So you’ve decided to pursue an academic career and you’ve already identified research areas that you’re interested in. But do you know what the key step in applying for a PhD programme is?
In some cases, your prospective supervisor has won funding and is advertising PhD opportunity for a specific project. You can find current opportunities using portals like FindAPhD.
In most cases, however, you would need to come up with the idea for your research. You’d then need to present it in the form of a research proposal before you can be admitted for a PhD programme. And this isn’t something that we’re being taught in school!
Proposal writing is an important skill that you need to become a successful researcher, regardless of whether you’d be pursuing academic, business or industrial career pathways. The ability to present your ideas in a conscience manner is important in any industry.
That’s why I want to expand on the key aspects of proposals writing in this article, based on the experience I gained as a researcher and an academic. Let’s get started!
What is a research proposal?
According to the University of Birmingham, a research proposal is a concise document that presents an overview of the research you set out to perform during your research programme.
The main aim of a research proposal is to present the hypothesis, knowledge gap or set of research questions that you intend to study at length during your time as a PhD researcher.
You can also use it to demonstrate your understanding of the research area, indicate the key research challenges and issues that need to be solved. It is also your opportunity to convince your prospective supervisor, funding body or any other people in the decision-making organisation that you’re the best person to deliver this research to the required standard.
Therefore, don’t leave anything to chance. Take plenty of time to draft, verify and write your project proposal. Well-written proposals go through several iterations before you can submit your formal application!
Why do we need research proposals?
A research proposal is the most important document in the PhD application process. The main aim of writing research applications or grant proposals is to convince funding agencies (or prospective supervisor) to use their budget and fund your project.
Therefore, the main goal of your proposal document is to demonstrate why your research project should be funded. The funders and prospective supervisors usually assess the proposals in terms of their novelty and originality of science. They will also assess whether you have the required skills to deliver the project and its potential project impact and the likelihood of project success based on the proposed plan and tasks.
What should you include in the project proposal?
Before you even start writing your research proposal, I encourage you to check the guidelines set out by specific funders in their request for proposals. You can also reach out to the prospective supervisor and ask about their expectations and key elements to include in your research proposal.
Remember, great research proposals will present very complex information in a structured and easy-to-read manner, including specific activities and a clear rationale. They will also use concise language and present a realistic description of a project timeline and required resources.
But what are the specific components and content that you need to include in your research proposal?
Title
Your title should reflect the research that you’ve set out to achieve. This would usually indicate the specific technology, process, phenomenon, technique or field of study that you intend to work on. It can also very briefly describe the scope of your research project.
Remember, you can always modify your research title as you go through your project. Nevertheless, write it in a way that encourages other people to read your proposal in detail.
Abstract or Executive summary
This is where you sell your research proposal! Ensure that your abstract presents the relevant context, main arguments, and key methodology and tools for your research.
It is also a good idea to emphasise why this research is important! Your abstract must present a coherent and interesting story of your research so that you convince the decision-makers that your project is worthwhile. To write it with impact, carefully design the message for people reading your proposal.
Research background or context
An introduction section is common to most types of proposals. You need to demonstrate that you’re aware of the current discussions in your selected field of study. Your literature review should present a critical account of the broader research environment and specific challenges related to the current state-of-the-art.
A review of the current studies will help you to demonstrate better the novelty of your approach and your proposed solutions. Be thorough and demonstrate that you know the key research groups and discussions in your research areas.
To write it properly, think of the key information that the reviewers need to fully understand your proposal and the research questions you want to answer through your research. Remember to use proper references!