sample of research proposal for scholarship

How to Write Research Proposal For Scholarship Applications? With Examples September 22, 2023 by Digital Vaults Editorial Team

If you’re lucky enough to have the chance to apply for a scholarship, it’s essential to consider that you will likely need to write a study proposal. While this can feel daunting, it’s not that difficult, so long as you know where to start and what you hope to achieve!

Why is a Research Proposal for a Scholarship Important?

Before we go any further, it’s worth considering why you’re putting effort into the study proposal. Indeed, knowing the value or weighting of a task often makes it much easier to stick to!

So, what’s the importance of a research proposal? A good research proposal demonstrates why your project and approach would fit the requirements well.

Invariably, an organization costs much money to provide a funded scholarship . As such, your study proposal allows you to demonstrate the value you’ll bring to the business. In other words, it’s a way of showing the scholarship provider that you are a valuable asset to their work.

As such, your study proposal drastically boosts the strength and appeal of your scholarship application. Remember: going for a scholarship is hugely competitive. As a result, making your application stand out is essential. This is where your study proposal can help.

So, don’t leave things to chance if you want to boost your study proposal.

Key Things to Include In Your Study Proposal Scholarship

By now, we’ve looked at what a study proposal is and why it is essential for your application. But what are some critical things you should include in your study proposal?

Generally, the key things you will need to include in your study proposal include the following points.

#1 Introductory Information

The most obvious thing your study proposal should include is introductory information. Indeed, introductory information (e.g., the title of your research proposal, the primary goals you’re hoping to achieve, etc.) is critical. This shows the reviewer of the study proposal how the research might relate to the company’s goals.

#2 Your Background

You need more than just the topics you intend to study for your scholarship. In your study proposal, you should also cover why you’re a good fit for the role – in other words, what is your background? What is your understanding of the topic, and how does this relate to your proposed topic? Considering this will directly influence your application, demonstrating that you are qualified and knowledgeable to approach the subject.

#3 Key Questions

As well as introducing the topic, it’s vital to ensure that your study proposal addresses any key questions relating to your topic. In other words, what problems are you addressing? How will looking at these issues help solve and improve social or economic aspects?

#4 Time Frames

As well as answering the critical questions of your study, your study proposal should indicate expected timelines and deadlines for the work. This helps ensure that the research proposal reviewer can see when you’ll aim to deliver the work and whether this comfortably meets the timeframe for the scholarship.

When planning your time frames, it’s essential to consider that a full-time study offer will usually have a four-year timeline to completion. This includes writing up your research in the third year. Meanwhile, for part-time study, you will likely have around six years to study and two more years to write up your results.

Make sure your proposed time frames fit into this comfortably. This ensures you’ve demonstrated that you will be a good candidate for the scholarship. After all, why would a business want to accept a scholarship applicant who couldn’t complete the study on time?

Steps to Write a Study Proposal Scholarship

At this point, we have outlined some of the main things you need to know about what is included in a study proposal. However, that doesn’t directly help with writing the scholarship. The following outline should help create an effective, reliable, and valuable study proposal.

Make a Summary of Key Points

Before you begin writing your scholarship study proposal, summarize the key points we mentioned before. These key points need to be included in your study proposal. Outlining them is very important to ensure a clear focus on how the study proposal should look.

Start with your Cover Page

A cover page is a surprisingly important part of your research proposal. Indeed, the cover page provides a simple introduction to the proposal, shows that you can work professionally, and shows an additional level of determination above the bare minimum. Remember: the institution will use your study proposal to assess whether you’re a responsible, hard-working fit for the scholarship.

Create an Introduction

Don’t try to jump immediately into the body of the study proposal. Take things one step at a time by starting with the introduction.

Your introduction needs to cover all of the basics of your study research. As such, it should outline the main points, such as the title of your project and the main research problem. However, it should also briefly hint at your experience and inspiration for the project. However, be brief here, as this will be addressed further in the later sections.

It’s essential to ensure the introduction also covers your main research objectives. Failing to express these could result in your application holding less merit and strength than others.

As a key tip: keep the title of your research proposal simple. Your chosen title should be simultaneously informative and straightforward to understand. This will help the reader understand quickly the exact niche you will focus on and how this could benefit the institution’s goals.

Complete a Literature Review

Once you’ve outlined the main points behind your research proposal and introduced the concept, you can begin your literature review.

A literature review offers a straightforward yet highly effective way to show the current understanding surrounding the topic. With this thought in mind, try to go relatively in-depth with your analysis here. Of course, this only requires a partial analysis of the topic. You don’t have an unlimited word count to work with (yet), and you’ll want to leave some of that for the main body of your research!

However, presenting a thorough, well-researched overview of the available literature should be enough. Try to find research from within your country and internationally to present diverse viewpoints. You don’t need to expand on these, but summarize the key findings of each of the addressed studies. You could also mention their strengths and weaknesses.

Once you have done so, completing the literature review becomes very easy! The literature review should highlight any well-established knowledge. It should also highlight where knowledge is lacking or missing and how this relates to what you will address in your research.

Present the Research Methodology

Once you have determined what you intend to research and how this relates to the literature review, you can outline your methodology. Summarizing the key things you intend to address makes this much more accessible.

While you won’t necessarily need to present every little detail, your research methodology should be thorough enough to cover all the main points. Try to dedicate half a page to a full page on this section. Make sure you also mention the strengths and weaknesses of your methodology. Be sure also to explain why you can’t address the weaknesses directly.

In the methodology section, adding a timeline can be incredibly helpful. This will demonstrate how you intend to complete the research.

It also shows when you will complete each section and so on. In addition, dividing your work into stages can make it easier to stick to the schedule if you achieve the scholarship. So, this is well worth paying attention to.

Don’t be overly ambitious; set realistic deadlines you can meet rather than speedy deadlines you’ll struggle to keep up with. Missing deadlines look terrible on your research and can be disheartening. This will make a vicious cycle where you only get more and more behind.

Outline Funding Requirements

Unfortunately, conducting thorough research isn’t free! With this thought in mind, you’ll need to outline funding requirements for the research. In other words, how much will you need for the scholarship?

Be sure to calculate this section very carefully. If you ask for less funding, the scholarship institution will likely look for someone else who can do the work more affordably. However, you may need to ask for more to make ends meet. Indeed, getting more funding can often be very hard once a price has been agreed upon for the scholarship. So, the importance of calculating this carefully is vital.

Bibliography

Throughout your research proposal, including a diverse range of references can back up your application and show how much work you’ve done towards it. However, it’s essential to remember that you’ll need to include a bibliography at the end of your research to give full credit to any authors you’ve referenced.

Be sure to check which referencing style your institution expects before getting started. If your institution expects a specific referencing style to be used, now’s the perfect time to demonstrate your skills and how you could bring value to the project.

How Long Should my Research Proposal Be?

You may now be wondering how long your research proposal should be. Well, this entirely depends on how you write, how much you must cover in the proposal, etc. However, your research proposal should be between 2500 and 3500 words.

As such, a specific aim for your research paper will be around five to seven pages. However, this final figure will depend on how you write and the font or formatting you choose.

If you still need to hit the 2500 words mark, take the opportunity to expand your proposal further. Remember, a lot is riding on this! But, you should be good if your research paper is already at 2500 words or more.

If you go over 3500 words, remember that the reader may begin to lose interest. Condensing an excessively long study proposal can make it much easier for the reader to take in.

Final Thoughts

If you have been wondering about how to write a study proposal for a scholarship , there are several vital things in this regard that you should consider. Fortunately, there are numerous ways you can boost your results by writing a study proposal for a scholarship. Today’s essential tips may have helped here.

After all, while no simple solution will immediately create the perfect study proposal for your scholarship, you can take many excellent steps. These help you find suitable options to boost your application.

Good luck – but with an excellent study proposal, you won’t need it so much anyway!

You can find full list of documents required for scholarship here.

Related Posts:

Scholarship Proposal

Proposal maker.

There is no doubt that education is costly, particularly now, the costs of most institutions continue to climb year after year. Because of such, many business owners, schools, and companies want to offer scholarships . However, they are not aware of where to start and how to write a winning scholarship proposal. It will be impossible to determine what distinguishes all scholarship applications. Each will provide a unique glimpse into the author’s history and future ambitions. Also, the distinct style utilized by the author.

To give you more idea about scholarship proposal, here are sample templates and tips that can help:

6+ Scholarship Proposal Examples

1. university scholarship proposal template.

• Google Docs
• Apple Pages

Size: 46 KB

2. Scholarship Project Proposal Format

Size: 395 KB

3. Undergraduate Scholarship Proposal

Size: 12 KB

4. Graduate Scholarship Proposal

Size: 414 KB

5. Sample Scholarship Proposal

Size: 477 KB

6. Rural Scholarship Proposal for Dental Students

Size: 536 KB

7. Scholarship Committee Proposal

Size: 276 KB

What Is a Scholarship Proposal? 

A scholarship proposa l is a written paper that asks donors to include a financial budget, financing, or expenditure. This plan paper must be correct and concise since the investors would use it to determine whether or not to approve the fund offer. A competent academic proposal plan should include the project’s priorities, information about the agency, and the amount needed.

Scholarship review boards have a variety of information to consider before determining who should get a scholarship. In certain circumstances, the decision is created based on intellectual merit or economic considerations.

How to Write a Scholarship Proposal?

Many company owners are inexperienced when it comes to drafting a scholarship proposal. Although you haven’t learned the process in school, it does not means that it should be a difficult job. In fact, you can do some research about it. By that, you can have an idea of the factors that you will need to consider during the process.

To make your proposal as quick and reliable as possible, follow these steps.

Step 1: Project Summary 

In the project summary , make sure to include a one-page overview of the plan, outlining the initiative’s intent, priorities, and anticipated effects. After that, prepare the conclusion. Don’t forget to read everything before you proceed. 

Step 2: Table of Contents 

The table of contents is also one of the proposal’s final bits. For short plans, there is no need for a table of contents. You can only set aside two or three pages for this section. However, you can add another sheet, depending on your proposal. 

Step 3: Project Narrative 

The highlight of the scholarship proposal’s is the project plot, which usually includes the following elements:  

• Background Information  
• Objectives  
• Activities  
• Timeline of Activities  
• Evaluation Plan

Step 4: Budget Requirements 

Make a list of the project’s financial conditions. Group line items accordingly and make sure to include all the information needed. Present the budget for next year if you are doing a multi-year project.

How to ask for a scholarship?

Many people are confused about where to ask for a scholarship. Actually, it’s easy. You can only send an email to the school’s admissions office to seek further scholarship funds. But make sure to personalize the message to avoid making a negative impact on the letter’s recipient. It’s critical to make a great first impression, whether they’re from the admissions office or another  business .

Can you negotiate a scholarship offer?

There is no danger of trying to discuss your scholarship bid, regardless of how you go about it. Since you asked for more funding, a college would not revoke your admission or remove the money they have provided.

What is the procedure for requesting a tuition reduction?

To inquire about additional  financial assistance  and tuition discounts, contact your school’s financial assistance office or bursar office and ask for their preferred method. They can assist with this concern. So, don’t hesitate to ask them.

Although seeking a scholarship may seem easy, drafting a scholarship application is a difficult task. As a result, you must remember the steps above. There are also scholarship proposal templates available to make your job easier, smoother, and more successful. Download them now!

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Generate a proposal for a new school recycling program

Compose a proposal for a school field trip to a science museum.

University of South Florida

Research and Scholarship

College of Arts and Sciences

Main Navigation

Proposal tools, proposal samples, proposal narrative samples.

• NSF BCS Human-Environment and Geographical Sciences Program

Complete Proposal Samples

• NSF Proposal (Biological Sciences - DBI)
• NSF Proposal (Geosciences - AGS)
• NSF Proposal (Geosciences - OCE)
• NSF Proposal (Geosciences - DUE - IUSE)
• NSF Proposal (Physical Sciences - DUE - IUSE)
• NSF Proposal (Social Sciences - DUE - ATE)
• NSF CAREER Proposal (Geosciences - EAR)
• NSF EAGER Proposal (Social Sciences - BCS)
• NSF EAGER Proposal (Social Sciences - HRD - Core Research)
• NSF RAPID Proposal (Geosciences - DEB)
• NIH R01 Proposal
• NIH R03 Proposal
• NIH R21 Proposal
• More NIH Proposals (nih.gov)
• NEH Proposal
• More NEH Proposal Narratives (neh.gov)
• ACLS Proposal (Philosophy)
• ACLS Proposal (History)
• ACLS Proposal (World Language)
• NASA Proposal

Cover Page Samples

Biographical sketches.

See NSF Biographical Sketches .

Facilities & Equipment Descriptions

• NSF-USF Facilities, Equipment, & Resources
• Facilities & Equipment Description 1
• Facilities & Equipment Description 2

Data Management Plans

Data Management and Open Access Storage (at USF) blurb :

A long term (indefinite) data preservation plan will be used to store the data beyond the life of the project, using Digital Commons Data, a USF Libraries supported, accessible, data management repository.

Digital Commons Data adheres to FAIR principles of Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reuse. All data is "archived in perpetuity for long-term availability, with Data Archiving and​ Networked Services" ( https://www.elsevier.com/solutions/digital-commons/data ). To support open data, all published datasets will have a clear license and a DOI for ease of citation.

Digital Commons Data is a module of Digital Commons, an institutional repository system used by the USF Libraries. In use since 2007, the USF Libraries has supported persistent access and preservation to scholarly works and datasets created at USF with Digital Commons. The datasets created as a result of this project align with key library research collections, notably the Florida Environment and Natural History Collections Initiative ( https://lib.usf.edu/library-administration/innovative-research-collections/ ).

See our guide on how to use the repository: https://guides.lib.usf.edu/dcd

• NSF DMP (Biological Sciences - DBI)
• NSF DMP (Geosciences - DEB)
• NSF DMP (Physical Sciences - DUE - IUSE)
• NSF DMP (Social Sciences - HRD - Core Research)

NSF CAREER Post-Doctoral Mentoring Plans

• NSF CAREER Post-Doctoral Mentoring Plan

Graphics & Captions

• Samples that demonstrate how graphics and captions propel proposals forward.

USF CAS Core Facilities Descriptions & Available Equipment

• CAS Core Facilities Descriptions & Available Equipment

• Applying for Graduate School
• Understanding Expectations
• Developing Genre Awareness
• Establishing a Project’s Value
• Writing Scholarship and Research Proposals
• Writing Literature Reviews
• Writing Theses and Dissertations
• Understanding the Publication Cycle
• Understanding Authorship
• Writing About Data
• Explaining Research to Diverse Audiences
• Writing with Integrity
• Revising with Intent
• Staying Motivated and Productive
• Creating a Writing Toolkit
• Building Grammatical Confidence

Graduate Writing: Writing Scholarship and Research Proposals

Scholarship and grant proposals.

While some graduate students may enter their programs as partially or fully funded students, many still rely on scholarships or other forms of funding (including but not limited to loans and full- or part-time work) to pay for graduate school.

Scholarship and grant proposals are argumentative texts that aim to persuade the reader(s) to give the writer money. Requirements vary depending on the funding body–whether a special interest group or a federal funding agency–so it is important to carefully review all guidelines.

When reviewing requirements, students should also assess what is valued by the funder. For instance, one group may prioritize students who have overcome personal challenges while other groups prioritize the research potential of one’s project. Such priorities will be expressed through essay prompts and other means.

Many graduate scholarships, especially those that are high value, prioritize a candidate’s current or proposed research. Consequently, these proposals may require you to clearly position your project in relation to the work of other scholars and argue the importance of your research (CARS moves can help! See the section on Literature Reviews in this guide for more detail), provide an overview of your methodology, explain the implications of potential findings, and/or share a communications plan. You may also need to provide a detailed budget for the project.

In Canada, the most recognizable graduate scholarships are awarded through a Tri-Agency scholarship, a federal funding body. To learn more, visit the CGPS page on Tri-Council funding .  Other scholarships can be located through the USask Scholarships and bursaries site and/or EduCanada .

Pursuing graduate school and/or a second graduate degree after your USask studies? If you have a strong academic record and notable research excellence and/or community involvement, consider opportunities like the Rhodes Scholarship (for study at Oxford University), Cambridge International Scholarships and Gates-Cambridge Scholarship (for study at Cambridge University), and the McCall MacBain Scholarship (for study at McGill University).

If you pursue a career in academia or in a non-profit organization, you will continue to compete for grants and fellowships throughout your career. In some instances, these organizations will have in-house support for preparing grants and/or will invite external speakers to conduct workshops on how to write a successful application. Some graduates may themselves pursue a career dedicated to grant writing!

Interested in seeing examples of successful and unsuccessful grant applications? Explore resources like Open Grants , which feature applications from around the world.

Note : Sometimes the words scholarships, grants, and fellowships are used synonymously but can have different meanings depending on context. 

Looking for more information on writing a successful scholarship proposal?

• Dai, Q. (Host). (2021, September 8). How to write a successful CGS-D or PGS-D application [Audio podcast transcript]. In Discover BME – University of Toronto . University of Toronto. https://discover.bme.utoronto.ca/how-to-write-a-successful-cgs-pgs-application/
• Bourguignon, C. & Simoneau-Gilbert, V. (2021, August 5). Becoming Rhodes Scholars: Preparing the application. University Affairs . https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/graduate-matters/becoming-rhodes-scholars-preparing-the-application/
• Hahn-Baker, M. & Leggett, S. (2023, June 7). Telling the story of who you are through a scholarship application [McCall Macbain]. University Affairs .  https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/graduate-matters/telling-the-story-of-who-you-are-through-a-scholarship-application/
• Shen, A. (2017, August 22). 10 tips for a successful CIHR application. University Affairs. https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/career-advice-article/10-tips-successful-cihr-application/  
• Siebarth, T. (2017, July 25). Tips and myths to consider when preparing your SSHRC application. University Affairs . https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/career-advice-article/tips-myths-consider-preparing-sshrc-application/
• Surprenant, A. (2018, September 12). Optimize your chance of success with NSERC PGS-CGS Doctoral [Presentation slides]. Memorial University. https://www.mun.ca/sgs/current/funding/NSERC_PGS_CGS_D_Sept_16_2018.pdf

Looking for more information on writing a successful grant proposal?

• Butler, K. (2022, June 27). A guide to writing grant proposals. Times Higher Education .  https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/guide-writing-grant-proposals
• Husain, M. (2015). How to write a successful grant or fellowship application. Practical Neurology, 15 (6), 474–478. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/practneurol-2015-001206
• Nelson, A. (2015, March 6). Writing grant applications [Presentation slides]. GradWRITE: Graduate Writing Conference, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada . http://writing.uwo.ca/img/pdfs/Nelson,%20Writing%20a%20Grant%20Application.pdf
• Sohn, E. (2020). Secrets to writing a winning grant. Nature, 577 , 133–135. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-03914-5

Research Proposals

While most students in a PhD program or research-based MA/MSc will have already written a research statement as part of their initial application, it is also common for graduate students to write a more comprehensive research proposal in advance of carrying out their research once enrolled. These texts may also be referred to as academic proposals or thesis proposals, depending on one’s school or department.

This document allows one’s supervisor and/or committee to provide constructive feedback before a student carries out the project, to help ensure the quality of the final project. For PhD students, this document is usually prepared after comprehensive exams.

Some departments may provide general or very detailed instructions as to the content and/or length (e.g., pages or word counts) of a research proposal. For instance, the USask Department of English has a PhD Dissertation Proposal form , whereas the Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences within the College of Agriculture and Bioresources has a template for writing a research proposal . Always consult with your supervisor to determine what is expected.

Looking for more information on writing a research proposal?

• Might, M. (n.d.) A thesis proposal is a contract. Matt Might. https://matt.might.net/articles/advice-for-phd-thesis-proposals/
• Procter, M. (n.d.). Academic proposals in graduate school. University of Toronto. https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/types-of-writing/academic-proposals-in-graduate-school/
• Research & Learning Online. (2021). Writing a research proposal. Monash University . https://www.monash.edu/rlo/graduate-research-writing/write-the-thesis/writing-a-research-proposal
• << Previous: Establishing a Project’s Value
• Next: Writing Literature Reviews >>
• Library A to Z
• Follow on Facebook
• Follow on Twitter
• Follow on YouTube
• Follow on Instagram

The University of Saskatchewan's main campus is situated on  Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.

© University of Saskatchewan Disclaimer | Privacy

• Last Updated: Aug 27, 2024 2:44 PM
• URL: https://libguides.usask.ca/grad_writing

How to write a research proposal

What is a research proposal.

A research proposal should present your idea or question and expected outcomes with clarity and definition – the what.

It should also make a case for why your question is significant and what value it will bring to your discipline – the why. 

What it shouldn't do is answer the question – that's what your research will do.

Why is it important?

Research proposals are significant because Another reason why it formally outlines your intended research. Which means you need to provide details on how you will go about your research, including:

• your approach and methodology
• timeline and feasibility
• all other considerations needed to progress your research, such as resources.

Think of it as a tool that will help you clarify your idea and make conducting your research easier.

How long should it be?

Usually no more than 2000 words, but check the requirements of your degree, and your supervisor or research coordinator.

Presenting your idea clearly and concisely demonstrates that you can write this way – an attribute of a potential research candidate that is valued by assessors.

What should it include?

Project title.

Your title should clearly indicate what your proposed research is about.

Research supervisor

State the name, department and faculty or school of the academic who has agreed to supervise you. Rest assured, your research supervisor will work with you to refine your research proposal ahead of submission to ensure it meets the needs of your discipline.

Proposed mode of research

Describe your proposed mode of research. Which may be closely linked to your discipline, and is where you will describe the style or format of your research, e.g. data, field research, composition, written work, social performance and mixed media etc. 

This is not required for research in the sciences, but your research supervisor will be able to guide you on discipline-specific requirements.

Aims and objectives

What are you trying to achieve with your research? What is the purpose? This section should reference why you're applying for a research degree. Are you addressing a gap in the current research? Do you want to look at a theory more closely and test it out? Is there something you're trying to prove or disprove? To help you clarify this, think about the potential outcome of your research if you were successful – that is your aim. Make sure that this is a focused statement.

Your objectives will be your aim broken down – the steps to achieving the intended outcome. They are the smaller proof points that will underpin your research's purpose. Be logical in the order of how you present these so that each succeeds the previous, i.e. if you need to achieve 'a' before 'b' before 'c', then make sure you order your objectives a, b, c.

A concise summary of what your research is about. It outlines the key aspects of what you will investigate as well as the expected outcomes. It briefly covers the what, why and how of your research. 

A good way to evaluate if you have written a strong synopsis, is to get somebody to read it without reading the rest of your research proposal. Would they know what your research is about?

Now that you have your question clarified, it is time to explain the why. Here, you need to demonstrate an understanding of the current research climate in your area of interest.

Providing context around your research topic through a literature review will show the assessor that you understand current dialogue around your research, and what is published.

Demonstrate you have a strong understanding of the key topics, significant studies and notable researchers in your area of research and how these have contributed to the current landscape.

Expected research contribution

In this section, you should consider the following:

• Why is your research question or hypothesis worth asking?
• How is the current research lacking or falling short?
• What impact will your research have on the discipline?
• Will you be extending an area of knowledge, applying it to new contexts, solving a problem, testing a theory, or challenging an existing one?
• Establish why your research is important by convincing your audience there is a gap.
• What will be the outcome of your research contribution?
• Demonstrate both your current level of knowledge and how the pursuit of your question or hypothesis will create a new understanding and generate new information.
• Show how your research is innovative and original.

Draw links between your research and the faculty or school you are applying at, and explain why you have chosen your supervisor, and what research have they or their school done to reinforce and support your own work. Cite these reasons to demonstrate how your research will benefit and contribute to the current body of knowledge.

Proposed methodology

Provide an overview of the methodology and techniques you will use to conduct your research. Cover what materials and equipment you will use, what theoretical frameworks will you draw on, and how will you collect data.

Highlight why you have chosen this particular methodology, but also why others may not have been as suitable. You need to demonstrate that you have put thought into your approach and why it's the most appropriate way to carry out your research. 

It should also highlight potential limitations you anticipate, feasibility within time and other constraints, ethical considerations and how you will address these, as well as general resources.

A work plan is a critical component of your research proposal because it indicates the feasibility of completion within the timeframe and supports you in achieving your objectives throughout your degree.

Consider the milestones you aim to achieve at each stage of your research. A PhD or master's degree by research can take two to four years of full-time study to complete. It might be helpful to offer year one in detail and the following years in broader terms. Ultimately you have to show that your research is likely to be both original and finished – and that you understand the time involved.

Provide details of the resources you will need to carry out your research project. Consider equipment, fieldwork expenses, travel and a proposed budget, to indicate how realistic your research proposal is in terms of financial requirements and whether any adjustments are needed.

Bibliography

Provide a list of references that you've made throughout your research proposal. 

Apply for postgraduate study

New hdr curriculum, find a supervisor.

Search by keyword, topic, location, or supervisor name

• 1800 SYD UNI ( 1800 793 864 )
• or +61 2 8627 1444
• Open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
• Student Centre Level 3 Jane Foss Russell Building Darlington Campus

Scholarships

Find the right scholarship for you

Research areas

Our research covers the spectrum – from linguistics to nanoscience

Our breadth of expertise across our faculties and schools is supported by deep disciplinary knowledge. We have significant capability in more than 20 major areas of research.

Research facilities

High-impact research through state-of-the-art infrastructure

• Locations and Hours
• UCLA Library
• Research Guides
• Research Tips and Tools

Advanced Research Methods

• Writing a Research Proposal
• What Is Research?
• Library Research

What Is a Research Proposal?

Reference books.

• Writing the Research Paper
• Presenting the Research Paper

When applying for a research grant or scholarship, or, just before you start a major research project, you may be asked to write a preliminary document that includes basic information about your future research. This is the information that is usually needed in your proposal:

• The topic and goal of the research project.
• The kind of result expected from the research.
• The theory or framework in which the research will be done and presented.
• What kind of methods will be used (statistical, empirical, etc.).
• Short reference on the preliminary scholarship and why your research project is needed; how will it continue/justify/disprove the previous scholarship.
• How much will the research project cost; how will it be budgeted (what for the money will be spent).
• Why is it you who can do this research and not somebody else.

Most agencies that offer scholarships or grants provide information about the required format of the proposal. It may include filling out templates, types of information they need, suggested/maximum length of the proposal, etc.

Research proposal formats vary depending on the size of the planned research, the number of participants, the discipline, the characteristics of the research, etc. The following outline assumes an individual researcher. This is just a SAMPLE; several other ways are equally good and can be successful. If possible, discuss your research proposal with an expert in writing, a professor, your colleague, another student who already wrote successful proposals, etc.

• Author, author's affiliation
• Explain the topic and why you chose it. If possible explain your goal/outcome of the research . How much time you need to complete the research?
• Give a brief summary of previous scholarship and explain why your topic and goals are important.
• Relate your planned research to previous scholarship. What will your research add to our knowledge of the topic.
• Break down the main topic into smaller research questions. List them one by one and explain why these questions need to be investigated. Relate them to previous scholarship.
• Include your hypothesis into the descriptions of the detailed research issues if you have one. Explain why it is important to justify your hypothesis.
• This part depends of the methods conducted in the research process. List the methods; explain how the results will be presented; how they will be assessed.
• Explain what kind of results will justify or  disprove your hypothesis. 
• Explain how much money you need.
• Explain the details of the budget (how much you want to spend for what).
• Describe why your research is important.
• List the sources you have used for writing the research proposal, including a few main citations of the preliminary scholarship.

• << Previous: Library Research
• Next: Writing the Research Paper >>
• Last Updated: Aug 22, 2024 3:43 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.ucla.edu/research-methods

• Postgraduate

Research degrees

• Examples of Research proposals
• Find a course
• Accessibility

Examples of research proposals

How to write your research proposal, with examples of good proposals.

Research proposals

Your research proposal is a key part of your application. It tells us about the question you want to answer through your research. It is a chance for you to show your knowledge of the subject area and tell us about the methods you want to use.

We use your research proposal to match you with a supervisor or team of supervisors.

In your proposal, please tell us if you have an interest in the work of a specific academic at York St John. You can get in touch with this academic to discuss your proposal. You can also speak to one of our Research Leads. There is a list of our Research Leads on the Apply page.

When you write your proposal you need to:

• Highlight how it is original or significant
• Explain how it will develop or challenge current knowledge of your subject
• Identify the importance of your research
• Show why you are the right person to do this research
• Research Proposal Example 1 (DOC, 49kB)
• Research Proposal Example 2 (DOC, 0.9MB)
• Research Proposal Example 3 (DOC, 55.5kB)
• Research Proposal Example 4 (DOC, 49.5kB)

Subject specific guidance

• Writing a Humanities PhD Proposal (PDF, 0.1MB)
• Writing a Creative Writing PhD Proposal (PDF, 0.1MB)
• About the University
• Our culture and values
• Academic schools
• Academic dates
• Press office

Our wider work

• Business support
• Work in the community
• Donate or support

Connect with us

York St John University

Lord Mayor’s Walk

[email protected]

01904 624 624

York St John London Campus

6th Floor Export Building

1 Clove Crescent

[email protected]

01904 876 944

• Policies and documents
• Module documents
• Programme specifications
• Quality gateway
• Admissions documents
• Access and Participation Plan
• Freedom of information
• Accessibility statement
• Modern slavery and human trafficking statement

© York St John University 2024

Colour Picker

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Dui id ornare arcu odio.

Felis bibendum ut tristique et egestas quis ipsum. Et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat ac. Hac habitasse platea dictumst vestibulum rhoncus.

Nec ullamcorper sit amet risus nullam eget felis eget. Eget felis eget nunc lobortis mattis aliquam faucibus purus.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Starting the research process
• How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

Published on October 12, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on November 21, 2023.

A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important, and how you will conduct your research.

The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements:

Introduction

Literature review.

• Research design

Reference list

While the sections may vary, the overall objective is always the same. A research proposal serves as a blueprint and guide for your research plan, helping you get organized and feel confident in the path forward you choose to take.

Table of contents

Research proposal purpose, research proposal examples, research design and methods, contribution to knowledge, research schedule, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research proposals.

Academics often have to write research proposals to get funding for their projects. As a student, you might have to write a research proposal as part of a grad school application , or prior to starting your thesis or dissertation .

In addition to helping you figure out what your research can look like, a proposal can also serve to demonstrate why your project is worth pursuing to a funder, educational institution, or supervisor.

Research proposal length

The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.

One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.

Download our research proposal template

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.

• Example research proposal #1: “A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management”
• Example research proposal #2: “Medical Students as Mediators of Change in Tobacco Use”

Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:

• The proposed title of your project
• Your supervisor’s name
• Your institution and department

The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.

Your introduction should:

• Introduce your topic
• Give necessary background and context
• Outline your  problem statement  and research questions

To guide your introduction , include information about:

• Who could have an interest in the topic (e.g., scientists, policymakers)
• How much is already known about the topic
• What is missing from this current knowledge
• What new insights your research will contribute
• Why you believe this research is worth doing

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review  shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.

In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:

• Comparing and contrasting the main theories, methods, and debates
• Examining the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
• Explaining how will you build on, challenge, or synthesize prior scholarship

Following the literature review, restate your main  objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.

To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasize again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.

For example, your results might have implications for:

• Improving best practices
• Informing policymaking decisions
• Strengthening a theory or model
• Challenging popular or scientific beliefs
• Creating a basis for future research

Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .

Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.

Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.

Download our research schedule template

If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.

Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:

• Cost : exactly how much money do you need?
• Justification : why is this cost necessary to complete the research?
• Source : how did you calculate the amount?

To determine your budget, think about:

• Travel costs : do you need to go somewhere to collect your data? How will you get there, and how much time will you need? What will you do there (e.g., interviews, archival research)?
• Materials : do you need access to any tools or technologies?
• Help : do you need to hire any research assistants for the project? What will they do, and how much will you pay them?

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

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 …

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.

A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.

A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.

A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.

All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.

Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.

Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.

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.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 21). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved September 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-proposal/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, how to write a problem statement | guide & examples, writing strong research questions | criteria & examples, how to write a literature review | guide, examples, & templates, "i thought ai proofreading was useless but..".

I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Assignments

• Annotated Bibliography
• Analyzing a Scholarly Journal Article
• Group Presentations
• Dealing with Nervousness
• Using Visual Aids
• Grading Someone Else's Paper
• Types of Structured Group Activities
• Group Project Survival Skills
• Leading a Class Discussion
• Multiple Book Review Essay
• Reviewing Collected Works
• Writing a Case Analysis Paper
• Writing a Case Study
• About Informed Consent
• Writing Field Notes
• Writing a Policy Memo
• Writing a Reflective Paper
• Writing a Research Proposal
• Generative AI and Writing
• Acknowledgments

The goal of a research proposal is twofold: to present and justify the need to study a research problem and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted. The design elements and procedures for conducting research are governed by standards of the predominant discipline in which the problem resides, therefore, the guidelines for research proposals are more exacting and less formal than a general project proposal. Research proposals contain extensive literature reviews. They must provide persuasive evidence that a need exists for the proposed study. In addition to providing a rationale, a proposal describes detailed methodology for conducting the research consistent with requirements of the professional or academic field and a statement on anticipated outcomes and benefits derived from the study's completion.

Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005.

How to Approach Writing a Research Proposal

Your professor may assign the task of writing a research proposal for the following reasons:

• Develop your skills in thinking about and designing a comprehensive research study;
• Learn how to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature to determine that the research problem has not been adequately addressed or has been answered ineffectively and, in so doing, become better at locating pertinent scholarship related to your topic;
• Improve your general research and writing skills;
• Practice identifying the logical steps that must be taken to accomplish one's research goals;
• Critically review, examine, and consider the use of different methods for gathering and analyzing data related to the research problem; and,
• Nurture a sense of inquisitiveness within yourself and to help see yourself as an active participant in the process of conducting scholarly research.

A proposal should contain all the key elements involved in designing a completed research study, with sufficient information that allows readers to assess the validity and usefulness of your proposed study. The only elements missing from a research proposal are the findings of the study and your analysis of those findings. Finally, an effective proposal is judged on the quality of your writing and, therefore, it is important that your proposal is coherent, clear, and compelling.

Regardless of the research problem you are investigating and the methodology you choose, all research proposals must address the following questions:

• What do you plan to accomplish? Be clear and succinct in defining the research problem and what it is you are proposing to investigate.
• Why do you want to do the research? In addition to detailing your research design, you also must conduct a thorough review of the literature and provide convincing evidence that it is a topic worthy of in-depth study. A successful research proposal must answer the "So What?" question.
• How are you going to conduct the research? Be sure that what you propose is doable. If you're having difficulty formulating a research problem to propose investigating, go here for strategies in developing a problem to study.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failure to be concise . A research proposal must be focused and not be "all over the map" or diverge into unrelated tangents without a clear sense of purpose.
• Failure to cite landmark works in your literature review . Proposals should be grounded in foundational research that lays a foundation for understanding the development and scope of the the topic and its relevance.
• Failure to delimit the contextual scope of your research [e.g., time, place, people, etc.]. As with any research paper, your proposed study must inform the reader how and in what ways the study will frame the problem.
• Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive argument for the proposed research . This is critical. In many workplace settings, the research proposal is a formal document intended to argue for why a study should be funded.
• Sloppy or imprecise writing, or poor grammar . Although a research proposal does not represent a completed research study, there is still an expectation that it is well-written and follows the style and rules of good academic writing.
• Too much detail on minor issues, but not enough detail on major issues . Your proposal should focus on only a few key research questions in order to support the argument that the research needs to be conducted. Minor issues, even if valid, can be mentioned but they should not dominate the overall narrative.

Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal.  The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Sanford, Keith. Information for Students: Writing a Research Proposal. Baylor University; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences, Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Structure and Writing Style

Beginning the Proposal Process

As with writing most college-level academic papers, research proposals are generally organized the same way throughout most social science disciplines. The text of proposals generally vary in length between ten and thirty-five pages, followed by the list of references. However, before you begin, read the assignment carefully and, if anything seems unclear, ask your professor whether there are any specific requirements for organizing and writing the proposal.

A good place to begin is to ask yourself a series of questions:

• What do I want to study?
• Why is the topic important?
• How is it significant within the subject areas covered in my class?
• What problems will it help solve?
• How does it build upon [and hopefully go beyond] research already conducted on the topic?
• What exactly should I plan to do, and can I get it done in the time available?

In general, a compelling research proposal should document your knowledge of the topic and demonstrate your enthusiasm for conducting the study. Approach it with the intention of leaving your readers feeling like, "Wow, that's an exciting idea and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!"

Most proposals should include the following sections:

I.  Introduction

In the real world of higher education, a research proposal is most often written by scholars seeking grant funding for a research project or it's the first step in getting approval to write a doctoral dissertation. Even if this is just a course assignment, treat your introduction as the initial pitch of an idea based on a thorough examination of the significance of a research problem. After reading the introduction, your readers should not only have an understanding of what you want to do, but they should also be able to gain a sense of your passion for the topic and to be excited about the study's possible outcomes. Note that most proposals do not include an abstract [summary] before the introduction.

Think about your introduction as a narrative written in two to four paragraphs that succinctly answers the following four questions :

• What is the central research problem?
• What is the topic of study related to that research problem?
• What methods should be used to analyze the research problem?
• Answer the "So What?" question by explaining why this is important research, what is its significance, and why should someone reading the proposal care about the outcomes of the proposed study?

II.  Background and Significance

This is where you explain the scope and context of your proposal and describe in detail why it's important. It can be melded into your introduction or you can create a separate section to help with the organization and narrative flow of your proposal. Approach writing this section with the thought that you can’t assume your readers will know as much about the research problem as you do. Note that this section is not an essay going over everything you have learned about the topic; instead, you must choose what is most relevant in explaining the aims of your research.

To that end, while there are no prescribed rules for establishing the significance of your proposed study, you should attempt to address some or all of the following:

• State the research problem and give a more detailed explanation about the purpose of the study than what you stated in the introduction. This is particularly important if the problem is complex or multifaceted .
• Present the rationale of your proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth doing; be sure to answer the "So What? question [i.e., why should anyone care?].
• Describe the major issues or problems examined by your research. This can be in the form of questions to be addressed. Be sure to note how your proposed study builds on previous assumptions about the research problem.
• Explain the methods you plan to use for conducting your research. Clearly identify the key sources you intend to use and explain how they will contribute to your analysis of the topic.
• Describe the boundaries of your proposed research in order to provide a clear focus. Where appropriate, state not only what you plan to study, but what aspects of the research problem will be excluded from the study.
• If necessary, provide definitions of key concepts, theories, or terms.

III.  Literature Review

Connected to the background and significance of your study is a section of your proposal devoted to a more deliberate review and synthesis of prior studies related to the research problem under investigation . The purpose here is to place your project within the larger whole of what is currently being explored, while at the same time, demonstrating to your readers that your work is original and innovative. Think about what questions other researchers have asked, what methodological approaches they have used, and what is your understanding of their findings and, when stated, their recommendations. Also pay attention to any suggestions for further research.

Since a literature review is information dense, it is crucial that this section is intelligently structured to enable a reader to grasp the key arguments underpinning your proposed study in relation to the arguments put forth by other researchers. A good strategy is to break the literature into "conceptual categories" [themes] rather than systematically or chronologically describing groups of materials one at a time. Note that conceptual categories generally reveal themselves after you have read most of the pertinent literature on your topic so adding new categories is an on-going process of discovery as you review more studies. How do you know you've covered the key conceptual categories underlying the research literature? Generally, you can have confidence that all of the significant conceptual categories have been identified if you start to see repetition in the conclusions or recommendations that are being made.

NOTE: Do not shy away from challenging the conclusions made in prior research as a basis for supporting the need for your proposal. Assess what you believe is missing and state how previous research has failed to adequately examine the issue that your study addresses. Highlighting the problematic conclusions strengthens your proposal. For more information on writing literature reviews, GO HERE .

To help frame your proposal's review of prior research, consider the "five C’s" of writing a literature review:

• Cite , so as to keep the primary focus on the literature pertinent to your research problem.
• Compare the various arguments, theories, methodologies, and findings expressed in the literature: what do the authors agree on? Who applies similar approaches to analyzing the research problem?
• Contrast the various arguments, themes, methodologies, approaches, and controversies expressed in the literature: describe what are the major areas of disagreement, controversy, or debate among scholars?
• Critique the literature: Which arguments are more persuasive, and why? Which approaches, findings, and methodologies seem most reliable, valid, or appropriate, and why? Pay attention to the verbs you use to describe what an author says/does [e.g., asserts, demonstrates, argues, etc.].
• Connect the literature to your own area of research and investigation: how does your own work draw upon, depart from, synthesize, or add a new perspective to what has been said in the literature?

IV.  Research Design and Methods

This section must be well-written and logically organized because you are not actually doing the research, yet, your reader must have confidence that you have a plan worth pursuing . The reader will never have a study outcome from which to evaluate whether your methodological choices were the correct ones. Thus, the objective here is to convince the reader that your overall research design and proposed methods of analysis will correctly address the problem and that the methods will provide the means to effectively interpret the potential results. Your design and methods should be unmistakably tied to the specific aims of your study.

Describe the overall research design by building upon and drawing examples from your review of the literature. Consider not only methods that other researchers have used, but methods of data gathering that have not been used but perhaps could be. Be specific about the methodological approaches you plan to undertake to obtain information, the techniques you would use to analyze the data, and the tests of external validity to which you commit yourself [i.e., the trustworthiness by which you can generalize from your study to other people, places, events, and/or periods of time].

When describing the methods you will use, be sure to cover the following:

• Specify the research process you will undertake and the way you will interpret the results obtained in relation to the research problem. Don't just describe what you intend to achieve from applying the methods you choose, but state how you will spend your time while applying these methods [e.g., coding text from interviews to find statements about the need to change school curriculum; running a regression to determine if there is a relationship between campaign advertising on social media sites and election outcomes in Europe ].
• Keep in mind that the methodology is not just a list of tasks; it is a deliberate argument as to why techniques for gathering information add up to the best way to investigate the research problem. This is an important point because the mere listing of tasks to be performed does not demonstrate that, collectively, they effectively address the research problem. Be sure you clearly explain this.
• Anticipate and acknowledge any potential barriers and pitfalls in carrying out your research design and explain how you plan to address them. No method applied to research in the social and behavioral sciences is perfect, so you need to describe where you believe challenges may exist in obtaining data or accessing information. It's always better to acknowledge this than to have it brought up by your professor!

V.  Preliminary Suppositions and Implications

Just because you don't have to actually conduct the study and analyze the results, doesn't mean you can skip talking about the analytical process and potential implications . The purpose of this section is to argue how and in what ways you believe your research will refine, revise, or extend existing knowledge in the subject area under investigation. Depending on the aims and objectives of your study, describe how the anticipated results will impact future scholarly research, theory, practice, forms of interventions, or policy making. Note that such discussions may have either substantive [a potential new policy], theoretical [a potential new understanding], or methodological [a potential new way of analyzing] significance.   When thinking about the potential implications of your study, ask the following questions:

• What might the results mean in regards to challenging the theoretical framework and underlying assumptions that support the study?
• What suggestions for subsequent research could arise from the potential outcomes of the study?
• What will the results mean to practitioners in the natural settings of their workplace, organization, or community?
• Will the results influence programs, methods, and/or forms of intervention?
• How might the results contribute to the solution of social, economic, or other types of problems?
• Will the results influence policy decisions?
• In what way do individuals or groups benefit should your study be pursued?
• What will be improved or changed as a result of the proposed research?
• How will the results of the study be implemented and what innovations or transformative insights could emerge from the process of implementation?

NOTE:   This section should not delve into idle speculation, opinion, or be formulated on the basis of unclear evidence . The purpose is to reflect upon gaps or understudied areas of the current literature and describe how your proposed research contributes to a new understanding of the research problem should the study be implemented as designed.

ANOTHER NOTE : This section is also where you describe any potential limitations to your proposed study. While it is impossible to highlight all potential limitations because the study has yet to be conducted, you still must tell the reader where and in what form impediments may arise and how you plan to address them.

VI.  Conclusion

The conclusion reiterates the importance or significance of your proposal and provides a brief summary of the entire study . This section should be only one or two paragraphs long, emphasizing why the research problem is worth investigating, why your research study is unique, and how it should advance existing knowledge.

Someone reading this section should come away with an understanding of:

• Why the study should be done;
• The specific purpose of the study and the research questions it attempts to answer;
• The decision for why the research design and methods used where chosen over other options;
• The potential implications emerging from your proposed study of the research problem; and
• A sense of how your study fits within the broader scholarship about the research problem.

VII.  Citations

As with any scholarly research paper, you must cite the sources you used . In a standard research proposal, this section can take two forms, so consult with your professor about which one is preferred.

• References -- a list of only the sources you actually used in creating your proposal.
• Bibliography -- a list of everything you used in creating your proposal, along with additional citations to any key sources relevant to understanding the research problem.

In either case, this section should testify to the fact that you did enough preparatory work to ensure the project will complement and not just duplicate the efforts of other researchers. It demonstrates to the reader that you have a thorough understanding of prior research on the topic.

Most proposal formats have you start a new page and use the heading "References" or "Bibliography" centered at the top of the page. Cited works should always use a standard format that follows the writing style advised by the discipline of your course [e.g., education=APA; history=Chicago] or that is preferred by your professor. This section normally does not count towards the total page length of your research proposal.

Develop a Research Proposal: Writing the Proposal. Office of Library Information Services. Baltimore County Public Schools; Heath, M. Teresa Pereira and Caroline Tynan. “Crafting a Research Proposal.” The Marketing Review 10 (Summer 2010): 147-168; Jones, Mark. “Writing a Research Proposal.” In MasterClass in Geography Education: Transforming Teaching and Learning . Graham Butt, editor. (New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2015), pp. 113-127; Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah. “Writing a Research Proposal.” International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences 1 (September/October 2014): 229-240; Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences . Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2005; Procter, Margaret. The Academic Proposal. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Punch, Keith and Wayne McGowan. "Developing and Writing a Research Proposal." In From Postgraduate to Social Scientist: A Guide to Key Skills . Nigel Gilbert, ed. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2006), 59-81; Wong, Paul T. P. How to Write a Research Proposal. International Network on Personal Meaning. Trinity Western University; Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences , Articles, and Books. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing a Research Proposal. University Library. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

• << Previous: Writing a Reflective Paper
• Next: Generative AI and Writing >>
• Last Updated: Jun 3, 2024 9:44 AM
• URL: https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/assignments

How to write a research proposal

Drafting your first research proposal can be intimidating if you’ve never written (or seen) one before. Our grad students and admissions staff have some advice on making a start.

Before you make a start

Is it a requirement for your course.

For some research courses in sciences you’ll join an existing research group so you don’t need to write a full research proposal, just a list of the groups and/or supervisors you want to work with. You might be asked to write a personal statement instead, giving your research interests and experience.

Still, for many of our research courses — especially in humanities and social sciences — your research proposal is one of the most significant parts of your application. Grades and other evidence of your academic ability and potential are important, but even if you’re academically outstanding you’ll need to show you’re a good match for the department’s staff expertise and research interests. Every course page on the University website has detailed information on what you’ll need to send with your application, so make sure that’s your first step before you continue:

There are many ways to start, I’ve heard stories about people approaching it totally differently. Yannis (DPhil in Computer Science)

How to begin?

There isn’t one right way to start writing a research proposal. First of all, make sure you’ve read your course page - it’ll have instructions for what to include in your research proposal (as well as anything to avoid), how your department will assess it, and the required word count.

Start small, think big

A research degree is a big undertaking, and it’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed at first. One way to start writing is to look back at the work you’ve already done. How does your proposed research build on this, and the other research in the area? One of the most important things you’ll be showing through your research project is that your project is achievable in the time available for your course, and that you’ve got (or know how you’ll get) the right skills and experience to pull off your plan.

They don’t expect you to be the expert, you just have to have good ideas. Be willing to challenge things and do something new. Rebecca (DPhil in Medieval and Modern Languages)

However, you don’t have to know everything - after all, you haven’t started yet! When reading your proposal, your department will be looking at the potential and originality of your research, and whether you have a solid understanding of the topic you’ve chosen.

But why Oxford?

An Admissions Officer at one of our colleges says that it’s important to explain why you’re applying to Oxford, and to your department in particular:

“Really, this is all dependent on a department. Look at the department in depth, and look at what they offer — how is it in line with your interests?”

Think about what you need to successfully execute your research plans and explain how Oxford’s academic facilities and community will support your work. Should I email a potential supervisor? Got an idea? If your course page says it’s alright to contact a supervisor (check the top of the How to apply section), it’s a good idea to get in touch with potential supervisors when you come to write your proposal.

You’re allowed to reach out to academics that you might be interested in supervising you. They can tell you if your research is something that we can support here, and how, and give you ideas. Admissions Officer 

You’ll find more information about the academics working in your area on your department’s website (follow the department links on your course page ). John (DPhil in Earth Sciences) emailed a professor who had the same research interests as he did.

“Luckily enough, he replied the next day and was keen to support me in the application.”

These discussions might help you to refine your ideas and your research proposal.

Layal says, “I discussed ideas with my supervisor — what’s feasible, what would be interesting. He supported me a lot with that, and I went away and wrote it.”

It’s also an opportunity to find out more about the programme and the department:

“Getting in touch with people who are here is a really good way to ask questions.”

Not sure how to find a potential supervisor for your research? Visit our How-to guide on finding a supervisor .

Asking for help

My supervisors helped me with my research proposal, which is great. You don’t expect that, but they were really helpful prior to my application. Nyree (DPhil in Archaeological Science)

Don’t be afraid to ask for advice and feedback as you go. For example, you could reach out to a supervisor from your current or previous degree, or to friends who are also studying and could give you some honest feedback.

More help with your application

You can find instructions for the supporting documents you’ll need to include in your application on your course page and in the Application Guide.

Applicant advice hub

This content was previously available through our  Applicant advice hub . The hub contained links to articles hosted on our  Graduate Study at Oxford Medium channel . We've moved the articles that support the application process into this new section of our website.

• Application Guide: Research proposal

Can't find what you're looking for?

If you have a query about graduate admissions at Oxford, we're here to help:

Ask a question

Privacy Policy

Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy

Free Download

Research Proposal Template

The fastest (and smartest) way to craft a convincing proposal and get your dissertation or research project approved.

Available in Google Doc, Word & PDF format 4.9 star rating, 5000 + downloads

Step-by-step instructions

Tried & tested academic format

Fill-in-the-blanks simplicity

Pro tips, tricks and resources

What It Covers

This free proposal template covers the core essential ingredients for a strong research proposal. It includes clear explanations of what you need to address in each section, as well as straightforward examples and links to further resources. The template covers the following core elements:

• Introduction & background (including the research problem)
• Literature review
• Research design/methodology
• Project plan, resource requirements and
• risk management

The Google Doc can be copied to your Google Drive 0r downloaded as a fully editable MS Word Document (DOCX format), which you can also use in LaTeX.

download your copy

100% Free to use. Instant access.

I agree to receive the free template and other useful resources.

Download Now (Instant Access)

FAQs: Research Proposal Template

Research proposal template faqs, what types of research proposals can this template be used for.

The proposal template follows the standard format for academic research projects, which means it will be suitable for the vast majority of dissertations and theses (especially those within the sciences), whether they are qualitative or quantitative in terms of design.

Keep in mind that the exact requirements for the introduction chapter/section will vary between universities and degree programs. These are typically minor, but it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalise your structure.

Is this template for an undergrad, Master or PhD-level proposal?

This template can be used for a research project at any level of study. Doctoral-level projects typically require the research proposal to be more extensive/comprehensive, but the structure will typically remain the same.

How long should my research proposal be?

The length of a research proposal varies by institution and subject, but as a ballpark, it’s usually between 1,500 and 3,000 words.

To be safe, it’s best to check with your university if they have any preferences or requirements in terms of minimum and maximum word count for the research propsal.

How detailed should the methodology of the proposal be?

You don’t need to go into the fine details of your methodology, but this section should be detailed enough to demonstrate that your research approach is feasible and will address your research questions effectively. Be sure to include your intended methods for data collection and analysis.

Can I include preliminary data or pilot study results in my proposal?

Generally, yes. This can strengthen your proposal by demonstrating the feasibility of your research. However, make sure that your pilot study is approved by your university before collecting any data.

Can I share this template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template in its original format (no editing allowed). If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, we kindly request that you reference this page as your source.

What format is the template (DOC, PDF, PPT, etc.)?

The research proposal template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

Do you have templates for the other chapters?

Yes, we do. We are constantly developing our collection of free resources to help students complete their dissertations and theses. You can view all of our template resources here .

Can Grad Coach help me with my dissertation/thesis?

Yes, you’re welcome to get in touch with us to discuss our private coaching services .

Additional Resources

If you’re working on a research proposal, you’ll also want to check these out…

1-On-1 Private Coaching

Research Proposal Bootcamp

The Grad Coach YouTube Channel

The Grad Coach Podcast

Research Proposal Writing in 2024 – Format, Elements, Sections, Writing Guidance

How to write a research proposal in 2024.

• Research Proposal Format
• Writing a Research Proposal
• Elements of the Research Proposal
• Research Proposal Title & Abstract
• introduction of Research Proposal
• Literature Review in Research Proposal

What is the Research Plan?

Funding requirement proposal.

• What is the White Paper?
• Conclusion and References in Research Proposal

The Research Proposal is a detailed document of your proposed research project with clearly stated objectives, a supported literature review, expected challenges, a study execution plan to achieve milestones, and valid scientific citations.

Drafting a compelling research proposal is essential to persuade the reader of the project’s worthiness and demonstrate the candidate’s ability to execute it effectively. The proposal must present a clear research plan to attain predefined objectives. The inclusion of irrelevant information leads to confusion and potential rejection. The proposal must maintain a sharp focus on the subject matter. Quality research proposals prioritize qualitative selection of citations to support claims, rather than adding irrelevant literature solely to inflate word count [Ref 1, 2, 3].

Research Proposal Format and Sections

A research proposal is a detailed and persuasive document that showcases the value and feasibility of your research project, along with your capacity to execute it effectively. It’s structured to guide the reader through a clear plan towards achieving specific research objectives. However, many proposals are rejected due to the omission of crucial sections, as noted in previous studies.

This guide aims to delineate the construction of a well-organized research proposal, highlighting the critical elements that should be included. A comprehensive research proposal should encompass the following sections: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Statement of Objectives, Literature Analysis, Research Methodology, Research Plan, Budget Estimates, Details of the Research Team, Funding Sources, Acknowledgments of Collaborators, and References. Each section plays a pivotal role in presenting a coherent and convincing case for the proposed research.

Sections of a Research Proposal

An effective research proposal starts with a concise and clear title that immediately conveys the essence of the project. The introduction should provide a thorough and supportive literature review that clearly outlines the research problem, objectives, and the study’s significance. This section should highlight key issues and set the stage for the proposed research.

The proposal must comprehensively cover all critical aspects of the research project, offering sufficient details for the reader to assess its value and feasibility. Writers should stay abreast of current trends and terminology in their field to ensure the proposal reflects the latest scientific knowledge.

Additionally, it’s crucial to clearly define the research design. This involves deciding whether the study will be descriptive, aiming to accurately describe characteristics of a phenomenon, or explanatory, seeking to understand cause-and-effect relationships. The chosen research design should then be reflected throughout the proposal, ensuring that the methodology and objectives align with the overall research approach. [5].

Writing a Research Proposal for Scholarships in 2024

When writing a research proposal, particularly for scholarships in 2024, it’s essential to address six key aspects regardless of your research field or methodology:

• Justification for Research : Explain why your chosen topic requires investigation.
• Significance of Findings : Highlight the potential impact or importance of your research results.
• Research Methods : Outline the methodologies you plan to employ in your study.
• Research Objectives : Clearly state what your research aims to achieve.
• Anticipated Challenges : Identify possible obstacles you might encounter and how you plan to address them.
• Funding Needs : Specify the financial requirements for conducting your research.

Prior preparation and thoughtful deliberation are crucial in developing a research proposal:

• Rejection of Underprepared Proposals : A hastily prepared and poorly articulated proposal is likely to be rejected, as it reflects a lack of thoroughness and dedication.
• Benefits of a Well-Prepared Proposal : A meticulously planned proposal aids in visualizing and managing the project, from the initial planning stages to the execution and monitoring of fieldwork.
• Perception of Unprepared Proposals : Proposals that lack depth and preparation not only appear substandard but also convey a lack of commitment to the research endeavor.
• Significance in Scholarship Applications : In the competitive realm of scholarship grants, a well-crafted research proposal can be a critical determinant in securing funding, standing out in a field of numerous applicants

13 Elements of the Research Proposal: Research Proposal Outline

When crafting a research proposal for any purpose, whether it’s for an academic project in an educational setting, securing grant funding, or convincing an organization to initiate a scientific study, it’s crucial to begin with a clear understanding of the proposal’s main idea and purpose.

This foundational understanding shapes the structure of your proposal. The following 13 elements represent a complete framework for a general research proposal. Depending on specific needs and requirements, some of these sections may be modified or omitted:

• Title : A concise and descriptive headline for the research project.
• Abstract : A brief summary of the proposal, including the main objectives and approach.
• Keywords : Relevant terms that encapsulate the core themes of the research.
• Introduction : An overview of the research topic, its context, and significance.
• Statement of Objectives : Clear articulation of the research goals and what the project aims to achieve.
• Literature Analysis : A review of existing research relevant to the topic, demonstrating the proposal’s foundation in current knowledge.
• Research Methodology : Detailed description of the methods and techniques to be used in the research.
• Research Plan : A comprehensive plan outlining the research process, including timelines and stages.
• Estimated Budget : A financial plan detailing the expected costs and resources required.
• Research Team Particulars : Information about the team members, their roles, and qualifications.
• Funding Source : Identification of potential funding sources or current sponsors.
• Co-worker Acknowledgments : Recognition of collaborators and contributors to the research project.
• References : A list of all the sources cited in the proposal, formatted according to relevant academic standards

Write the Title of Research Proposal:

The title of a research proposal is a critical component, serving as the initial point of engagement. It should succinctly and accurately encapsulate the essence of the proposed research. A well-chosen title offers a clear and concise overview of the research project or study, enabling the reader to immediately grasp the central focus.

Research indicates that many proposals are rejected due to titles that are either overly lengthy or misrepresent the true scope of the research, leading to confusion or misinterpretation. Titles that contradict or mislead can significantly undermine the proposal’s credibility, often resulting in rejection.

In cases where a title is extensive but still meaningful, reviewers may advise the candidate to modify it to better align with the project’s core objectives. Such revisions can transform a potentially rejectable proposal into an acceptable one. Furthermore, it is advisable to revisit and possibly adjust the title once the research is underway, ensuring it remains reflective of the study’s evolving nature and scope [3].

Writing the Abstract of the Research Proposal:

The abstract of a research proposal is a concise summary encapsulating the proposal’s essence. While ideally around 300 words, its length is often dictated by the guidelines of the respective academic institution, company, or organization where it is being submitted.

An effective abstract typically does not include citations, as its purpose is to provide a standalone overview of the proposal. It should succinctly present the central research topic, explain the rationale for selecting this topic, outline any hypotheses, and describe the proposed research methodology. The abstract should be self-contained, offering a coherent snapshot of the proposal without necessitating references to the detailed content that follows in the main body of the proposal.

Selecting Appropriate Keywords for Your Research Paper:

Once your research paper is accepted by an institution, it becomes an integral part of the institution’s database. To facilitate efficient categorization and retrieval of research papers, many institutions and companies require authors to provide specific keywords. These keywords serve the purpose of classifying your research paper into relevant categories or niches, making it easier for them to organize and locate the research paper within their database.

Keywords also play a crucial role in indexing your paper within niche-specific search engines, especially when the paper is publicly available. Additionally, they aid individuals seeking category-specific records in their search endeavors. Therefore, it is highly recommended to include a well-thought-out keywords section in your research paper. Typically, including three to five keywords along with your research paper document is considered sufficient for this purpose

Write the introduction of the Research Proposal:

The research proposal’s introduction serves as the foundation for understanding the background of the proposed research. It aims to establish a context for the research topic, enabling the reader to connect it with prior research in the same field.

In this section, we clarify why research is essential for the chosen topic and how this study can impact the reader’s understanding of the subject that motivated the proposal. We approach the introduction in a storytelling yet scientifically rigorous manner, framing the issues that prompted the proposal’s initiation. It is crucial to incorporate relevant citations judiciously, as an excessive use of unrelated citations can hinder reviewers in finding convincing references, potentially resulting in proposal rejection.

What are the elements of an introduction section in the Research Proposal?

The introduction in a scientific research proposal should generally include the elements listed below:

• A statement on larger research issues in unambiguous terms as well as the purpose of the study.
• A contextual background to signify to the prospect the importance and necessity of research on the issue.
• An explanation of the rationale behind the choice of the proposed research topic
• A convincing discussion on the benefits that will accrue from the proposed research.
• An identification of the major variables of the proposed research topic.
• A statement of the hypothesis and research questions.
• An assertion of the limitations and probable obstacles to the proposed research.

Writing Statement of Objectives in Research Proposal:

The statement of objectives section of the research proposal lists the goals of the proposed research project. These could be general goals or specific goals. The statement of the objective has to be precise.

It is recommended to write the objective statement in one sentence to make it clear which makes it look more convincing to the reader. Meanwhile, as if the statement is clear then it gets the attention of the reader to read more about it by exploring the proposal in depth.

Highlight the Novelty of Your Proposed Research Proposal

If the candidate has not mentioned the novelty of the proposed research then it will account for one of the most common mistakes observed by the reviewers of research proposals. I can say from my experience that the Novelty of the proposed research study is the heartbeat of your research proposal. One must put great effort into writing it down with valid supporting citations

What are the Rules for Writing a Statement of Objectives?

When writing the statement of objectives one should keep the following in mind;

• State the objectives precisely and clearly.
• State a set of objectives that are achievable within a specific timeframe.
• Avoid long lists of objectives or objectives that are too extensive in their scope.
• Stated objectives should be quantifiable and realistic.

How to do Literature Analysis while Writing the Research Proposal?

The analysis of the literature section in the research proposal is meant to make available sufficient background information that will aid the prospect in better understanding the larger research issue or problem at hand. The section should provide an indication of research that has been conducted on the issue as well as any ongoing research.

This will help in placing the proposed research topic from the right perspective. This will also help the prospect ascertain that neither has the research topic being proposed in the research proposal been investigated before nor is it being currently investigated by some other researcher.

How to start the Literature Review Report Writing?

The literature review section should be brief and relevant to the proposed research topic. It should include citations and references. It should fulfill the following functions;

• Establish your knowledge of the research issue.
• Illustrate your ability to conduct a critical analysis of the literature on the research issue.
• Establish your awareness of the existing theory and research related to the research issue in question.
• Persuade the prospect about the substance and significance of the contribution that the proposed research is likely to make to the literature on the research issue.

How to Study Plan in Research Proposal?

The study plan here refers to the scheduling and organizing of study times to aim for achieving the set goals. The research methodology section of the research proposal is of particular significance as it informs the prospect of the approach/methods that you will take in dealing with the research study being proposed. This research methodology section should convincingly prove to the prospect that a certain process can be adopted for the execution of the proposed research in a reliable manner.

It should also state the activities/work that candidates have to put in to complete the proposed research study. Generally, various approaches are adopted in defining the nature of the research study such as descriptive, exploratory, analytical, correlational, casual, inferential, qualitative, and quantitative research techniques. It is the choice of the writer to think about the kind of research design writing style in which the proposal fits well and then outline the necessary sections in the draft.

Research Design Definition and Explanation

Research design is a term used to categorize the nature of a researcher’s study, specifically based on the experimental and methodological approaches and the overall plan employed.

Within a research proposal document, the following components of research methodology should be considered:

• Design of the Proposed Research Study: Clarify whether the study design is descriptive, case-study, or cross-sectional. Specify whether data collection involves participant questionnaires or laboratory experiments.
• Participants/Subjects of the Proposed Research: Detail the participant demographics, sampling methods, and inclusion/exclusion criteria.
• Sample Size Calculation: Explain how the sample size is determined based on the nature of the study.
• Instrumentation: Describe the instruments and tools used in the study, their reliability, and the rationale for their selection. This includes the types of questionnaires employed.
• Data Collection Procedures: Outline the step-by-step process of data collection, including duration.
• Data Analysis and Interpretation: Specify the methods, software, statistical techniques, significance levels, and confidence intervals for data analysis. Dummy tables can be included to illustrate the data interpretation process.
• Ethical Considerations: Address ethical concerns, especially when the research involves invasive procedures on human or animal subjects. Mention the submission of the research proposal to relevant ethical committees at both your workplace and the proposed research location

The research plan in a proposal outlines the timeline for conducting research on the chosen topic. It details how the project will be initiated, progress, and reach its goals. This section includes:

• A timeline for the research period.
• Scheduling activities such as literature review, procurement, experimentation, data analysis, and report writing.
• Setting research milestones.
• Utilizing visual aids like Gantt charts or timeline graphics to enhance presentation and reader engagement.

A well-structured schedule ensures effective project monitoring and is often visually supported for reader interest

The specifics of working out the research funding requirements of the research proposal as applicable to all academic disciplines have been discussed here. The rudiments of writing a research proposal differ across various academic disciplines. This is because research on epistemological projects is based upon a completely different set of assumptions than that on practical projects. However, research proposal writing as discussed here is a broad introduction to the subject and is applicable across all academic disciplines.

Irrespective of whether your project is epistemological or practical in nature, the funding agencies and their reviewers would expect that the research proposal provides a research plan, assumptions, research queries, and results. Moreover, visualizing the project in these terms could reveal previously overlooked aspects of the project to you. Hence, the art of writing a research proposal is a useful tool to possess.

Writing a research proposal is not the linear process of idea-proposal-award that it is, but rather has a circular course of action that begins and ends with an idea/goal as explained in the diagram given below.

How to Propose Funding Requirements?

You may choose to include the budget or funding or grant requirement section in your documents such as the research proposal, study plan, or other documents. In all these documents, one needs to set a separate section on writing the cost estimation requirements to carry out the research study or the job being proposed.

In this section, the candidate needs to break down each and every expected cost to provide a clear understanding of your finance requirement. The project cost may be expanded into as many as possible subcategories such as material cost, manpower budgeting, machinery funding, operational expenses, emergency expenses, and so on. The expansion of the budgeting depends upon the nature of the project being proposed. The candidates may also consider adding a subcategory to include profit-taking/revenue-generation models which must clearly show the initial to running cost, break-even point, and profit expectancy.

The estimated budget section in the research proposal should detail out the budget for the entire proposed project as also the expected sources of finance. The budget should provide an activity-wise or item-wise categorization of costs as well as a justification for each.

How to Write Funding Requirements in Research Proposal?

In a research proposal, the budget section outlines project costs, including tables and justifications. Even if not explicitly required, it’s crucial to explain the budget’s components. Key points to remember:

• Create a comprehensive budget for the entire project, not limited to the grant size. If the budget exceeds the grant, clarify your intention to seek additional funding sources.
• Ensure budget items align with the organization’s guidelines. If not, explain how you’ll cover them in the budget justification section.
• Some universities may require including indirect costs. Use their provided rates and seek approval before adding them to the proposal.
• Overcome personal insecurities about requesting funding by remembering that not asking means not receiving, and a refusal is not the end; you can explore other funding opportunities.

Writing a clear and comprehensive budget section is essential for securing financial support for your research.

How to enlist Research Co-workers in Research Proposal?

The section on research team particulars provides details on the probable research team members and includes the following;

• An identification of all the expertise that will be required on the proposed project as well as the team that will work on the proposed research project.
• A schedule of responsibilities for each team member
• The CVs of all the key team members who would be working on the proposed project
• Written participation consent from all the proposed research team members

Identify the Funding Needs, Challenges, and other aspects in Research

Recognizing the project needs/requirements would be the first step you take and the answers to the questions mentioned below could help you get there.

• Is the research to be undertaken the pilot or preliminary kind that will lead to the development of a full-fledged research program?
• Is funding required for all, some, or any one of the following; fieldwork, experiments, postdoctoral research, dissertation research, pre-dissertation research, or archival research?
• Is a stipend being sought in order to write a book, refine a manuscript, or write a thesis?
• Is a resident research fellowship with program assistance or other project enhancement resources being sought at an institution offering the same?
• Is funding required for an extensive and lengthy research project that would be conducted over several years and would require the employment of many staff personnel?

The next step would be to deliberate on the project focal point. The points listed below could help you narrow down your choices.

• Identify the topic and its importance
• List out the research problems that you are attempting to resolve and the relevance of those problems
• Identify your research hypotheses
• Identify research methods
• Contemplate the significance and importance of your research project
• Consider whether you would prefer the use of qualitative or quantitative research methods or whether you would rather use both.
• Consider whether your research would be the experimental kind or the clinical kind

Once the project needs and focus have been determined, project funding organizations and grant programs can be explored.

What is the White Paper (General Proposal)?

The White Paper is a concise and authoritative report on a complex issue that dictates the philosophy of the issuer about that issue. The White paper helps in understanding a complex problem which enables the person to solve the issue or make a decision based on this document.

Writing a White Paper before drafting the Research Proposal

Since funding is usually sought from various grant programs and project funding organizations, one could begin the process of applying for the same by drafting a research proposal and a research budget that is general in nature. Such a general research proposal is often referred to as a ‘White Paper’. The white paper should address a general academic audience with an explanation of your proposed project. Research proposals that are to be submitted to various programs and organizations have to be modified to reflect the specific rules and guidelines of each program or organization.

What to avoid while writing a Research Proposal?

The top priority while composing a scientific research proposal must be to avoid the use of unnecessary information and statements that one can not prove with valid citations.

The research proposal is often flawed due to errors that are avoidable such as;

• Objectives that do not adequately reflect the title of the research proposal
• An absence of a literature review/provision of references
• Broad-based or over-ambitious objectives
• Poor scheduling of activities
• A methodology that has been inadequately described
• An unjustifiedly big/small budget that asks for either too much/too little financial assistance

How to Write Conclusion in Research Proposal?

The conclusion section of the research proposal provides insights on expected study outcomes, information on challenges during the project execution, possible deviations in results with the scientific and societal impact of the study being proposed.

The research proposal and its elements as described above are meant to act as a guide to aid in writing a well-structured research proposal to pitch your project idea in a professional manner. As per previous studies, most of the research proposals lack the necessary sections which in turn results in rejection of a proposal. In this study, we have provided all the essential components that a person must outline to write a well-structured research proposal.

How to Cite reports in Research Proposal?

When the research proposal cites various works within its description, a list of references has to be provided at the end of the proposal. This section of the proposal is generally not counted in the page limits set in the guidelines.

Bibliography (References) section of the Research Proposal

A list of references is prepared by listing out the books, journals, articles, or other documents that you have cited in the research proposal. This list is generally arranged in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. However, there are different styles of formatting references and you should check the guidelines to see if any style has been specified. You could also consult with your mentor on the same or look up the references section of the research articles assigned to you in your reading list. The use of endnote or Mendeley is highly recommended while drafting the research proposal.

The Research Proposal article was composed by taking References from the following sources:

Yousaf saeed, related articles.

Research Proposal for Chinese Government CSC Scholarship Application

Review Paper Writing in 2023: Review Paper Format – How to Write a Literature Review?

Memorize Greater than (

Chemical Engineering Study Plan and Research Proposal

Study Plan VS Research Proposal – A brief Comparison

Difference between Scientific and Creative Writing Styles

18 comments.

I want this article. Can you please mail me this informative article so that I can prefer.

Feel free to download the text of this research proposal article by saving this page. Thankyou.

Good summary

I have stated a research problem dealing with similarities and differences among three regions in a country. However, I hardly noted few similarities and differences among those three regions. Is there a solution to this issue ?

I think you need thorough research on the facts of those regions and then do the maths to conduct your research.

dear zahira Bano. please can you assist me with a topic or guide me on how to write a research plan or proposal for a PhD degree in analytical and environmental chemistry. thanks

You need to do a literature study to find out which topics require further advancement and then you can choose a new study topic from there easily.

I need a term paper on Adult Education and Rural Development

Please try to locate academic research papers on ScienceDirect or researchgate.

Pls , I’m struggling to choose a mathematics topic for my research. Any suggestions? Thank you

It is my advice to carry out some literature study in your niche to figure out which topic you can extend further for your research.

Thanks for the pleusible information. I’m also a scientific researcher. I’m glad the information has expanded my capacity of thinking and I’m excited every day in learning how to face new challenges

Thank you for your wonderful appraisal.

I have completed my BS in Gender Studies, i have 3.85 CGPA . I am also a gold medalist. Now i want to study Master’s abroad so which country or scholarship can i apply with out IELTS.

It’s very informative

how can i got the important points of phd proposal for scholarship

The most important point of a research proposal for Ph.D. studies is its novelty.

My Timetable

LOG IN to show content

My Quick Links

Writing the Scholarship Proposal

Graduate and senior undergraduate students typically apply for one or more of the following external scholarships, each of which entails a written proposal of research.

At the federal level, three agencies (the Tri-Council) grant funding to Canadian graduate students:

• The CIHR : The Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• The NSERC : The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
• The SSHRC : The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

At the provincial level, students can apply for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS).

What is a Scholarship Proposal?

A scholarship proposal is a persuasive form of writing that demonstrates the writer’s knowledge, capacity, and potential as a researcher. Strong scholarship proposals convey complex information in concise terms to a multidisciplinary audience. By demonstrating both the significance of the proposed research and the credentials of the researcher, scholarship proposals make a case for the significance and implications of the research at hand, to the field and beyond.

Winning proposals are typically

• Concrete: they provide examples and substantiate claims; they draw on the research throughout to develop the topic; terms and concepts are defined.
• Detailed: every word counts; ideas are rich and developed.
• Feasible: the proposed project can be accomplished within the degree time limits of the applicant; the researcher has presented a plan for conducting and disseminating the research.
• Written in clear and concise language: even complex projects can be explained in clear terms, with minimal or selectively used jargon; successful proposals use strong verbs, the first person (“I”), and the active voice to keep the text lean.

Rhetorical Moves

Although the Tri-Council and OGS scholarship proposals differ in length, many of the same principles apply in writing each. In fact, successful scholarship proposals tend to share consistent rhetorical features: patterns of introducing, contextualizing, and demonstrating the significance of the research being proposed. Below, we’ll examine these rhetorical features through three key moves:

1. Establishing the Context

In setting the scene for your research, provide the context for the topic you’re researching. Consider, what has already been said on the topic? Is this topic particularly timely? What fundamental concepts will readers need to know to understand the topic?

Moves to Establish the Situation

Recently, there has been wide interest in . . . Knowledge of X has great importance for understanding Y. Many scholars have recently examined . . . Scholars commonly suggest that . . . Several studies have suggested that . . . Scholars in the field of X have argued that . . .

2. Identifying the Problem

A persuasive scholarship proposal identifies a gap or oversight in the knowledge – something we don’t yet know and remains to be resolved or addressed. Consider, what does the scholarship say and not say about this topic? Where are the missing pieces in the scholarship? What are the implications of these oversights?

Moves to Establish the Problem

The existing research, however, has assumed that . . . However, these studies have failed to recognize that . . . But recent work in X points to another interpretation. This view, however, is challenged by recent data showing . . . However, there has been little research that examines . . . The research has tended to focus on . . ., rather than . . . Scholars have emphasized X aspect, but remained largely silent on . . . Additional studies are needed to understand . . .

3. Locating the Solution

Once the proposal has clearly identified a gap in the knowledge, it’s time to identify how you intend to fill that gap or locate a solution to the problem you’ve presented. Consider, what is the purpose of your research? What does the proposed research argue, hypothesize, or describe? What methodology will you utilize? What is the significance of your research to the field? What theoretical contributions does your research make and/or what practical applications does it have?

Moves to Locate the Solution

The main purpose of this research is to . . . I introduce a new interpretation that . . . I will argue that . . . This research proposes that . . . My research contributes to a burgeoning field in X studies by . . . In doing so, I connect X with Y to shift perspective on . . . I will conduct the study by . . . I use X theoretical approach to understand Y . . . My research has implications for . . . In addition to its theoretical contributions, my research can be applied in/to . . .

Pulling It All Together

Winning scholarship proposal go through multiple revisions. Dedicate time to drafting and revising your proposal over several weeks, if not months. Begin drafting your ideas well in advance of the deadline. Seek feedback from a diversity of readers (e.g., supervisors, mentors, Writing Services) to ensure you are communicating to specialists and non-specialists alike.

To book a writing appointment to review your proposal, use the Student Success Portal .

Examples of the rhetorical moves are adapted from John M. Swales, Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings . Cambridge UP, 1990.

Writing Services, Wilfrid Laurier University, CC By-NC 2023

Search for academic programs , residence , tours and events and more.

Proposal Format for Dec 2024 PhD admission

(Deemed to be University)

Dharmaram College Post, Hosur Road, Bengaluru - 560029, Karnataka, India

Tel: +91 804012 9100 / 9600

Fax: 40129000

Email: [email protected]

Web: http://www. christuniversity.in

EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE

CHRIST (Deemed to be University) is a nurturing ground for an individual's holistic development to make effective contribution to the society in a dynamic environment.

• Course Index