How to write a research proposal - University of Birmingham

The research proposal is ‭an important document that ‭you submit as part of the ‭application process, so it is ‭essential that you put sufficient ‭time and energy into preparing, ‭as well as drafting, it.

What is a research proposal?

A research proposal is a concise and ‭coherent summary of your proposed research. ‭It is a key part of your application, on which ‭potential supervisors will decide if your ‭research is something they can support.

A research proposal generally consists of an outline of your proposed research project, including your main research questions and the methods you intend to use. You should also comment on the potential impact and importance of your intended research and on how your work would interact with current trends in your academic field.

How is it structured?

1. Research topic

General subject area/explain domain on which you will focus.

2. Review of the literature

Demonstrate familiarity with relevant literature, show awareness of previous research and explain how your research aims to make an original contribution to knowledge.

3. Research objectives

Explain what you are intending to achieve. You might use:

Hypotheses: an assumed relationship between two or more variables
Propositions: statements that explain likely phenomena
Objectives or a set of research questions
Problems: identify existing unsatisfactory conditions and propose a solution

4. Research strategy

Explain your research strategy/method; consider strategic options/outline how you plan to collect your data (if any).

5. Anticipated results

Consider the type of expected results, data analysis method and identify potential data collection problems.

6. Schedule and budget

Plan resource requirements; detail stages of the research and timescale (as applicable).

7. References and bibliography

In order to make a compelling case you should aim to:

Demonstrate your strategic fit: how does your research and/or previous experience fit in with the research strengths, agendas and priorities of the University?
Make a positive and powerful first impression about your potential as a researcher
The proposal and supporting statement are for you to show that you have the ability to take ownership over your project and demonstrate research leadership
State and justify your objectives clearly (“because it is interesting” is not enough!) – make sure that you address a clear gap in existing work
Persuade potential supervisors and/or funders of the importance of the research, and why you are the right person to undertake it

Requirements for research degrees (e.g. PhD, MLitt, MPhil, MMus, LLM, MJur)

Schools in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, where students join an existing research group, need to know:

Your research interests (but do not require a detailed proposal).
Which areas of the College you would like to work in.
The names of one or more potential supervisors.

All other schools in the Colleges of Arts and Law, Social Sciences, and Medical and Dental Sciences require a research proposal of between 1,000 and 1,500 words specifying the subject of the proposed research, the body of ideas or theory that will be used, the aim and objectives and the methodological approach to be adopted.

Although there is no set format or prescribed length for a research you can contact the school or department (or your prospective supervisor) to find out more if you want to know the expectation for the programme you are applying to.

Requirements for combined research and taught programmes

A research proposal of approximately 1000-1500 words is required for the following programmes:

MPhilB Contemporary German Studies
MPhilB Philosophy
MPhilBs in the College of Arts and Law, with the exception of applicants for the MPhilB Playwriting Studies, who should submit a play or production that they have written.
MRes Conservation and Utilisation of Plant Genetic Resources
Doctorate in Business Administration
PhD with Integrated Study in Education and Learning
PhD with Integrated Study in International Development
SocScD in Applied Social Research

When your draft is complete

Read it out loud to yourself and then ask whether you have answered the following:

Why would anyone want to invest in my research?
What is the research about?
Why do you want to do it?
Why do you believe you will be able to do it?
Why is it significant?
What do you aim to achieve by completing it?
Have you shown that you understand how your research will contribute to the conceptual understanding and/or knowledge of your topic, e.g. expand knowledge or theory, improve research design, or improve analysis?
Is it clear how your research will fit within, and contribute to, the department?
Does your passion shine through?
Have you formulated a clear, feasible research question?
Have you placed your question in the context of current work in the field?
Have you outlined your methodology? (e.g. empirical or theoretical, qualitative and/or quantitative, modelling, surveys, interviews, observation, case studies, machine processes, data processing, etc.)
Have you been specific about any fieldwork involved (where you need to go, when, for how long and how you will fund this)?
Have you said what resources you will need?
Have you suggested what impact it will have?
Have you provided a timeline?
Have you provided a reference list?

Tip 1: Demonstrate Originality

There are many ways in which you can demonstrate originality:

Identify problems, such as inconsistencies or gaps, in existing analysis
A fresh, critical discussion of texts, works and/or ideas that have been neglected by scholarship
Bring together disciplines and areas of work that have not been brought together before
Compare a topic in one country/language/business model/legal system, etc. with the same topic in another (a ‘comparative study’)
Analyse an issue from a new perspective, or apply work from another discipline to your own, in order to create new knowledge, learning or practice (e.g.by bringing a theoretical approach to a problem which has not been applied before, at length)
A study of the impact of a particular set of conditions, piece of legislation, series of events, government, etc.

Tip 2: Research Impact

Wherever possible, the beneficiaries of ‘impact’ should consist of a wider group than that of the immediate professional circle who carry out similar research. 'Impact' should show quality and help to enhance the reputation of the University and the UK's attractivenes for research and innovation investment.

Specific beneficiaries might be: researchers in other disciplines; academic organisations; companies, public sector bodies and others who may use the results to their advantage; or policy makers.

Consider:

Who might benefit from this research?
How might they benefit from this research?
What will be done to ensure that potential beneficiaries have the opportunity to engage with this research?

Writing a research proposal