one of the differences between a research proposal for funding and thesis is

Grant Proposals (or Give me the money!)

What this handout is about.

This handout will help you write and revise grant proposals for research funding in all academic disciplines (sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the arts). It’s targeted primarily to graduate students and faculty, although it will also be helpful to undergraduate students who are seeking funding for research (e.g. for a senior thesis).

The grant writing process

A grant proposal or application is a document or set of documents that is submitted to an organization with the explicit intent of securing funding for a research project. Grant writing varies widely across the disciplines, and research intended for epistemological purposes (philosophy or the arts) rests on very different assumptions than research intended for practical applications (medicine or social policy research). Nonetheless, this handout attempts to provide a general introduction to grant writing across the disciplines.

Before you begin writing your proposal, you need to know what kind of research you will be doing and why. You may have a topic or experiment in mind, but taking the time to define what your ultimate purpose is can be essential to convincing others to fund that project. Although some scholars in the humanities and arts may not have thought about their projects in terms of research design, hypotheses, research questions, or results, reviewers and funding agencies expect you to frame your project in these terms. You may also find that thinking about your project in these terms reveals new aspects of it to you.

Writing successful grant applications is a long process that begins with an idea. Although many people think of grant writing as a linear process (from idea to proposal to award), it is a circular process. Many people start by defining their research question or questions. What knowledge or information will be gained as a direct result of your project? Why is undertaking your research important in a broader sense? You will need to explicitly communicate this purpose to the committee reviewing your application. This is easier when you know what you plan to achieve before you begin the writing process.

Diagram 1 below provides an overview of the grant writing process and may help you plan your proposal development.

Applicants must write grant proposals, submit them, receive notice of acceptance or rejection, and then revise their proposals. Unsuccessful grant applicants must revise and resubmit their proposals during the next funding cycle. Successful grant applications and the resulting research lead to ideas for further research and new grant proposals.

Cultivating an ongoing, positive relationship with funding agencies may lead to additional grants down the road. Thus, make sure you file progress reports and final reports in a timely and professional manner. Although some successful grant applicants may fear that funding agencies will reject future proposals because they’ve already received “enough” funding, the truth is that money follows money. Individuals or projects awarded grants in the past are more competitive and thus more likely to receive funding in the future.

Some general tips

• Begin early.
• Apply early and often.
• Don’t forget to include a cover letter with your application.
• Answer all questions. (Pre-empt all unstated questions.)
• If rejected, revise your proposal and apply again.
• Give them what they want. Follow the application guidelines exactly.
• Be explicit and specific.
• Be realistic in designing the project.
• Make explicit the connections between your research questions and objectives, your objectives and methods, your methods and results, and your results and dissemination plan.
• Follow the application guidelines exactly. (We have repeated this tip because it is very, very important.)

Before you start writing

Identify your needs and focus.

First, identify your needs. Answering the following questions may help you:

• Are you undertaking preliminary or pilot research in order to develop a full-blown research agenda?
• Are you seeking funding for dissertation research? Pre-dissertation research? Postdoctoral research? Archival research? Experimental research? Fieldwork?
• Are you seeking a stipend so that you can write a dissertation or book? Polish a manuscript?
• Do you want a fellowship in residence at an institution that will offer some programmatic support or other resources to enhance your project?
• Do you want funding for a large research project that will last for several years and involve multiple staff members?

Next, think about the focus of your research/project. Answering the following questions may help you narrow it down:

• What is the topic? Why is this topic important?
• What are the research questions that you’re trying to answer? What relevance do your research questions have?
• What are your hypotheses?
• What are your research methods?
• Why is your research/project important? What is its significance?
• Do you plan on using quantitative methods? Qualitative methods? Both?
• Will you be undertaking experimental research? Clinical research?

Once you have identified your needs and focus, you can begin looking for prospective grants and funding agencies.

Finding prospective grants and funding agencies

Whether your proposal receives funding will rely in large part on whether your purpose and goals closely match the priorities of granting agencies. Locating possible grantors is a time consuming task, but in the long run it will yield the greatest benefits. Even if you have the most appealing research proposal in the world, if you don’t send it to the right institutions, then you’re unlikely to receive funding.

There are many sources of information about granting agencies and grant programs. Most universities and many schools within universities have Offices of Research, whose primary purpose is to support faculty and students in grant-seeking endeavors. These offices usually have libraries or resource centers to help people find prospective grants.

At UNC, the Research at Carolina office coordinates research support.

The Funding Information Portal offers a collection of databases and proposal development guidance.

The UNC School of Medicine and School of Public Health each have their own Office of Research.

Writing your proposal

The majority of grant programs recruit academic reviewers with knowledge of the disciplines and/or program areas of the grant. Thus, when writing your grant proposals, assume that you are addressing a colleague who is knowledgeable in the general area, but who does not necessarily know the details about your research questions.

Remember that most readers are lazy and will not respond well to a poorly organized, poorly written, or confusing proposal. Be sure to give readers what they want. Follow all the guidelines for the particular grant you are applying for. This may require you to reframe your project in a different light or language. Reframing your project to fit a specific grant’s requirements is a legitimate and necessary part of the process unless it will fundamentally change your project’s goals or outcomes.

Final decisions about which proposals are funded often come down to whether the proposal convinces the reviewer that the research project is well planned and feasible and whether the investigators are well qualified to execute it. Throughout the proposal, be as explicit as possible. Predict the questions that the reviewer may have and answer them. Przeworski and Salomon (1995) note that reviewers read with three questions in mind:

• What are we going to learn as a result of the proposed project that we do not know now? (goals, aims, and outcomes)
• Why is it worth knowing? (significance)
• How will we know that the conclusions are valid? (criteria for success) (2)

Be sure to answer these questions in your proposal. Keep in mind that reviewers may not read every word of your proposal. Your reviewer may only read the abstract, the sections on research design and methodology, the vitae, and the budget. Make these sections as clear and straightforward as possible.

The way you write your grant will tell the reviewers a lot about you (Reif-Lehrer 82). From reading your proposal, the reviewers will form an idea of who you are as a scholar, a researcher, and a person. They will decide whether you are creative, logical, analytical, up-to-date in the relevant literature of the field, and, most importantly, capable of executing the proposed project. Allow your discipline and its conventions to determine the general style of your writing, but allow your own voice and personality to come through. Be sure to clarify your project’s theoretical orientation.

Develop a general proposal and budget

Because most proposal writers seek funding from several different agencies or granting programs, it is a good idea to begin by developing a general grant proposal and budget. This general proposal is sometimes called a “white paper.” Your general proposal should explain your project to a general academic audience. Before you submit proposals to different grant programs, you will tailor a specific proposal to their guidelines and priorities.

Organizing your proposal

Although each funding agency will have its own (usually very specific) requirements, there are several elements of a proposal that are fairly standard, and they often come in the following order:

• Introduction (statement of the problem, purpose of research or goals, and significance of research)

Literature review

• Project narrative (methods, procedures, objectives, outcomes or deliverables, evaluation, and dissemination)
• Budget and budget justification

Format the proposal so that it is easy to read. Use headings to break the proposal up into sections. If it is long, include a table of contents with page numbers.

The title page usually includes a brief yet explicit title for the research project, the names of the principal investigator(s), the institutional affiliation of the applicants (the department and university), name and address of the granting agency, project dates, amount of funding requested, and signatures of university personnel authorizing the proposal (when necessary). Most funding agencies have specific requirements for the title page; make sure to follow them.

The abstract provides readers with their first impression of your project. To remind themselves of your proposal, readers may glance at your abstract when making their final recommendations, so it may also serve as their last impression of your project. The abstract should explain the key elements of your research project in the future tense. Most abstracts state: (1) the general purpose, (2) specific goals, (3) research design, (4) methods, and (5) significance (contribution and rationale). Be as explicit as possible in your abstract. Use statements such as, “The objective of this study is to …”

Introduction

The introduction should cover the key elements of your proposal, including a statement of the problem, the purpose of research, research goals or objectives, and significance of the research. The statement of problem should provide a background and rationale for the project and establish the need and relevance of the research. How is your project different from previous research on the same topic? Will you be using new methodologies or covering new theoretical territory? The research goals or objectives should identify the anticipated outcomes of the research and should match up to the needs identified in the statement of problem. List only the principle goal(s) or objective(s) of your research and save sub-objectives for the project narrative.

Many proposals require a literature review. Reviewers want to know whether you’ve done the necessary preliminary research to undertake your project. Literature reviews should be selective and critical, not exhaustive. Reviewers want to see your evaluation of pertinent works. For more information, see our handout on literature reviews .

Project narrative

The project narrative provides the meat of your proposal and may require several subsections. The project narrative should supply all the details of the project, including a detailed statement of problem, research objectives or goals, hypotheses, methods, procedures, outcomes or deliverables, and evaluation and dissemination of the research.

For the project narrative, pre-empt and/or answer all of the reviewers’ questions. Don’t leave them wondering about anything. For example, if you propose to conduct unstructured interviews with open-ended questions, be sure you’ve explained why this methodology is best suited to the specific research questions in your proposal. Or, if you’re using item response theory rather than classical test theory to verify the validity of your survey instrument, explain the advantages of this innovative methodology. Or, if you need to travel to Valdez, Alaska to access historical archives at the Valdez Museum, make it clear what documents you hope to find and why they are relevant to your historical novel on the ’98ers in the Alaskan Gold Rush.

Clearly and explicitly state the connections between your research objectives, research questions, hypotheses, methodologies, and outcomes. As the requirements for a strong project narrative vary widely by discipline, consult a discipline-specific guide to grant writing for some additional advice.

Explain staffing requirements in detail and make sure that staffing makes sense. Be very explicit about the skill sets of the personnel already in place (you will probably include their Curriculum Vitae as part of the proposal). Explain the necessary skill sets and functions of personnel you will recruit. To minimize expenses, phase out personnel who are not relevant to later phases of a project.

The budget spells out project costs and usually consists of a spreadsheet or table with the budget detailed as line items and a budget narrative (also known as a budget justification) that explains the various expenses. Even when proposal guidelines do not specifically mention a narrative, be sure to include a one or two page explanation of the budget. To see a sample budget, turn to Example #1 at the end of this handout.

Consider including an exhaustive budget for your project, even if it exceeds the normal grant size of a particular funding organization. Simply make it clear that you are seeking additional funding from other sources. This technique will make it easier for you to combine awards down the road should you have the good fortune of receiving multiple grants.

Make sure that all budget items meet the funding agency’s requirements. For example, all U.S. government agencies have strict requirements for airline travel. Be sure the cost of the airline travel in your budget meets their requirements. If a line item falls outside an agency’s requirements (e.g. some organizations will not cover equipment purchases or other capital expenses), explain in the budget justification that other grant sources will pay for the item.

Many universities require that indirect costs (overhead) be added to grants that they administer. Check with the appropriate offices to find out what the standard (or required) rates are for overhead. Pass a draft budget by the university officer in charge of grant administration for assistance with indirect costs and costs not directly associated with research (e.g. facilities use charges).

Furthermore, make sure you factor in the estimated taxes applicable for your case. Depending on the categories of expenses and your particular circumstances (whether you are a foreign national, for example), estimated tax rates may differ. You can consult respective departmental staff or university services, as well as professional tax assistants. For information on taxes on scholarships and fellowships, see https://cashier.unc.edu/student-tax-information/scholarships-fellowships/ .

Explain the timeframe for the research project in some detail. When will you begin and complete each step? It may be helpful to reviewers if you present a visual version of your timeline. For less complicated research, a table summarizing the timeline for the project will help reviewers understand and evaluate the planning and feasibility. See Example #2 at the end of this handout.

For multi-year research proposals with numerous procedures and a large staff, a time line diagram can help clarify the feasibility and planning of the study. See Example #3 at the end of this handout.

Revising your proposal

Strong grant proposals take a long time to develop. Start the process early and leave time to get feedback from several readers on different drafts. Seek out a variety of readers, both specialists in your research area and non-specialist colleagues. You may also want to request assistance from knowledgeable readers on specific areas of your proposal. For example, you may want to schedule a meeting with a statistician to help revise your methodology section. Don’t hesitate to seek out specialized assistance from the relevant research offices on your campus. At UNC, the Odum Institute provides a variety of services to graduate students and faculty in the social sciences.

In your revision and editing, ask your readers to give careful consideration to whether you’ve made explicit the connections between your research objectives and methodology. Here are some example questions:

• Have you presented a compelling case?
• Have you made your hypotheses explicit?
• Does your project seem feasible? Is it overly ambitious? Does it have other weaknesses?
• Have you stated the means that grantors can use to evaluate the success of your project after you’ve executed it?

If a granting agency lists particular criteria used for rating and evaluating proposals, be sure to share these with your own reviewers.

Example #1. Sample Budget

Jet travel $6,100 This estimate is based on the commercial high season rate for jet economy travel on Sabena Belgian Airlines. No U.S. carriers fly to Kigali, Rwanda. Sabena has student fare tickets available which will be significantly less expensive (approximately $2,000).

Maintenance allowance $22,788 Based on the Fulbright-Hays Maintenance Allowances published in the grant application guide.

Research assistant/translator $4,800 The research assistant/translator will be a native (and primary) speaker of Kinya-rwanda with at least a four-year university degree. They will accompany the primary investigator during life history interviews to provide assistance in comprehension. In addition, they will provide commentary, explanations, and observations to facilitate the primary investigator’s participant observation. During the first phase of the project in Kigali, the research assistant will work forty hours a week and occasional overtime as needed. During phases two and three in rural Rwanda, the assistant will stay with the investigator overnight in the field when necessary. The salary of $400 per month is based on the average pay rate for individuals with similar qualifications working for international NGO’s in Rwanda.

Transportation within country, phase one $1,200 The primary investigator and research assistant will need regular transportation within Kigali by bus and taxi. The average taxi fare in Kigali is $6-8 and bus fare is $.15. This figure is based on an average of $10 per day in transportation costs during the first project phase.

Transportation within country, phases two and three $12,000 Project personnel will also require regular transportation between rural field sites. If it is not possible to remain overnight, daily trips will be necessary. The average rental rate for a 4×4 vehicle in Rwanda is $130 per day. This estimate is based on an average of $50 per day in transportation costs for the second and third project phases. These costs could be reduced if an arrangement could be made with either a government ministry or international aid agency for transportation assistance.

Email $720 The rate for email service from RwandaTel (the only service provider in Rwanda) is $60 per month. Email access is vital for receiving news reports on Rwanda and the region as well as for staying in contact with dissertation committee members and advisors in the United States.

Audiocassette tapes $400 Audiocassette tapes will be necessary for recording life history interviews, musical performances, community events, story telling, and other pertinent data.

Photographic & slide film $100 Photographic and slide film will be necessary to document visual data such as landscape, environment, marriages, funerals, community events, etc.

Laptop computer $2,895 A laptop computer will be necessary for recording observations, thoughts, and analysis during research project. Price listed is a special offer to UNC students through the Carolina Computing Initiative.

NUD*IST 4.0 software $373.00 NUD*IST, “Nonnumerical, Unstructured Data, Indexing, Searching, and Theorizing,” is necessary for cataloging, indexing, and managing field notes both during and following the field research phase. The program will assist in cataloging themes that emerge during the life history interviews.

Administrative fee $100 Fee set by Fulbright-Hays for the sponsoring institution.

Example #2: Project Timeline in Table Format

Example #3: project timeline in chart format.

Some closing advice

Some of us may feel ashamed or embarrassed about asking for money or promoting ourselves. Often, these feelings have more to do with our own insecurities than with problems in the tone or style of our writing. If you’re having trouble because of these types of hang-ups, the most important thing to keep in mind is that it never hurts to ask. If you never ask for the money, they’ll never give you the money. Besides, the worst thing they can do is say no.

UNC resources for proposal writing

Research at Carolina http://research.unc.edu

The Odum Institute for Research in the Social Sciences https://odum.unc.edu/

UNC Medical School Office of Research https://www.med.unc.edu/oor

UNC School of Public Health Office of Research http://www.sph.unc.edu/research/

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Holloway, Brian R. 2003. Proposal Writing Across the Disciplines. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Levine, S. Joseph. “Guide for Writing a Funding Proposal.” http://www.learnerassociates.net/proposal/ .

Locke, Lawrence F., Waneen Wyrick Spirduso, and Stephen J. Silverman. 2014. Proposals That Work . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Przeworski, Adam, and Frank Salomon. 2012. “Some Candid Suggestions on the Art of Writing Proposals.” Social Science Research Council. https://s3.amazonaws.com/ssrc-cdn2/art-of-writing-proposals-dsd-e-56b50ef814f12.pdf .

Reif-Lehrer, Liane. 1989. Writing a Successful Grant Application . Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Wiggins, Beverly. 2002. “Funding and Proposal Writing for Social Science Faculty and Graduate Student Research.” Chapel Hill: Howard W. Odum Institute for Research in Social Science. 2 Feb. 2004. http://www2.irss.unc.edu/irss/shortcourses/wigginshandouts/granthandout.pdf.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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What (Exactly) Is A Research Proposal?

A simple explainer with examples + free template.

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewed By: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | June 2020 (Updated April 2023)

Whether you’re nearing the end of your degree and your dissertation is on the horizon, or you’re planning to apply for a PhD program, chances are you’ll need to craft a convincing research proposal . If you’re on this page, you’re probably unsure exactly what the research proposal is all about. Well, you’ve come to the right place.

Overview: Research Proposal Basics

• What a research proposal is
• What a research proposal needs to cover
• How to structure your research proposal
• Example /sample proposals
• Proposal writing FAQs
• Key takeaways & additional resources

What is a research proposal?

Simply put, a research proposal is a structured, formal document that explains what you plan to research (your research topic), why it’s worth researching (your justification), and how  you plan to investigate it (your methodology). 

The purpose of the research proposal (its job, so to speak) is to convince  your research supervisor, committee or university that your research is  suitable  (for the requirements of the degree program) and  manageable  (given the time and resource constraints you will face). 

The most important word here is “ convince ” – in other words, your research proposal needs to  sell  your research idea (to whoever is going to approve it). If it doesn’t convince them (of its suitability and manageability), you’ll need to revise and resubmit . This will cost you valuable time, which will either delay the start of your research or eat into its time allowance (which is bad news). 

What goes into a research proposal?

A good dissertation or thesis proposal needs to cover the “ what “, “ why ” and” how ” of the proposed study. Let’s look at each of these attributes in a little more detail:

Your proposal needs to clearly articulate your research topic . This needs to be specific and unambiguous . Your research topic should make it clear exactly what you plan to research and in what context. Here’s an example of a well-articulated research topic:

An investigation into the factors which impact female Generation Y consumer’s likelihood to promote a specific makeup brand to their peers: a British context

As you can see, this topic is extremely clear. From this one line we can see exactly:

• What’s being investigated – factors that make people promote or advocate for a brand of a specific makeup brand
• Who it involves – female Gen-Y consumers
• In what context – the United Kingdom

So, make sure that your research proposal provides a detailed explanation of your research topic . If possible, also briefly outline your research aims and objectives , and perhaps even your research questions (although in some cases you’ll only develop these at a later stage). Needless to say, don’t start writing your proposal until you have a clear topic in mind , or you’ll end up waffling and your research proposal will suffer as a result of this.

Need a helping hand?

As we touched on earlier, it’s not good enough to simply propose a research topic – you need to justify why your topic is original . In other words, what makes it  unique ? What gap in the current literature does it fill? If it’s simply a rehash of the existing research, it’s probably not going to get approval – it needs to be fresh.

But,  originality  alone is not enough. Once you’ve ticked that box, you also need to justify why your proposed topic is  important . In other words, what value will it add to the world if you achieve your research aims?

As an example, let’s look at the sample research topic we mentioned earlier (factors impacting brand advocacy). In this case, if the research could uncover relevant factors, these findings would be very useful to marketers in the cosmetics industry, and would, therefore, have commercial value . That is a clear justification for the research.

So, when you’re crafting your research proposal, remember that it’s not enough for a topic to simply be unique. It needs to be useful and value-creating – and you need to convey that value in your proposal. If you’re struggling to find a research topic that makes the cut, watch  our video covering how to find a research topic .

It’s all good and well to have a great topic that’s original and valuable, but you’re not going to convince anyone to approve it without discussing the practicalities – in other words:

• How will you actually undertake your research (i.e., your methodology)?
• Is your research methodology appropriate given your research aims?
• Is your approach manageable given your constraints (time, money, etc.)?

While it’s generally not expected that you’ll have a fully fleshed-out methodology at the proposal stage, you’ll likely still need to provide a high-level overview of your research methodology . Here are some important questions you’ll need to address in your research proposal:

• Will you take a qualitative , quantitative or mixed -method approach?
• What sampling strategy will you adopt?
• How will you collect your data (e.g., interviews, surveys, etc)?
• How will you analyse your data (e.g., descriptive and inferential statistics , content analysis, discourse analysis, etc, .)?
• What potential limitations will your methodology carry?

So, be sure to give some thought to the practicalities of your research and have at least a basic methodological plan before you start writing up your proposal. If this all sounds rather intimidating, the video below provides a good introduction to research methodology and the key choices you’ll need to make.

How To Structure A Research Proposal

Now that we’ve covered the key points that need to be addressed in a proposal, you may be wondering, “ But how is a research proposal structured? “.

While the exact structure and format required for a research proposal differs from university to university, there are four “essential ingredients” that commonly make up the structure of a research proposal:

• A rich introduction and background to the proposed research
• An initial literature review covering the existing research
• An overview of the proposed research methodology
• A discussion regarding the practicalities (project plans, timelines, etc.)

In the video below, we unpack each of these four sections, step by step.

Research Proposal Examples/Samples

In the video below, we provide a detailed walkthrough of two successful research proposals (Master’s and PhD-level), as well as our popular free proposal template.

Proposal Writing FAQs

How long should a research proposal be.

This varies tremendously, depending on the university, the field of study (e.g., social sciences vs natural sciences), and the level of the degree (e.g. undergraduate, Masters or PhD) – so it’s always best to check with your university what their specific requirements are before you start planning your proposal.

As a rough guide, a formal research proposal at Masters-level often ranges between 2000-3000 words, while a PhD-level proposal can be far more detailed, ranging from 5000-8000 words. In some cases, a rough outline of the topic is all that’s needed, while in other cases, universities expect a very detailed proposal that essentially forms the first three chapters of the dissertation or thesis.

The takeaway – be sure to check with your institution before you start writing.

How do I choose a topic for my research proposal?

Finding a good research topic is a process that involves multiple steps. We cover the topic ideation process in this video post.

How do I write a literature review for my proposal?

While you typically won’t need a comprehensive literature review at the proposal stage, you still need to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the key literature and are able to synthesise it. We explain the literature review process here.

How do I create a timeline and budget for my proposal?

We explain how to craft a project plan/timeline and budget in Research Proposal Bootcamp .

Which referencing format should I use in my research proposal?

The expectations and requirements regarding formatting and referencing vary from institution to institution. Therefore, you’ll need to check this information with your university.

What common proposal writing mistakes do I need to look out for?

We’ve create a video post about some of the most common mistakes students make when writing a proposal – you can access that here . If you’re short on time, here’s a quick summary:

• The research topic is too broad (or just poorly articulated).
• The research aims, objectives and questions don’t align.
• The research topic is not well justified.
• The study has a weak theoretical foundation.
• The research design is not well articulated well enough.
• Poor writing and sloppy presentation.
• Poor project planning and risk management.
• Not following the university’s specific criteria.

Key Takeaways & Additional Resources

As you write up your research proposal, remember the all-important core purpose:  to convince . Your research proposal needs to sell your study in terms of suitability and viability. So, focus on crafting a convincing narrative to ensure a strong proposal.

At the same time, pay close attention to your university’s requirements. While we’ve covered the essentials here, every institution has its own set of expectations and it’s essential that you follow these to maximise your chances of approval.

By the way, we’ve got plenty more resources to help you fast-track your research proposal. Here are some of our most popular resources to get you started:

• Proposal Writing 101 : A Introductory Webinar
• Research Proposal Bootcamp : The Ultimate Online Course
• Template : A basic template to help you craft your proposal

If you’re looking for 1-on-1 support with your research proposal, be sure to check out our private coaching service , where we hold your hand through the proposal development process (and the entire research journey), step by step.

Psst… there’s more!

This post is an extract from our bestselling Udemy Course, Research Proposal Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this .

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51 Comments

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You’re most welcome. We don’t have any research proposals that we can share (the students own the intellectual property), but you might find our research proposal template useful: https://gradcoach.com/research-proposal-template/

Cheruiyot Moses Kipyegon

Thanks alot. It was an eye opener that came timely enough before my imminent proposal defense. Thanks, again

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Understanding research proposals.

CLASSIC ARTICLE - While there are important differences between grant proposals for research and grant proposals for programs, there are also many parallels. Grantsmanship Center trainer Charles R. Putney outlines the major components of a standard research proposal, and he explains how they relate to similar components Learn the key differences and similarities between grant proposals for research and programs by reviewing an outline for a standard research proposal.of a program proposal.

• Research Process

Writing a Scientific Research Project Proposal

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The importance of a well-written research proposal cannot be underestimated. Your research really is only as good as your proposal. A poorly written, or poorly conceived research proposal will doom even an otherwise worthy project. On the other hand, a well-written, high-quality proposal will increase your chances for success.

In this article, we’ll outline the basics of writing an effective scientific research proposal, including the differences between research proposals, grants and cover letters. We’ll also touch on common mistakes made when submitting research proposals, as well as a simple example or template that you can follow.

What is a scientific research proposal?

The main purpose of a scientific research proposal is to convince your audience that your project is worthwhile, and that you have the expertise and wherewithal to complete it. The elements of an effective research proposal mirror those of the research process itself, which we’ll outline below. Essentially, the research proposal should include enough information for the reader to determine if your proposed study is worth pursuing.

It is not an uncommon misunderstanding to think that a research proposal and a cover letter are the same things. However, they are different. The main difference between a research proposal vs cover letter content is distinct. Whereas the research proposal summarizes the proposal for future research, the cover letter connects you to the research, and how you are the right person to complete the proposed research.

There is also sometimes confusion around a research proposal vs grant application. Whereas a research proposal is a statement of intent, related to answering a research question, a grant application is a specific request for funding to complete the research proposed. Of course, there are elements of overlap between the two documents; it’s the purpose of the document that defines one or the other.

Scientific Research Proposal Format

Although there is no one way to write a scientific research proposal, there are specific guidelines. A lot depends on which journal you’re submitting your research proposal to, so you may need to follow their scientific research proposal template.

In general, however, there are fairly universal sections to every scientific research proposal. These include:

• Title: Make sure the title of your proposal is descriptive and concise. Make it catch and informative at the same time, avoiding dry phrases like, “An investigation…” Your title should pique the interest of the reader.
• Abstract: This is a brief (300-500 words) summary that includes the research question, your rationale for the study, and any applicable hypothesis. You should also include a brief description of your methodology, including procedures, samples, instruments, etc.
• Introduction: The opening paragraph of your research proposal is, perhaps, the most important. Here you want to introduce the research problem in a creative way, and demonstrate your understanding of the need for the research. You want the reader to think that your proposed research is current, important and relevant.
• Background: Include a brief history of the topic and link it to a contemporary context to show its relevance for today. Identify key researchers and institutions also looking at the problem
• Literature Review: This is the section that may take the longest amount of time to assemble. Here you want to synthesize prior research, and place your proposed research into the larger picture of what’s been studied in the past. You want to show your reader that your work is original, and adds to the current knowledge.
• Research Design and Methodology: This section should be very clearly and logically written and organized. You are letting your reader know that you know what you are going to do, and how. The reader should feel confident that you have the skills and knowledge needed to get the project done.
• Preliminary Implications: Here you’ll be outlining how you anticipate your research will extend current knowledge in your field. You might also want to discuss how your findings will impact future research needs.
• Conclusion: This section reinforces the significance and importance of your proposed research, and summarizes the entire proposal.
• References/Citations: Of course, you need to include a full and accurate list of any and all sources you used to write your research proposal.

Common Mistakes in Writing a Scientific Research Project Proposal

Remember, the best research proposal can be rejected if it’s not well written or is ill-conceived. The most common mistakes made include:

• Not providing the proper context for your research question or the problem
• Failing to reference landmark/key studies
• Losing focus of the research question or problem
• Not accurately presenting contributions by other researchers and institutions
• Incompletely developing a persuasive argument for the research that is being proposed
• Misplaced attention on minor points and/or not enough detail on major issues
• Sloppy, low-quality writing without effective logic and flow
• Incorrect or lapses in references and citations, and/or references not in proper format
• The proposal is too long – or too short

Scientific Research Proposal Example

There are countless examples that you can find for successful research proposals. In addition, you can also find examples of unsuccessful research proposals. Search for successful research proposals in your field, and even for your target journal, to get a good idea on what specifically your audience may be looking for.

While there’s no one example that will show you everything you need to know, looking at a few will give you a good idea of what you need to include in your own research proposal. Talk, also, to colleagues in your field, especially if you are a student or a new researcher. We can often learn from the mistakes of others. The more prepared and knowledgeable you are prior to writing your research proposal, the more likely you are to succeed.

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One of the top reasons scientific research proposals are rejected is due to poor logic and flow. Check out our Language Editing Services to ensure a great proposal , that’s clear and concise, and properly referenced. Check our video for more information, and get started today.

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Write Your Proposal

Learning to write an grant proposal at the dissertation stage has implications that go well beyond the process itself; it is  a skill that will be essential to you throughout your professional or academic career.

Proposal Elements

Although each funding agency will have its own (usually very specific) requirements, there are several  elements of a proposal that are fairly standard . While these elements are commonly requested in proposals, it is imperative to follow the request for proposals (RFP) precise proposal requirements

Project Summary

Title.  Make it clear, accurate, and succinct. This is the first thing the reviewers will see. Make a good impression.

Abstract.  Probably the most important part of the grant proposal. It should be absolutely clear to any reviewer reading it, regardless of his/her specific expertise. Write this last.

Some tips for writing the project summary:

• capture reviewers attention
• present a new, original, and compelling idea
• use engaging language

Project Description

Introduction/The ”Hook”.  Immediately capture the reviewer’s attention. There are many ways to represent the same idea, however, the HOOK tailors the description of the idea to the interest of a particular funder. This is a critical element of your proposal. It will likely determine whether a reviewer reads your proposal with interest or decides to skim it.

Background/Literature Review.  Reviewers want to know whether you’ve done the necessary preliminary research to undertake your project. Literature reviews should be selective and critical, not exhaustive. Be sure to provide enough background in your argument so both generalists and specialists understand your proposal. It is wise to avoid jargon and unnecessary technical terms.

Research Plan.  Describe, as specifically as possible, all components of the research methodology, expressed in relation to the specific aims/priorities/grant criteria of the funding agency, i.e., study population, type of data to be used, how data will be collected, how data will be analyzed, and a timetable for the research project (start/end dates, schedule of activities, and projected outcomes). Final decisions about which proposals are funded often come down to whether the proposal convinces the reviewer that the research project is well planned and feasible and whether the investigators are well qualified to execute it.

Some tips for writing the project description:

• follow the instructions precisely, i.e., answer all of the questions and stick to the format (font, margin, and page limits) requirements
• present well-organized, focused project plan
• align your plan with the specific aims/priorities/grant criteria of sponsor
• avoid being too ambitious or unrealistic

Remember your application will be reviewed by real people not by a monolithic agency. Reviewers are extraordinarily busy people with full-time commitments to their jobs, communities, and families. Make sure your proposal includes absolutely everything they need to evaluate your research project quickly and efficiently!

Make it easy for the reviwers by following the order of the RFP, even use the same headings. The RFP contains most of the essential information you will need to write a competitive proposal, fully responsive to the agency’s funding objectives and review criteria. Convince the reviewer that your project is important and that you are the right person for the job. “Agencies will not fund an idea not embedded in a convincing pattern of narrative detail and performance specificity tightly mapped to funding agency objectives” ( Cronan, 2007 ).

Personal Statement/ Biographical Narrative

Budget/Justification

Include a reasonable and accurate budget that meets the sponsor’s requirements. Clearly explain the costs of the research project (e.g. personnel, travel, equipment, supplies, etc.), sometimes offer a budget narrative/justification, if requested.

Support Materials

• Sample instruments
• Letters of recommendation
• Faculty sponsorship

Never forget, grant writing is a competition. There is intense competition for a limited amount of research funds.

Writing a grant proposal is not the same as writing a dissertation proposal!

Although there are many similarities between writing a grant proposal and writing a dissertation proposal, there are also  significant differences . Consider this:

Proofread Entire Proposal

Make sure there are ABSOLUTELY no typos, spelling, or grammatical errors. Speling and gramatticle erors wil sink an otherwise competitive propsal.

Avoid jargon.

Review Submission Checklist

Make sure your proposal sticks to requirements:

• Did you answer ALL the questions?
• Did you stick to the format (font, margin, spacing, and page limits) and structure requirements?

Submit Proposal on Time

University Libraries

Writing a dissertation or thesis proposal, what is a proposal, what is the purpose of a proposal.

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The proposal, sometimes called the prospectus, is composed mainly of the Introduction, Research Questions, Literature Review, Research Significance and Methodology. It may also include a dissertation/thesis outline and a timeline for your proposed research. You will be able to reuse the proposal when you actually write the entire dissertation or thesis.

In the graduate student timeline, the proposal comes after successfully passing qualifying or comprehensive exams and before starting the research for a dissertation or thesis.

Each UNT department has slightly different proposal requirements, so be sure to check with your advisor or the department's graduate advisor before you start!

• Examples of Proposals from UTexas More than 20 completed dissertation proposals are available to read at the UT Intellectual Entrepreneurship website.
• Dissertation Proposal Guidelines This document from the Department of Communication at the University of Washington is a good example of what you might be expected to include in a proposal.

The purpose of a proposal is to convince your dissertation or thesis committee that you are ready to start your research project and to create a plan for your dissertation or thesis work. You will submit your proposal to your committee for review and then you will do your proposal defense, during which you present your plan and the committee asks questions about it. The committee wants to know if your research questions have academic merit and whether you have chosen the right methods to answer the questions.

• How to Prepare a Successful Dissertation Proposal Defense Some general tips for a proposal defense from synonym.com

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Research Grant Proposal Writing Course for Students in Higher Institutions

Genevieve dable-tupas.

1 Research Center, College of Medicine, Davao Medical School Foundation Inc., Davao, The Philippines.

Victoria Toralba-Lupase

2 Graduate School, Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc., Davao City, Philippines.

Juan C. Puyana

3 MD, FRCSC, FACS, FACCP. School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Professor of Surgery, Critical Care Medicine, and Clinical Translational Science, Director for Global Health-Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States. Editorial Board Member, IJMS.

Mihnea-Alexandru Găman

4 Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Department of Hematology, Center of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Fundeni Clinical Institute. Alumnus, Society of Students in Medicine of Bucharest (SSMB), Bucharest, Romania. Scientific Editor, IJMS.

Research grant proposals have become part of the everyday life of every scientist working in the field of life sciences. Although most early career researchers begin working on research grant proposals during their doctorate, laying the foundation of this complicated task should occur during their undergraduate training. This editorial serves as an introduction into research grant proposal writing for students enrolled in higher education and tackles subjects such as choosing a research topic and writing a successful grant application, as well as possible challenges and funding opportunities that we considered appropriate for students and early career researchers.

Introduction

Writing a research proposal is already a big challenge in itself. How much more if you write a research proposal to seek funding? Can we do it? How? The answers to these questions are provided in this editorial. While it is true that writing a research proposal is indeed a challenging task, it does not mean that it is impossible. It does take time and a lot of effort, but once you have done it, getting someone to fund it, is not much of a problem anymore. A lot of funding agencies, local, national and international are willing to fund research projects that are sound, innovative and have the potential to help improve the way we do things, the environment and the community.

So where do we start? We begin by conceptualizing a research question that seeks to answer or clarify a certain need or problem. The research question can come from daily experiences and challenges. It can be a local, national or global issue or problem that needs to be clarified, improved or addressed. An example of a global problem that needs solutions would be climate change. In developing and tropical countries like the Philippines, research on Dengue Fever can be considered relevant. Most recently is the emergence of a new infectious viral disease, the novel Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Ideas that would seek to address these problems are good research topics to work on. Since these problems pose great impact for society, naturally, many agencies would support research innovations that offer potential solutions to such. This is where we start.

Choosing a Research Topic

In everyday life, we are confronted with so many problems. So how do we choose? You can approach this issue in several ways. Firstly, you may consider thinking about your potential beneficiaries. Who do you want to help? What subset of the population do you want to benefit from your project? For example, if you want to help the earthquake victims, then think of disaster related activities that can help improve the way we deal with natural calamities or disaster preparedness. Such ideas may address problems that have occurred before, during or after the disaster. In particular, you can think of ways on how to streamline the approach of distributing relief goods for the affected community so that these goods reach the victims in the earliest time possible while minimizing expenses. Secondly, you may opt to look for funding opportunities first that are in line with your expertise, then think of a particular problem you want to address. For example, you may just search the World Wide Web: look for legitimate websites like for the Philippines, Department of Health (DOH) or Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and scroll down on funding opportunities. 1 These websites usually give details on the research topics they prefer to fund. Choose a topic you are most interested in and that suits your expertise and write about it. These funding sites also have their own research proposal templates which you need to follow.

Writing the Research Proposal

Generally, the major components of a research proposal are the following: Introduction, Methodology, Results (Dummy tables), Timetable and Budget ( Figure 1 ). The following section presents the general contents of a research proposal as well as instructions on how to write each component. Normally, since we are still proposing something, we use the future tense especially in the Methodology section. There may be variations depending on the funding institution. Nevertheless, this section will just serve as a guide on how to develop your research proposal.

Major Components of a Research Proposal.

Preliminaries

Write the title of your research proposal. Some funding agencies may have specific formats for you to follow. There is no ideal number of words that should make up a research title although some sources advise to limit it to 10 to 15 words. 2 In our opinion, researchers should not limit themselves with a specific number of words but that the title should be as concise as possible, yet adequate enough to describe the contents and purpose of your research. Firstly, a good title predicts the content of the research paper. Secondly, a good title should be interesting to the reader. Thirdly, it should reflect the tone of the writing. Fourthly and finally, it should contain important keywords that will make it easier to be located during a keyword search. Avoid phrases like “A study on…” or “Analysis of…”; research titles are usually in the form of a phrase or less commonly a question. 2

Table of Contents

Arrange this section with main headings and subheadings with the following major parts, namely: Introduction, Methodology and Results. The Results section will only include dummy tables. Other important parts include the preliminaries, references, appendices, and curriculum vitae. 3

List of Tables

List the number and titles of tables as they appear in the body of the research proposal. The first table may start in the Methodology. 3

List of Figures

Make a list of figures and arrange in this section as they appear in the body of the research. The first figure may start in the Methodology. 3

Body of a Full-Blown Research Proposal

The full-blown proposal contains only three parts: Introduction, Methodology and Results (dummy tables only). 3

This part justifies the need to answer the main question you are designed to answer. It gives a clear idea about the seriousness of the problem. It sets the scene of the setting of the study that is to interest the reader. It starts with general ideas then moves down to specifics. This contains the background, review of related literature, theoretical framework, conceptual framework, objectives, hypothesis, and significance of the study. 3

Background of the Study

Writing the background of your study is like writing an interesting story that will engage your reader. Start with a brief provocative problem statement that is applicable to the theme of the study. This one statement should catch the attention of the reader. Include convincing arguments that will support the statement on the seriousness and urgency of the problem. Follow with facts/statistics that portray the problematic situation (global, national, regional, and local setting). Present a resume of events/programs/projects that have been done by various public and private sectors to address the problem. Indicate a firm stand on the need to bridge the gap between existing facts and the problematic situation. Indicate what should be done and what data are needed to address the problem. Present the rationale on the need to conduct the study. 4 – 5 The length of the write-up should not exceed three pages in double space setting. 3

Review of Related Literature

This section provides information on the background of the problem, theories that explain the existence of the problem and determinants, and previous studies done. Acquaint the reader with existing studies as to what has been found, who has done the work, when and where the latest studies have been conducted. Provide the reader with information on what research methods were utilized and provide information on what problems were met and how were they resolved. Use sub-headings and use past tense. 6 – 7 Establish the theoretical and conceptual framework for the research.

• Theoretical Framework - Make use of a theory or theories to explain why a phenomenon exists and how the different factors which brought about the phenomenon are interrelated. The purpose of the theoretical framework is to develop and present a unified explanation of related ideas and to provide the foundation on which the study will build and develop. 3 , 8
• Conceptual Framework - Make a diagram to present how different variables in the study are related to each other. It has the same function as the theoretical framework but instead of using theories, it uses constructs which are specific and well-defined. Explain how the different variables are related to each other. 3 , 8

These are statements of purpose for which the investigation is conducted. These serve as guides in the specification of variables, selection of research methods, determination of the data to be collected and planning of analysis of results.

For a quantitative study, state the General Objective by transforming the problem statement from an interrogative form to a declarative statement, usually introduced by the phrase “to determine”. State the specific objectives which are specific activities/questions that are desired to be done to answer the general objectives. These are statements of the specific outcomes expected in the study. 3 , 9

In a qualitative study, the objectives appear as a) “Grand Tour Question” as the main aim which is written in a declarative statement; and b) the sub-problems which are in the interrogative form. 3 , 10 Although the focus of this editorial is quantitative research, it is also good to note this distinction between quantitative and qualitative research in terms of objective formulation.

This section appears in the proposal only if the study determines relationship(s) or difference(s) between variables. This is an educated guess, an assertion or proposition about the interrelationship or about differences between two or more variables. If your study does not test causal relationships or differences between variables, do not use a hypothesis (e.g., in purely descriptive, diagnostic, or exploratory investigations). There are two types of hypotheses, the Null Hypothesis (statement of denial of an existence, attribute, relationship, difference, or an effect) and Alternative Hypothesis (statement of relationship, difference or an effect). Of these two, use the null hypothesis because errors in accepting or rejecting the hypothesis can be easily avoided. 3 , 11

Significance of the Study

State the value of the study or justification for making the study. Make a list of potential users and indicate the specific contribution of the results (findings, conclusions, recommendations) to these beneficiaries of the study. (Note: In the final research write-up, you have to integrate significance in the Discussion). 3

Methodology

This section provides a detailed description of the basic research plan or procedure on how the study will be done so that it will be reproduced by a competent colleague or that the procedures are needed to judge the validity of its answer. This may be a place to begin writing then return to introduction when a flow of words has already started. Include in this section the following parts: research design, setting, population, variables and measures (dependent and independent variables), sampling (design, randomization and estimation of sample size), data collection procedures and ethical considerations. 3 In the proposal, this chapter is written in future tense. In the final write-up, it is written in past tense.

Research Design

This refers to the plan of action, approach or strategy to be used in the study. Define the research design used, whether it is descriptive, cross-sectional, case-control, cohort or experimental, quasi-experimental, etc. Indicate who has the authority of such definition and cite the reference. 3

Describe the study area or the venue where the study will be conducted (e.g., hospital, university, research centre, etc.). Provide a justification for choosing the study area. A map may be shown when necessary. 3

Indicate the number and significant characteristics of the participants. Provide inclusion criteria (specific characteristics that make the participants qualified to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (specific characteristics that render a certain segment of the population to be ineligible to be included in the study). 3

Variables and Measures

Variables are characteristics that are measured numerically (e.g. blood pressure) or in terms of categories (e.g. presence or absence of a disease, smoker or non-smoker, etc.). If your study determines a relationship between variables, write the dependent variable first. A dependent variable “hangs on” to another variable or is a putative effect of one or more variables. Then write the independent variable(s). This/these characteristic(s) is/are the assumed cause(s) or reason(s) for any variation of a dependent variable which is usually the problem in the study. 3

Specify the categories or classes of the dependent and independent variables in terms of scales of measurement. These maybe written in a form of a nominal (two or more categories that are qualitatively different from each other (e.g. place of delivery such as hospital and home); ordinal (ranked categories, e.g. severity of a disease); interval (zero does not indicate absence of attribute and equal differences between any pair of numbers in the scale indicate equal differences but not in the amounts of the attribute such as temperature); and ratio (zero indicates absence of attribute and equal differences between any pair of numbers is the same as that between the amounts of attribute being measured (e.g. hemoglobin concentration or scores in the examination). 3

Explain the process of choosing the samples that will represent the entire population. Include in this section three issues about sampling: i.e., sampling design, randomization, and estimation of sample size if appropriate.

Sampling design:

Explain the entire procedure on how the participants will be chosen. Choose the appropriate sampling design. There are two basic types of sampling designs namely non-probability or non-random or judgmental sampling (e.g. accidental and purposive) and probability sampling (e.g. simple random, systematic, stratified random, stratified systematic, cluster, two-stage and multi-stage designs). State the sampling frame, whether a spot map or a list will be used. 3

Randomization:

Describe the randomization procedure if needed in the study. This refers to the procedure where each participant is assigned to a treatment group or control group by chance (e.g. by random numbers) to reduce the influence of extraneous factors. 3

Estimation of sample size:

Show how sample size is derived using some formula for estimation of sample size. This is used to consider the availability of human resources and logistics. 3

Data Collection Procedure

Explain in detail how pre-testing or pilot testing will be conducted including the number of participants, recruitment, setting, and instrument to be pre-tested, procedures to be used in pre-testing. 3

Explain in detail how the data will be gathered, whether through observation method using instruments (like tape measure or weighing scale); personal interview using a structured interview schedule, self-administered interview, key informant interview and/or focus group discussion. Describe the instrument in terms of number and content of questions to be used, type of scale, how these are organized, and the method of validation. Attach a copy of the instrument in the appendix. Also describe here when the study will start and when it will end. Describe the enumerators in terms of their educational attainment, employment status, experience as interviewers/observers, method and duration of training for the study. 3

Data Analysis

Indicate the type of statistical test(s), decision making criteria (alpha level) and computer software that will be used in the study. Refer to the specific objectives as a guide in the identification of appropriate statistical tools. (Note: In the final research write-up, integrate data analysis in the Results. 3

Limitations of the Study

The limitations of the study should provide information on certain conditions which are beyond the control of the investigator. (Note: In the final paper, integrate limitations of the study in the Discussion). 3

Ethical Considerations

Describe the ethical issues that will be observed to protect the rights, safety, privacy, and sensitivity of laboratory animals and/or human participants as well as the researchers themselves, the community and the environment. If the study deals with human participants, state clearly how informed consent is obtained. This means that the participants will give their consent (by signing in the informed consent form) after they have been informed of the nature of the study, their roles in the study, risks and inconveniences, benefits for participation, compensation, provision for illness/injury, whom to contact, voluntariness of participation, and confidentially that must be carried out to secure their anonymity and privacy. Guidelines for ethical considerations can be accessed from the manual of the Research Ethics Committee of the institution in accordance with internationally approved ethical standards in the conduct of human research. 12 If the study deals with animals, it should be stated that extreme care must be observed in every step from the time these are purchased to the time that they are disposed of. These guidelines should be available and well stipulated in the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Manual. 13 Take into consideration that any research project you conduct must also adhere to the local regulations, national law and the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008. 14 Do not forget to disclose any possible conflicts of interest or competing interests: research funding, honoraria from pharmaceutical companies, personal fees, payments for partaking in advisory boards, etc.

The results section of a research proposal will only contain the Dummy tables and/or figures which should be left empty until data have been collected and analyzed. The dummy tables and/or figures will depend on the specific objectives of your research. Roughly, there should be at least one table and/or figure per specific objective. 3

For example, if one specific objective states: To determine and compare the demographic data of the participants in the treatment and control group. For this type of objective, a table summarizing the demographic data of your population would be most appropriate.

Timetables or Gantt charts provide a visual presentation of the specific tasks that will be undertaken in the research project and their relative timing or expected length of time from start to completion of each task. 15 This gives the reader an idea on the chronological activities to be undertaken from the beginning to the end of the research project ( Table 2 ).

Sample Timetable for a One-Year Research Project.

A budget plan is a crucial part of every research proposal. If a funding agency has already been identified, just check the website and you will surely find a budget template which will serve as your guide. Generally, the basic parts of a budget proposal consist of the following: Personnel Services, Maintenance and Operating Expenses, and Supplies or Capital Outlay but the format may vary according to the preferred budget format of the funder. Personnel Services include honoraria of the researchers and salaries of research assistants who will help conduct the study. Maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) includes repairs and maintenance of facilities and equipment, supplies and materials, travelling and communication expenses and all expenses pertaining to the data collection and completion of the research. 16

A good budget proposal is often a reflection of well-planned research activities. It provides information on how the requested funds will be spent. As much as possible, the amount reflected in the budget should be based on actual costs. Additionally, some funders may require budget justification or explanations aside from the costing. 16 Please find below ( Table 3 ) an example of a budget proposal of one of our funded research projects.

Actual Example of a Budget Proposal for Funding.

Legend: Budget in Romanian leu. 1 Romanian leu equals 0.2 USD.

Writing a research proposal for funding is a very challenging and demanding job. Even if you are convinced that the problem or issue you want to address is relevant and has a big potential to change or improve the way we do things, we can never say 100% that it will be funded. The decision whether our proposal will be funded or not remains in the hands of the funding agency. To increase our chance to be funded, we need to seek guidance from the funding agencies themselves. We need to determine what types of research they prefer and what their needs are. Priority issues or problems that need solutions are usually included in the research agenda of the funding agency which we can access from their websites. Once we have set our goals on what research proposal we are going to pursue, we work on it to the best of our abilities. If ever we fail to get the funding the first time we submit our proposal, it does not mean we give up right away. Usually, the funding agencies will give their comments and recommendations on how to improve our proposal. If their recommendations are doable, then we can work on them, improve our proposal, and submit again. Hard work and perseverance will usually get you somewhere. We can also opt to submit our proposal to another funding agency, but we have to submit to only one funding agency at a time. Do not make the mistake of sending your proposal to several funding agencies at one time. This is not a good research practice.

Funding Opportunities for Students

Although the opportunities to receive funding as a student are small, opportunities may arise at any time during an aspiring young researcher’s career. In many instances, students should take into consideration that the first research proposal and grant that they present to the scientific world is their graduation thesis. Most of the time, their investigation is financed by their university or by research grants obtained by their supervisors and (or) coordinators. However, there are still some opportunities to apply for financing from professional societies. Fortunately, most international societies offer free membership for students, and we encourage you to join as many societies as possible and benefit from free lectures, workshops, or participation in congresses, as well as apply for travel and (or) accommodation grants as to partake in scientific events.

For example, the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) offers several awards and grants for students interested in medical education. The Student Initiatives Grant consists of a funding opportunity of £2000 ( https://amee.org/awards-prizes/student-initiatives-grant ) for students who would like to coordinate a project in the field of medical education. Another AMEE change to receive an imbursement (£10000) is the Research Grant Awards for an educational research project. 17 – 18 In addition, the pharmaceutical company AMGEN finances an undergraduate summer research program in Science and Biotechnology ( AMGEN Scholars Program ) for undergraduates willing to partake in a short research internship in a top-notch university in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia or Asia, such as Harvard University, Yale University, Cambridge University, The Pasteur Institute, The Karolinska Institute, The University of Tokyo or The University of Melbourne. The AMGEN Foundation does not ask for previous experience in research for the students who want to apply. More details can be obtained at the following website: https://amgenscholars.com/ . 19

In addition, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) offers awards for Medical Students and Early-Career Investigators who are aspiring to conduct research in the field of Hematology or who want to pursue specialty training in Hematology. More information can be obtained at the following address: https://www.hematology.org/awards/medical-student . 20

In terms of courses and lectures, the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) organizes annual five-day courses for medical students who are interested in the field of Oncology. Some of the topics tackled during these scientific meetings are Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Melanoma and other malignancies. Please access https://www.esmo.org/meetings/esmo-eso-courses-on-medical-oncology-for-medical-students to discover this opportunity. 21

Further Recommended Readings and Training Opportunities

Although there are less opportunities for students enrolled in higher education to submit grant applications and receive funding for their ideas, there are sufficient chances to receive free training in the field before starting to get involved in research projects. For example, Elsevier’s Researcher Academy ( https://researcheracademy.elsevier.com ) offers several free webinars and e-learning opportunities for researchers who want to improve their grasp of knowledge. The e-learning modules are focused on research preparation (funding, management of data, research collaborations), writing for research (manuscript preparation and book writing), the basics of the publication process, peer-review and methods to communicate your research findings. 22

Another opportunity for students to get involved in the process of manuscript and grant evaluation is The Web of Science Academy ( https://clarivate.com/webofsciencegroup/solutions/web-of-science-academy/ ) a peer-review training course available for free which enables researchers to become certified peer-reviewers. Applicants are mentored by experts in their field of research and the course is divided in 10 modules: introductory modules, an overview of peer-review and scientific journals, ethics, how to evaluate different sections of a paper (introduction, methodology, data and results, discussions, conclusions) and how to structure a review. 23

In summary, we have given you a guide on how to make a research proposal for funding from conceptualization to execution to facing the challenges and more. 24 Writing a research proposal for funding is hard work and very challenging. However, if you succeed, it is also very rewarding, not as much financially but more so on the potential of improving the lives of the people in the community and in contributing to the body of knowledge which can benefit humanity.

Sample Table of Contents. 3

Acknowledgments

M.-A.G. acknowledges the support of the Society of Students in Medicine of Bucharest (SSMB) - research grant competition for students, contract no. 231/29.03.2017.

Dr. Juan C. Puyana work is partially funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) of the United States with the grant 5UG3HL151595. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

Conflict of Interest Statement & Funding

The Authors have no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between a research plan and a research proposal.

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

Frequently asked questions: Writing a research paper

A research project is an academic, scientific, or professional undertaking to answer a research question . Research projects can take many forms, such as qualitative or quantitative , descriptive , longitudinal , experimental , or correlational . What kind of research approach you choose will depend on your topic.

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

Research questions anchor your whole project, so it’s important to spend some time refining them.

In general, they should be:

• Focused and researchable
• Answerable using credible sources
• Complex and arguable
• Feasible and specific
• Relevant and original

All research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.

Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.

Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .

Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.

I will compare …

Your research objectives indicate how you’ll try to address your research problem and should be specific:

Research objectives describe what you intend your research project to accomplish.

They summarize the approach and purpose of the project and help to focus your research.

Your objectives should appear in the introduction of your research paper , at the end of your problem statement .

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in Chicago style are to:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman
• Use 1 inch margins or larger
• Apply double line spacing
• Indent every new paragraph ½ inch
• Include a title page
• Place page numbers in the top right or bottom center
• Cite your sources with author-date citations or Chicago footnotes
• Include a bibliography or reference list

To automatically generate accurate Chicago references, you can use Scribbr’s free Chicago reference generator .

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA style are as follows:

• Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman
• Set 1 inch page margins
• Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page
• Center the paper’s title
• Use title case capitalization for headings
• Cite your sources with MLA in-text citations
• List all sources cited on a Works Cited page at the end

To format a paper in APA Style , follow these guidelines:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman or 11 pt Arial
• If submitting for publication, insert a running head on every page
• Apply APA heading styles
• Cite your sources with APA in-text citations
• List all sources cited on a reference page at the end

No, it’s not appropriate to present new arguments or evidence in the conclusion . While you might be tempted to save a striking argument for last, research papers follow a more formal structure than this.

All your findings and arguments should be presented in the body of the text (more specifically in the results and discussion sections if you are following a scientific structure). The conclusion is meant to summarize and reflect on the evidence and arguments you have already presented, not introduce new ones.

The conclusion of a research paper has several key elements you should make sure to include:

• A restatement of the research problem
• A summary of your key arguments and/or findings
• A short discussion of the implications of your research

Don’t feel that you have to write the introduction first. The introduction is often one of the last parts of the research paper you’ll write, along with the conclusion.

This is because it can be easier to introduce your paper once you’ve already written the body ; you may not have the clearest idea of your arguments until you’ve written them, and things can change during the writing process .

The way you present your research problem in your introduction varies depending on the nature of your research paper . A research paper that presents a sustained argument will usually encapsulate this argument in a thesis statement .

A research paper designed to present the results of empirical research tends to present a research question that it seeks to answer. It may also include a hypothesis —a prediction that will be confirmed or disproved by your research.

The introduction of a research paper includes several key elements:

• A hook to catch the reader’s interest
• Relevant background on the topic
• Details of your research problem

and your problem statement

• A thesis statement or research question
• Sometimes an overview of the paper

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The Difference Between Research Papers and Proposals

Research papers and proposals are two distinct yet closely related writing projects that can be confusing to differentiate between. This article seeks to explore the similarities and differences between research papers and proposals in order to better inform readers of their respective purpose, style, scope, structure, audience, and more. By the end of this article readers will have a greater understanding of both types of written work so they may make an informed decision about which project is best suited for their needs.

I. Introduction to Research Papers and Proposals

Ii. definition of research paper, iii. components of a research paper, iv. definition of proposal, v. components of a proposal, vi. differences between a research paper and proposal, vii. conclusion.

A World of Possibilities Research papers and proposals offer a window into the unlimited world of ideas. Whether it be delving into scientific discovery, exploring philosophical concepts, or uncovering ancient literature, these two forms of writing open up doors to new possibilities. But what exactly are research papers and proposals? While they share some similarities in terms of structure and purpose, there are key differences between them that should not be overlooked.

• Research Papers: typically involve an investigation process leading towards a synthesis report on any given topic – for example analyzing trends in poverty alleviation strategies worldwide.
• Proposals: focus more on offering solutions; often outlining various steps or processes needed to address particular issues – such as proposing changes within existing health care systems.

. It’s important to keep this distinction in mind when selecting which type is most suitable for your purposes.

A research paper is a type of academic writing that involves the use of scholarly sources and an analysis to investigate specific topics. Research papers often rely on primary or secondary data, such as surveys or experiments, to analyze and explain their findings. The resulting document provides new insights into a topic by examining existing information in a fresh way.

• Offers an initial exploration , providing possible solutions for further study.

The main components of a research paper, regardless of its subject or length, is the same. As such it is essential to understand what they are and how to include them in your work.

• Introduction: The introduction should provide an overview of your topic and explain why the issue you’re discussing matters. Additionally, be sure to note any gaps in knowledge that may exist regarding this particular topic so you can address these throughout the course of your paper.
• Literature Review: After providing background information on your chosen topic or problem area, conduct a thorough review of relevant literature from reliable sources. This will enable you to discuss current practices related to this field as well as explore various theories surrounding it.

A Proposal: An Overview

• At its core, a proposal is an offer of solutions to a particular problem.
• Proposals can come in many forms and for various purposes, but the basic structure remains the same across disciplines.

Therefore, when crafting a proposal you must demonstrate why your proposed plan not only provides a remedy but also brings value by outlining potential benefits as well as risks associated with the suggested solution. Additionally, explain who will benefit from this proposition (e.g., customers/stakeholders) and what resources are needed to implement such changes in order facilitate success. In addition to convincing others that they need your services/product/idea; effective communication goes hand-in-hand with successful selling. Use clear language and succinctly convey why this initiative would be beneficial and worth investing in.

A research proposal and paper are two distinct entities, although many individuals use the terms interchangeably. A research paper is a document that contains an analysis of data gathered from multiple sources on a particular topic. It must be well written with proper citations for any outside resources used in its composition. In contrast, a research proposal , while also including elements such as data collection methods and conclusions about the results of said methods, aims to persuade others to invest their own time or money into studying the same subject.

When constructing either type of document it’s important to consider all components necessary for successful completion:

• Problem Statement – Provides evidence that there is something worth exploring further.
• Literature Review – Examines previous studies related to your topic so you can place your work within larger context of existing knowledge.
• Research Methodology – Describes how you intend gather information; typically quantitative or qualitative approaches are employed.

Comparing a Research Paper and Proposal Research papers and proposals share certain elements, yet differ in purpose and execution. While both may involve extensive research, the former is generally focused on an existing topic or area of study while the latter endeavors to introduce a new concept. Below are some key points that differentiate between these two types of documents.

• A research paper , which can be based on primary sources such as interviews or surveys, typically begins with an introduction to its topic followed by analysis that supports it.
• In contrast, a proposal , often written for academic purposes like grant funding applications or college admissions decisions, provides specific information regarding what should be done in order to solve problems related to its subject matter.

. Generally speaking, this includes detailed descriptions about possible solutions along with any pertinent background data needed for evaluation.

In this research paper, the purpose was to compare and contrast a research proposal with an actual written research paper. Through exploring both topics in detail, it has been shown that there is a stark difference between them. A research proposal is more focused on providing an outline of what the researcher intends to accomplish whereas the completed project will go into far greater detail about each aspect of their study.

• Research Proposal : The primary aim of a proposal document is for approval by supervisors or academics; they are used as a tool for clarifying ideas and setting out clear objectives before any data collection takes place.
• Research Paper: This requires extensive work after approval has been given – from collecting relevant data to analysing results, all prior knowledge must be synthesised in order to form conclusions which can then be presented through writing.

In conclusion, this article has outlined the differences between research papers and proposals. Research papers are often used to explore a subject or answer questions through experiments and analyses while proposals attempt to present an argument for approval from another individual or organization. Knowing the distinction between these two forms of writing can help individuals better understand how best to approach their own projects and properly communicate with colleagues in academic settings.

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Research Paper vs Research Proposal v Thesis: 5 differences

Some students may be confused concerning the difference between a research proposal and a research paper. This is understandable if it is the first time a student is writing either of the two types of research.

This is because some students may have been used to writing essays that take a much simpler format and approach in writing the content.

Therefore, if you are one of those students who are not sure of the difference(s) between a research proposal and a research paper, do not worry.

Research Proposal vs Research Paper

Now, what is the difference between a research proposal and a research paper? This section will elaborate on the differences between the two while exploring their comparisons with other types of academic papers. 

A research proposal is a preliminary paper that is submitted to the instructor so that the researcher can be granted permission to proceed with the actual research paper. It proposes what the research project will be all about. On the other hand, a research paper is an academic piece that presents what one found out after in-depth research on a specified topic.

Let us understand each of them in deeper detail. What this means is that a research proposal “proposes” what the researcher will be going to tackle within the main paper.

As such, they should clarify or provide details as to what the main research paper will be tackling the topic, the expected hypothesis and claims, the type of studies used, the methodologies, the population in which the research will be conducted, and the expected implications of the research. 

A research proposal needs to demonstrate the importance of the actual research to the discipline and society in general. Without this, then the research proposal would not pass, and no actual research will be conducted to produce the research paper.

When it comes to the actual research paper, it can be regarded as the work that will be produced after the research proposal has been approved and a research go-ahead has been granted to the researcher(s).

Therefore, the research paper will be a complete paper that reports what has been researched, the findings of the studies conducted, and the discussions concerning the findings. It will not be like a research proposal that will be proposing things that will happen in the future.

It should be noted that this is a major or simplified difference between a research proposal and a research paper. The next sections of this article will discuss in detail the main differences between them, plus their differences with other types of papers. 

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What is a research proposal.

A research proposal can be regarded as an academic preliminary request for research that is meant to be submitted to the instructor before the writer or student is given the go-ahead to proceed with writing the research paper.

What this means is that a research proposal will ‘propose’ what the research paper will be all about and the merits of the research to the discipline and society in general. 

Therefore, a research proposal is written before a research paper is written.

If a research proposal fails to be approved, then the researcher or student will not be allowed to write a research paper.

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper can be regarded as a formal academic piece written by students or researchers after the instructor or academic committee has approved their research proposals to tackle a particular research topic in a specific discipline to find solutions through qualitative and/or quantitative studies. 

Therefore, a research paper is a long piece of academic writing that utilizes the research proposal’s topic and claims to test a hypothesis. The research paper aims not to propose a study but to conduct an actual study that would benefit the discipline and society. 

Differences between a Research Proposal and a Research Paper

As we have noted above, there is a big difference between a research proposal and a research paper. Below are some of the major differences between the two:

1. The Time of Being Written

One of the most notable differences between a research proposal and a research paper is that a research proposal is written before a research paper. This is because a research proposal is meant to ‘propose’ what the writer, student, or researcher is going to write in their main research paper. As such, a research proposal has to be approved before a research paper is written. 

The second difference between a research proposal and a research paper is the purpose of the two pieces of writing. The main aim of a research proposal is to present to the instructor what will be tackled within the research paper. 

On the other hand, the purpose of a research paper is to academically present research that has already been conducted by the writer or the researcher. A research paper is a final presentation concerning a particular topic. 

3. Use of Grammatical Tenses

Another difference between a research proposal and a research paper is that while the proposal uses future tense (will be, shall be, and so on), a research paper uses a grammatical tense that describes things that have already been done.

This is because the research has already been conducted. When it comes to the analysis of the findings and discussions, the present tense can be used because things are unfolding. 

4. Context and Audience

The context of a research proposal is to present “proposals” of ideas that will be used to build upon a research paper.

As such, the audience will be the instructor or a research committee that is meant to gauge the relevance of the proposal to the topic. 

On the other hand, a research paper is not formulated to lead to research but to describe the research.

Therefore, a research paper will target the instructor and any reader who is interested in the topic, discipline, or study. 

Finally, the difference between a research proposal and a research paper is the length. A research proposal is considerably shorter compared to a research paper because of the content. A research paper will contain a lot of detail concerning the topic, the type of research, the findings, discussions, and conclusions because research has already been conducted. 

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Difference Between a Thesis and a Research Proposal

The main difference between a thesis and a research proposal is their purpose. A thesis is a formal academic piece of writing done on a particular topic that has not yet been explored. This is why a thesis has a prospectus stage where the student has to consult with a committee. On the other hand, a research proposal proposes the topic and the research to be done.

Therefore, a research proposal will not require a prospectus stage or a committee, and it can be written by any student within an institution of higher learning.

However, an undergraduate student can also write a research proposal to their instructor to ‘propose’ a research paper.

Difference Between a Thesis and a Research Paper

The major difference between a thesis and a research paper is that a thesis is a longer and more detailed piece of writing that is written by post-graduate students, while a research paper will be comparatively shorter with fewer details because undergraduate students mostly write it.

As such, a thesis can take a very long time to write, for example, 20 years if it tackles socio-economic or environmental issues that may take a lot of time to unfold.

However, a research paper takes a shorter time to write. It may take even 3 months to complete a research paper because it does not explore very complex issues. 

The length also matters. A thesis is longer than a research paper by far. Check out the optimal length for a thesis compared to a research paper length and notice the difference.

Check out the guide on the differences in thesis vs theory vs hypothesis to get a wider idea of the three. This will help you know how these three are applied in a dissertation of a research paper.

Josh Jasen or JJ as we fondly call him, is a senior academic editor at Grade Bees in charge of the writing department. When not managing complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In his spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

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Writing a Grant Proposal for a Collaborative Study

• First Online: 12 January 2023

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Funding agencies, too, have come to realize the importance of collaboration in facilitating the translation of research into practice and are increasingly laying down requirements mandating the elucidation of the plan for dissemination and translation of research as a condition for funding. This requirement from funding agencies has led to researchers now having to pursue collaborators and develop collaborations actively. The current chapter will provide the reader with an insight into what specific aspects of a collaborative grant proposal need due attention to minimize discord and disharmony and maximize research output and its translation for the betterment of the end-users, namely, the community.

The best ideas emerge when very different perspectives meet Frans Johansson

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Barreto, S.G. (2023). Writing a Grant Proposal for a Collaborative Study. In: Parija, S.C., Kate, V. (eds) Grant writing for medical and healthcare professionals. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7018-4_13

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