate.
Questions from the 15 mins The Chairperson invites questions and comments from the
floor
floor.
What happens to the Readers’ Reports?
Readers submit a written report to the Dean of the School who presents them to the School
Research Committee for review.
After due consideration, the School Research Committee will recommend to the Pro Vice
Chancellor Research either :
a)
Confirmation of candidacy; or
b)
Provisional enrolment be maintained pending further development of the Research
Proposal to satisfy particular points and concerns; or
c)
Termination of the enrolment of the student due to the unsatisfactory nature and/or
standard of the Research Proposal in circumstances where the Dean believes that there
is no reasonable likelihood that the student will meet the required standard at a second
attempt or the Dean believes that the status of the Research Proposal indicates that the
student is unable to meet requirements without compromise to the student or the
University.
The final decision with respect to the status of the student resides with the Pro Vice
Chancellor Research. The student will be advised in writing of the outcome by the Research
Office.
The student and/or the supervisor may request from the Pro Vice Chancellor Research
further explanation of the decision.
In tandem with the submission of the Research Proposal, the student should submit an
application for ethics clearance to the School Research Committee. Appropriate procedural
documentation should be consulted for this task Only confirmation of candidacy and ethics
clearance permits the student to collect data and represent her/himself as a research student
of the University.
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GUIDELINE: FORMAT AND PRESENTATION OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
What if changes to the planned research occur?
Minor changes are to be expected in the life of a developing research project and it is the
supervisors’ professional responsibility to oversee these.
If there are significant changes in direction or by force of circumstance, a change of research
questions and/or topic, the principal supervisor should:
 notify the Research Office in writing;
 recommend whether there is need to present a modified Research Proposal and/or
seek new ethics clearance.
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