College of Social Sciences Graduate School

Research proposal guidance

Some general guidelines for writing a research proposal are provided below.Applicants should follow more specific instructions provided by Schools or scholarship application procedures where these are provided.

A good proposal should contain the following elements:

• Straightforward, descriptive, and informative title.
• Clear account of exactly what the question is that your research will address.
• Account of why this question is important and worth investigating.
• Assessment of how your own research will engage with recent study in the subject.
• Assessment of the key theoretical, empirical and/or policy literatures to which the study will contribute.
• Indication of the theoretical/analytical frame that will be utilised by the study.
• Brief account of the methodology and approach you will take.
• Discussion of the primary sources that your research will draw upon, including printed books, manuscripts, archives, libraries, or museums.
• Indicative bibliography of secondary sources that you have already consulted and/or are planning to consult.

The length of the proposal should normally be no more than 1,500 words, not including references.