So, you’ve decided to do a PhD. That’s good. But before you get stuck into research, you’ll need to prove that your idea is worth pursuing and that you’ll produce a first class thesis at the end of it.
To do this, you’ll have to write a thesis proposal outlining your research interests, what you intend to argue, and how this will add to the knowledge in your subject area.
It’s therefore important that your thesis proposal includes the following…
There’s time to change this later, but you need to have a working title early on. This should be clear, memorable and informative, telling your reader what your research is about from the outset.
Every thesis proposal should start with an introduction that outlines the problem you’re addressing and why it justifies investigation. You may also want to give a little background information.
You don’t have to go into a vast amount of detail at this point. The introduction is simply there to prepare your reader for the rest of your proposal. It may even help to write this last.
As well as a clear statement of your research question, you should explain exactly what you hope to achieve from your PhD project. This includes your research aims and objectives, hypotheses and any predicted results or applications.
Just as important as explaining what you’re researching is setting out how you intend to conduct your research. This is particularly true if you’re doing experimental research.
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
Provide as much descriptive detail as possible, as this will show that you’ve considered the practical side of your study.
It isn’t always necessary to include a full literature review in a thesis proposal – sometimes a bibliography is enough – but it makes sense to outline related research in your subject area.
As well as setting your work in context, this demonstrates how your study will build upon existing research and shows you have a strong understanding of your field.
One common pitfall of PhD research is trying to do too much with limited time and resources. It’s therefore essential to consider the scope and constraints of your project.
This means being realistic about what you can achieve with your research and acknowledging any related issues that you might need to leave aside. Attempts to find the answer to life, the universe and everything will likely prove overambitious.
Finally, a thesis proposal should include a chapter breakdown (i.e. how you intend to structure your final thesis) and a timetable (i.e. a step-by-step plan for when each stage of your research will be complete).
As with the methodology, this makes your proposal convincing by showing that you’ve given due thought to the practical side of undertaking a PhD.
Δ
3-minute read
Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...
2-minute read
If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...
5-minute read
Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...
Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...
4-minute read
Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...
Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...