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Research proposals

How to write an effective proposal.

What's it for?

A research proposal explains the nature and extent of your planned or future research. It is written for an academic reader e.g. for your supervisor or an academic with a similar disciplinary background. By thinking through your entire research project from beginning to end, it may also highlight core issues with the feasibility of the project.

W hat's in it ?

There are some disciplinary differences regarding exactly what is included in the proposal. For example, disciplines such as Psychology may include a prominent hypothesis statement, others in the Social Sciences including Education, may expect a set of research questions that the study will answer. However, all research proposals should cover the four basic elements below.

• The research topic addresses a significant problem and, therefore, advances the state of knowledge in that field.
• Identification of an appropriate methodology and underlying theory to address the problem, including data collection methods and equipment (if required).
• Details of how the collected data will be analysed in such a way that useful conclusions can be drawn.
• An organised plan for any proposed work, including a timeframe.

Possible macro-structures

The structure of your research proposal will vary depending on the requirements of your discipline. Nevertheless, certain structural elements will be expected by your reader and these may be presented in the following order. Check with the Research Coordinator in your area for specific requirements.

Identifies the title of the project, your full name, the institution, department, and supervisor details. The title should be brief and descriptive and may use a colon (:) to separate the topic from the focus (i.e. Stormwater Harvesting: Managing the hazards of surface water pollution by run-off ).

Lists the sections of the Research Proposal (headings and indented sub-headings) and corresponding page numbers.

Outlines the essence of the research project. It describes the purpose and motivation for the study, the problem, the data collection methodology and analysis, significant results and implications of the research.

Provides background information for the research (i.e. the problem being addressed) and is typically structured from general information to narrow or focused ideas with your research question/s or hypotheses at the narrow end.

The Introduction should be about 10% of your proposal.

Imagine you are writing for a general reader rather than an expert audience. The Introduction includes a brief review of relevant literature or knowledge in the field, so that you are able to present a gap in existing knowledge and, therefore, the significance and originality of your research.

Finally, articulate the scope of your research (or what you will not be doing) to limit your task. Your research question/s should encapsulate the primary question/s you aim to solve.

Synthesises the literature in your field. Some disciplines will expect to see this in the Introduction but others will want it placed in this ‘stand-alone’ section (especially in more Humanities-based fields). Again, it could be structured from broad to narrow, so literature on the more general aspects of your topic could come first, narrowing down to published work on your particular area of interest. You might end this section by including a short summary of the main themes you have identified from the literature.

Includes a description and rationale for the methods of data collection and analysis, and the materials you will use in your research. Use subheadings if possible ( i.e. Data Collection, Data Analysis, Ethical Considerations etc.) and write with a future aspect, ( i.e. The research will initially examine water treatment processes in... )

Details any results that you may already have resulting from previous Honours or Masters’ research work, or perhaps from a pilot study. It is important to relate these results to the critical framework of your intended new research project.

Lists the stages of the research project in timeline, spreadsheet or tabular format, and the deadlines for completion of these stages or tasks. You should include any anticipated challenges to completion.

Outlines the proposed chapters of the thesis and the content of each chapter in several lines or a paragraph, including a Table of Contents.

Relates the expected outcomes of your research to the aims expressed in the Introduction so that the need for the study and the contribution to knowledge is clear.

Provides all the resources cited in your resource proposal using a referencing format favoured by your faculty or discipline. Do not list resources that are not directly referred to in your Proposal.

Writing the Research Proposal

How much should i write.

A research proposal is usually quite a bit longer than other written academic genres. In the Humanities, it could be around 10,000 words or even longer (excluding the Reference List); whereas those from more Science-oriented disciplines may be shorter.

What should I begin with?

Similar to other academic genres, writing the research proposal is a process. If you are proposing a ‘recycled’ topic that builds on previous assignments already written on the same topic, you might spend some time re-reading these. However, if you are starting a ‘fresh’ project you might consider two key questions:

• What am I really interested in finding out about my research topic?
• How am I going to do this in practice? Brainstorm responses to these questions under a strict time limit – say 30 minutes.

Then leave this ‘free-writing’ for at least 24 hours before reviewing it for a possible more polished second draft.

How should I approach the literature?

Reviewing the academic literature on your topic is one of the most critical stages of your research proposal. This section goes beyond a simple summary of everything written on a subject. Instead, it is a critical synthesis of materials that illuminates selected academic literature on your topic. Your coverage of the literature should reflect the argument or perspective that you have set out in your research question/s.

Try the following techniques for dealing with the literature:

• Develop a theme or series of themes from your broad reading, referencing the work of relevant authors who support your position or who provide counter-arguments against your point/s.
• Limit excessive quoting. Too many direct quotations will dilute your authority over the topic.
• Avoid beginning paragraphs with “Jones argues …”; “Smith states …” This approach risks losing a sense of your writer’s authority to the work of others. Instead, provide an overview of the paragraph in a topic sentence written in your own writer’s voice.

Adapted from Rudestam and Newton (2015) as cited in Paltridge and Starfield (2020). Thesis and dissertation writing in a second language: A handbook for students and their advisers. Routledge.

Tips for writing

• Avoid language that is overly hesitant or tentative (i.e. ‘It seems that…’, ‘It is hoped that …’). Instead, use confident language when you feel able to (i.e. ‘It is clear that…’, ‘I assert that …’).
• Break up large blocks of text into smaller sections using sub-headings and bullet-points.
• Anticipate possible problems with, or limitations of, your research. Address these issues directly for your own benefit as well as to improve the entire proposal.
• Make your proposal is easy for readers to skim read. Never assume your readers will read your work in a ‘logical’ order. Use sub-headings and restate key ideas to guide the reader through your writing.
• Find copies of other Research Proposals in your field and study the way they:
• devise titles.
• structure their proposal.
• use discipline-specific language.
• Take a note of anything else you notice. You might ask your potential supervisor/s for models of previously submitted proposals or search for relevant examples online (look for examples from reputable .edu or .org. web addresses)

Remember, your research proposal should demonstrate:

• the feasibility and logical foundations of your project
• a well-focussed research question, set of research objectives, or hypothesis
• the width and depth of the academic literature on your topic
• understanding of current issues or debates on your topic
• justification of your project through the literature
• a match between the methodology and / or methods and your research question/s

Adapted from Cadman (2002) as cited in Paltridge, B. and Starfield, S. (2020). Thesis and dissertation writing in a second language: A handbook for students and their advisers. Routledge.

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Write a proposal

Proposals are required for 25 and 50 point research projects. For 12.5 point research reviews (ENST90006) you only need to submit the title and/or a brief description in the body of the email when you send through your R1 application form.

There is no set format for research project proposals. The purpose of proposal writing is to demonstrate that you are sufficiently prepared to commence a research subject in the following semester and complete that project on time.

Your supervisor should be closely involved with the development of the proposal. They should provide advice about the appropriate scope of a project, read at least one draft and sight the final version of your proposal before it is submitted along with the signed research proposal application form.

You can view a model proposal here .

In around 300 words you should:

• Faculty of Business and Economics
• FBE Graduate Research

Management and Marketing research proposal guidelines

Doctoral program department of management and marketing.

As part of the application documentation for the doctoral program in the Department of Management and Marketing, we ask you to submit a research proposal of 1000 words. This helps us to understand your current level of ability in explaining and evaluating academic theory and research as well as your written communication skills. It will also assist us in to identify the relationship between your potential research topic and the scholarly disciplines covered by our Department. We do not expect you to have a fully formed research question (or hypotheses) at this stage (though you can certainly include these), nor are you committing yourself to this research topic, should you be offered a place in the doctoral program.

The research proposal should do the following:

Clearly articulate the topic of investigation

Explain what area of research you are interested in pursuing. Sometimes it helps to think of this as an ‘elevator pitch’ – imagine you were in an elevator and were asked by someone unfamiliar with the research discipline what you wanted to study. How would you answer them?

Explain why it is important (and interesting)

Here you need to convince a reader of the value of undertaking research on this topic. Why is this topic important? In addition, it will help if you think about why it is an interesting area for further study. Reflect on what attracted you to this topic. Who else might be interested in it? (e.g. organisations, government, researchers from a particular field etc.) What contribution or difference are you hoping to make with this research?

Review what is currently known about the topic

This is the most substantive section of the research proposal and we expect most of the 1000 words will be dedicated to this part.

When you read academic research, you will find that it almost always begins with a review of what is currently known about the topic under investigation. We do this because we are trying to build on current knowledge and because we need to ‘make a case’ for why our particular study is necessary and worthwhile. Before we can identify a research question (or questions) on which our study is based, we need to first identify that there is a gap in the research we are aiming to fill.

Here we want you to discuss relevant academic literature related to the topic you want to research. Who has written on this topic? What relevant articles or books have been published most recently? You may find there is a large body of academic work so try and select those that seem most relevant to your chosen area. While we encourage you to read widely, for the purposes of the proposal, it is more valuable to engage in depth with five highly relevant papers than cover 40 superficially. Are there particular articles that appeal to you? Imagine you were at a large academic conference with many small groups of scholars having conversations about their work. What conversation would you like to join? Thinking about these questions will help to locate an appropriate academic context for your proposal.

Please follow the conventions of a common Academic referencing style. This may be either an in -text citation system (e.g. Harvard or American Psychological Association) or footnote/end-note system (e.g. Oxford commonly used in law, history and English literature). Include a list of the references you have cited in your research proposal at the end, organised in order of author surname – this reference list will not be counted as part of the 1000 words.

In terms of writing style, we expect you to write in an appropriately formal way (no ‘slang’ , complete sentences ). However it is essential that you write clearly. You do not need to use long and complex sentences or complicated expressions. The best academic writing uses simple accessible English and paragraphs based around one main idea. You will find this actually helps to explain complex ideas. It also forces you to be clear in your own mind about what you want to say.

• Faculty of Arts
• School of Culture and Communication
• Current students

Creative Writing research proposals

Some guidelines to assist you in developing a proposal for a research higher degree in Creative Writing at the University of Melbourne (MA or PhD).

The creative PhD at the University of Melbourne is developed and marked as a single thesis, with two major elements: a dissertation and a creative work.

Each part usually contributes 50% to the overall word count. It is possible to increase the dissertation above 50%, but the creative work cannot be more than 50%.

One way to understand the unity of the creative PhD thesis is to consider that there is one overarching research question or hypothesis, which is approached within the thesis in two different manners, a scholarly one and a creative one.

The dissertation is not an exegesis. The dissertation does not offer a commentary on the creative processes or the intentions of the writer. The dissertation is intended to stand independently as a scholarly work making an original contribution to its field or discipline. In creative writing, this field is often interdisciplinary, but it can be characterised as a discipline interested in writerly questions, that is questions that take into account creativity, creative processes, the decision-making that goes into a creative text, cultural and technological influences on writing, questions of genre boundaries (including emerging genres, hybrid genres), and questions that address issues in conceiving of writing as a craft. This is a broad description and it is not exhaustive, but it does indicate that most dissertations are investigating aspects of the act of writing.

In your proposal you should make it clear what your research question is, and how this question fits with or responds to an ongoing critical discourse. You should identify the fields or disciplines you will draw upon, what models of analysis you will adopt, and what critical and creative texts you wish to discuss in your dissertation.

The creative work will need to be articulated in your proposal with some detail, understanding that as with all creative works there will be room for re-considerations and re-drafting. You should show how your creative work addresses or arises from your research question.

Your proposal should include an indicative list of the texts you will consult.

For more information please see the Doctor of Philosophy (Arts) web page.

Research Proposal Writing for Fine Arts and Music

• Research Project Proposals
• Where to start?

Researcher@Library

23 research things, more resources.

• Talk to a Librarian

Where to Start? ​

• Research in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music Learn more about many of the research areas at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music.
• Book a research consultation Book a one-to-one consultation with a librarian. Strongly recommended for new graduate researchers. Helpful whatever your stage or level.
• Classes and workshops for graduate researchers Join classes on reference management, discipline-specific workshops, and more.

Resources and services to support you with many aspects of your research, including:

• Finding information
• Grant support
• Data management and preservation. Including  Managing Data @ Melbourne

23 Research Things is  a series of online learning programs showcasing a range of digital tools that support research activity. 

• 2023 23 Research Things
• 2020 23 Research Things  
• 2017 23 Research Things
• 2014 23 Research Things (the original program)

Inter-Library Loans and Document Delivery For publications that the University of Melbourne Library cannot supply.

• Students and staff members may request  interlibrary loans  of books, journal articles, music scores, theses, and more.
• The  CAVAL reciprocal borrowing scheme  with other Victorian universities can also assist.
• Interstate students can access collections through  University Libraries of Australia and New Zealand (ULANZ)

Research data management Tools and modules to help you set up your data management plan.

Research ethics and integrity Detailing codes of conduct required for research ethics, integrity and compliance. SAGE Research Methods Also known as SRMO. Search by keywords or use the visual interface in the  SRMO Methods Map . Your research publications

• Elements is the key interface for University of Melbourne staff to provide details of and claim research publications. It allows the deposit of an appropriate version of publication to meet open access funder mandates, and to be available for discovery in the Open Access repository through Minerva Access .
• The Faculty Research Office can offer support, particularly with documenting non-traditional research outputs
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Applications

International applications, graduate research.

When you apply for graduate research courses at Melbourne, you need to choose a research area, check you meet entry requirements, then apply directly with the University of Melbourne. If eligible, you’ll automatically be considered for a Graduate Research Scholarship. You may also be eligible for other scholarships and bursaries, which require an application.

To help you do this, follow our step-by-step guide below on how to apply for graduate research courses.

Step 1. Choose your course

Choose the graduate research course you want to apply for. Options include:

• Doctor of Philosophy – Up to 4 years in duration, you will undertake original research on a specialised topic and produce a thesis of approximately 80 000 words. Some of our PhDs include taught subjects in the first year.
• Doctorate by Research – offering a coursework component in parallel with meetings with your research, giving high-level engagement with the key literature in your research area.
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil) – an internationally recognised masters course by research that requires the completion of a thesis of 30 000–40 000 words.
• Masters by Research – different from the MPhil it offers a coursework component, along with a shorter thesis of about 30 000 words.

You can find these on graduate course pages . Also check out our University of Melbourne Research website for information on applications, funding opportunities and more.

Step 2. Check eligibility and fees

Eligibility.

You need to meet minimum eligibility to apply for graduate research courses. This includes course requirements, English language requirements and meeting student visa conditions set by the Department of Home Affairs.

If you want to study for less than an academic year, you'll need to apply as an exchange or study abroad student through a separate application.

For more information on eligibility, see entry requirements

If eligible, you will automatically be considered for a Graduate Research Scholarship that provides a living allowance and/or tuition fee-remission scholarship. More than 300 of these scholarships are offered to international graduate researchers each year.

If you are unsuccessful for a tuition fee-remission scholarship, you'll enter as a full fee paying student.

Tuition fees are based on the course you take and your subject load. You can find estimates of fees on every course page. You'll also need to factor in other costs while at university, such as for social events, travel and accommodation.

There are other scholarships and bursaries that can help with tuition and the cost of living while you study.

To find out how tuition fees are calculated and ways to pay, see Fees & payments

Step 3: Prepare your documentation

At minimum, you will need to provide academic transcripts and a CV with your application. If you're currently studying, you'll also need to provide a transcript of your final results and evidence of completion as soon as they’re available.

Depending on the course, you may also have to provide a research proposal, folio of creative works, GRE or GMAT test result or writing sample.

If you don’t have verified digital copies of academic documents for prior or current studies and wish to obtain during your application, you can select Digitary VIA when requested during your submission. This includes English translated documents and can be fulfilled for both interim qualifications and completed qualifications.

Obtaining verified digital copies of academic documents can help fast-track your application and retained for use with other applications you wish to make. The Digitary VIA option includes a one-off charge.

Academic transcripts

If you're currently studying, you'll also need to provide a transcript of your final results and evidence of completion as soon as they’re available. Some graduate schools will consider applications at any time, others only assess applications at fixed times of the year.

Check the graduate course you're applying for to find out application due dates before submitting your application.

If you don’t have verified digital copies of academic documents for interim or complete qualifications, you can select Digitary VIA during the application submission to help fast-track your application. The Digitary VIA option includes a one-off charge.

You will also need to provide the name and contact details of two referees. If it is less than 5 years since you completed your last course, they should be academic referees. If it is more than 5 years since you completed your last course, they may be professional referees. Once you submit your application, your referees will be emailed a link to provide their reference online.

In the event your referee does not receive the email with the link, please check that you have entered their email address correctly and contact us through Stop 1 to confirm their details and that their form has been sent.

It is important that you contact your referees well before submitting an application. This ensures they expect the request for a reference. Some graduate schools will consider applications at any time, others assess applications at fixed times of the year only.

Publications

If you want to include in your application details of publications of which you are the author or co-author, please follow the following formatting conventions.

Relevant publications include refereed journal articles, refereed conference papers, book chapters or books that have been published or are forthcoming. Please present publications in the format below:

Begin with the most recent publication first:

• Journal articles: author(s), title of article, journal title and issue/number, year of publication, page references;
• Book chapters: author(s), chapter title, book editors, title of book, page references, place of publication, publisher and year of publication;
• Books: author(s), book title, place of publication, publisher and year of publication;
• Refereed conference papers: author(s), paper title, title of conference, date(s) of conference.

Do not include articles or other works which have not yet been accepted for publication.

Find a supervisor

Your graduate research study will be guided by an academic supervisor . This person will be an expert in the area you are proposing to study and will guide and support you through all of the stages of candidature and ensure that you have access to necessary resources and facilities to complete your research project.

For most courses and areas of study you will need to find an appropriate supervisor as part of your application process. If your course does require evidence of supervisor support at the time of application, you can either upload an email from them stating that they are providing in-principle support for your application or complete this form and upload it to your application after the supervisor has signed it. If you are unsure whether in-principle support is required, you will be able to see this once you start your online course application as there will be a link to the form.

The University's Find an Expert website is a useful place to start. Use the “Experts for Research Supervision” filter to find those who are registered to supervise.

Know the faculty

The faculty your supervisor belongs to will be the faculty your course of study is with. It is important you note the faculty (or graduate school) of your supervisor so you apply for the right study package. This information will be shown in their entry in the Find an Expert website.

Creative works

Please consult the entry requirements for the course you are applying for.

• Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
• Victorian College of the Arts

Step 4: Apply with Melbourne

Early application is recommended for graduate research courses, as you may be given an early offer by some schools. Late applications may also be accepted if places are available.

How to apply

• If you're a current student at Melbourne, apply through your student account
• If you're a new student, you can apply online . You'll need to provide a copy of your academic results as part of your application.
• If you need help applying, you can find an overseas representative to help you with lodge an application, accept your offer and apply for a student visa (if admitted into the University). To find out about their costs and services, see Find an overseas representative .

Ensure you apply by the relevant deadline. Check the graduate course you're applying for to find out application due dates before submitting your application.

You can track your application by logging back into your student account, or online account where you applied, and viewing the status of your application.

Don't have your results yet?

You can still apply if you haven't received your final results. You'll need to submit your most recent results on application, and your final results when you receive them to be admitted into a graduate research course.

You can select Digitary VIA during the application submission to obtain verified digital copies of academic documents for interim qualifications, to help fast-track your application. The Digitary VIA option includes a one-off $USD199 charge.

View our Privacy Collection Notice

Step 5. Be assessed and wait for offers

After you submit your application, you'll receive a confirmation email with your unique student ID and application reference number. If anything is missing from your application, we'll email you.

Graduate schools may assess research applications in selection rounds on specific dates or continually throughout the year.  Check the course website  for more details on the application process for the research course you have chosen.

If you are selected for admission, we'll email you directly with an offer.

If the offer is conditional, you need to meet the offer conditions before accepting it. If you've been sent an unconditional offer, you can choose to accept it immediately.

To find out how to do this, see  Offers and enrolments .

Step 6: Search for a scholarship

We have one of the most generous scholarship programs in Australia to help with your tuition and living costs.

If eligible, you will automatically be considered for a Graduate Research Scholarship . Other scholarships are available by application.

These include:

• Endeavour Scholarships – competitive, merit-based scholarships and fellowships offered by the Australian government, providing opportunities for Australians to undertake study, research or professional development overseas and for overseas citizens to do the same in Australia.
• Travelling scholarships – for students undertaking research at an overseas institution, such as the Rae and Edith Bennett Travelling Scholarship.
• Other grants and bursaries – some offered by faculties to reward you for academic achievement and to help with the general cost of living and tuition while studying at Melbourne.

To find out more about our graduate research scholarships and funding, see Research funding .

For all scholarships offered through Melbourne, see Melbourne Scholarships .

Step 7: Plan for accommodation

If you're planning to move to Melbourne for your studies, there are a range of student accommodation options you can choose from including residential colleges, student apartments, share houses, homestay, hostels and temporary accommodation.

To find out more, see Accommodation .

Accepting your Melbourne offer

Find out how to receive and accept your offer, enrol as a student, and start getting ready for your graduate research studies.

Graduate research website

Check out our University of Melbourne Research website for comprehensive information on research support, applications, funding opportunities, industry connections and more.

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• 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

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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

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.

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Research Proposal Example/Sample

Detailed Walkthrough + Free Proposal Template

If you’re getting started crafting your research proposal and are looking for a few examples of research proposals , you’ve come to the right place.

In this video, we walk you through two successful (approved) research proposals , one for a Master’s-level project, and one for a PhD-level dissertation. We also start off by unpacking our free research proposal template and discussing the four core sections of a research proposal, so that you have a clear understanding of the basics before diving into the actual proposals.

• Research proposal example/sample – Master’s-level (PDF/Word)
• Research proposal example/sample – PhD-level (PDF/Word)
• Proposal template (Fully editable) 

If you’re working on a research proposal for a dissertation or thesis, you may also find the following useful:

• Research Proposal Bootcamp : Learn how to write a research proposal as efficiently and effectively as possible
• 1:1 Proposal Coaching : Get hands-on help with your research proposal

FAQ: Research Proposal Example

Research proposal example: frequently asked questions, are the sample proposals real.

Yes. The proposals are real and were approved by the respective universities.

Can I copy one of these proposals for my own research?

As we discuss in the video, every research proposal will be slightly different, depending on the university’s unique requirements, as well as the nature of the research itself. Therefore, you’ll need to tailor your research proposal to suit your specific context.

You can learn more about the basics of writing a research proposal here .

How do I get the research proposal template?

You can access our free proposal template here .

Is the proposal template really free?

Yes. There is no cost for the proposal template and you are free to use it as a foundation for your research proposal.

Where can I learn more about proposal writing?

For self-directed learners, our Research Proposal Bootcamp is a great starting point.

For students that want hands-on guidance, our private coaching service is recommended.

Psst… there’s more!

This post is an extract from our bestselling Udemy Course, Research Proposal Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this .

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Format Research Proposal- University of Melbourne

The importance of the research proposal:

A research proposal is a document of usually three to seven pages that informs others of a proposed piece of research. This proposed research is usually a Masters or Doctorate by thesis, but it can also be work for a corporate purpose. University students usually write research proposals for academics who may eventually supervise the work based on the proposal. A research proposal can be rejected as unsuitable or poorly designed and on the basis of this, a piece of research can be rejected. The proposal is, therefore, an important document; one that is worth spending some time on to get right. Another reason to get the proposal right is that this can save you time in the long run. If the proposal is well-designed, it can form an outline of the thesis to follow, and ideally, can be mapped onto various parts of the final thesis.

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Is this the world’s coolest street? Or is the system rigged?

Melbourne, Australia – or at least one of our streets – has topped yet another global ranking, but what does it mean to be officially ‘cool’ and who decides?

By Amelia Leavesley, University of Melbourne

The recent announcement that Melbourne has once again topped the international charts for being a cool place tells many locals what they already know.

The High Street that connects the inner north suburbs of Northcote, Thornbury and Preston is a hub of vintage stores, bespoke cinemas, lasagne on speed dial and more live gigs than you can poke a stick at.

Rightfully or not, this High Street has been awarded the title of the “ coolest street in the world ” by Time Out magazine .

After recovering from the excitement of living in a ‘globally cool’ city, the urbanist in me pauses to reflect on what this ranking really means. Critical questions come to mind, like what qualifies a street as ‘cool’? Who decides this?

And, perhaps most importantly, who or what is excluded from these rankings?

To qualify for this particular ‘coolness’ ranking, a city street must have a thriving economic and cultural hub with offerings of “ food, drink, nightlife and culture ” that appeals to locals and visitors alike.

Is Melbourne's new bus proposal really faster and fairer?

City streets that meet this description are pitched by Time Out’s global network of journalists and editors and judged by the magazine editors based on...coolness? The exact criteria are unclear.

The rigour through which street ‘coolness’ was assessed is perhaps beside the point, but the 30-strong list of cities with cool streets does raise interesting questions about the power of a global ranking.

The list features cities that we’re used to seeing in these global rankings: London, Tokyo, Vienna, New York, Manila, Paris, Singapore and Copenhagen are regular suspects. These large vibrant urban centres often appear on global city rankings and create an image of what a city should be – cool, liveable, sustainable, beautiful, cultured and the list goes on.

For example, each year the Economist Intelligence Unit publishes their annual Global Liveability Index report which ranks 173 cities across the world based on relative stability, healthcare, education, culture and the environment, and infrastructure.

Vienna, Austria topped the charts in 2023 for the second year running, followed by Copenhagen, Denmark in second and – you guessed it – Melbourne, Australia in third ( regaining “bragging rights” by bouncing back from tenth place in 2022 ).

Damascus, the capital of Syria, remains persistently at the bottom of the ranking as a result of ongoing “ social unrest, terrorism and conflict ”. These rankings create a clear delineation between those cities that are attractive to visit and live in, and those that are not. They also create a hierarchy of cities – those that get put on the map (or to the top of the list in this case) and those that don’t.

This dichotomy is cause for concern.

Research shows that city rankings can be a useful tool for driving innovation, attracting investment, showcasing best practice and “ steering economic, social and spatial processes in cities ”.

Woody Meadows greening our cities the right way

Some argue that benchmarking assessments can act like a pulse check for urban policymakers, helping them to assess their current situation, compare themselves with and learn from other cities, better prioritise infrastructure project funding and build collaborative city networks.

However, they also create a rank where cities are benchmarked against one another and assessed, regularly and publicly, on their performance. While city rankings are not necessarily a bad thing, often these benchmarks are based on perception rather than quantitative performance measures (actual data) .

So, coolness is really just someone’s opinion, but it does drive up business for those that make the list.

Central to this debate is the power dynamics behind global city rankings – who decides what counts as globally relevant and worthy of visitation or investment – and the inequalities they perpetuate . For example, does highlighting ‘coolness’ distract from other, more pressing urban issues like housing affordability and social equity?

Or, to put it bluntly, what does it cost to be cool?

Global city rankings must be taken with a grain of salt. It’s important to celebrate the good things about our cities, but we must also be critical of rankings that place one city ahead of another in terms of coolness, liveability, economic productivity or any other measure.

We must ask ourselves what impact the ranking has on the global understanding of what it means to be a city. And we must make room for the cities that don’t make it on ‘the list’ and consider what this might mean for the lives of those that live there.

Five ways retrofitting cities can help decarbonise our future

There are benefits that come from living in a ‘cool’ city, however vaguely measured the ranking may be – having access to lasagne on speed-dial is quite the cultural achievement.

However, it would be nice if Melbourne, as a leading and influential global city, was also celebrated for doing well in other areas that matter – like working toward achieving global sustainability goals.

Or even something less sexy but highly crucial like providing effective waste management services for residents and supporting other cities to do the same.

Least wasteful city – now that is a ranking I’d like to see.

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Research Proposal and Paper

• Read more about Research Proposal and Paper

In this multi-step assignment, students select a topic and write an informative research paper about an approved topic of significance to their audience (peers comprised of business majors and software engineering majors). Phases of the project include: a formal topic proposal, an annotated bibliography, a progress report, and the research paper.

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• Research Proposal

Research Proposal (EDUC90253)

Graduate coursework Points: 12.5 Online

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About this subject

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The student will prepare under supervision a thesis proposal, providing a clear indication of the nature and purpose of the research to be undertaken in the thesis. The proposal should contain:

• a clear statement of the purpose of the research and the research question(s) being investigated;
• a justification of why the chosen topic is a worthwhile one to research;
• a substantial overview and critical discussion of research already done in the area available in the research literature;
• a critical discussion of the research methodology proposed, showing its appropriateness for answering the research question(s); and
• an outline of the research design and the timeline for implementing it.

Intended learning outcomes

Students will extend their capacity to evaluate research literature in educational psychology in order to make informed decisions about the conduct of independent enquiries in psychology and education.

Generic skills

• Develop literature review skills
• Develop an evidence-based argument

Last updated: 10 February 2024