How to write a PGR research proposal

Source: https://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/applying/writing-your-proposal/ Parent: https://www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/how-to-apply/

You will need to submit a research proposal with your PhD application. This is crucial in the assessment of your application and it warrants plenty of time and energy.

The research proposal is a key part of the assessment of your application. Your submission should be no more than 1,500 words in total (including references.) Please provide a word count with your submission. If over length, the submission will be returned to you.

While you are encouraged to discuss your ideas with a prospective supervisor, the content of your proposal must be your own original work, written in your own words.

Present your case clearly and concisely. Use the subheadings below to help structure your proposal and outline the work you intend to undertake. While you do not need to address every point listed, these guidelines are designed to assist you in organising your ideas effectively.

Title

Please provide the title of your proposed research.

Your reasons and purposes for undertaking this project

State briefly what the key area or issues of your project will be and why you wish to pursue this research project. How does your proposed work relate to what you have studied already?

Where there is a significant overlap between your Master's dissertation (if you have completed one) and your doctoral study, you should demonstrate clearly how the project goes beyond your Master's study and state clearly the added value of continuing to research in this area.

This does not mean that the assessors expect your research programme to be in the same area as your previous study, but they will need to know that you have sufficient experience to complete your project. Finally, you should say how your doctoral study relates to your eventual career aims.

Research problems or questions you intend to address

You should identify the research problems or questions you intend to address in your doctoral study.\ These should be clearly defined in your proposal.

You should describe:

• the research problems or questions you intend to address

Research context

• the research context (background) in which those problems or questions are located. In describing the context, you should refer to the current state of knowledge and any recent debate on the subject
• the particular contribution to knowledge and understanding in this area that you hope to make. You should explain why the work is important. The fact that an area has not been studied previously is not, in itself, a case for the work to be supported. We are also seeking a description of relevance beyond the development of your own skills or experience, though this is important too

Research design and methodology

• the methods and critical approaches that you plan to use to address the problems or questions you have set. We don't just need to know what you are going to work on
• we need to know how you plan to go about it
• the sources that you will use, if appropriate. You will need to state where these sources and materials are located and how these will be accessed. For example, if you are undertaking an archaeological project, do you need a permit to access a particular site, and how will this be obtained? It is sometimes helpful to put forward alternative strategies or approaches if you are aware that problems might arise
• you should say, as far as you can, how the project will develop or how you will structure the work over the period of the award

Ethical considerations

• You should identify and address any potential ethical considerations in relation to your proposed research. Please discuss your research with your proposed supervisor to see how best to progress your ideas in line with University of Manchester ethics guidance, and ensure that your proposed supervisor is happy for you to proceed with your application.

Preparation and previous experience

• preparation and previous experience: you should give a brief indication of any previous experience or preparation that is relevant to your proposed doctoral study. For example, you may wish to highlight key areas of your Master's study. Where applicable, you should also include training and preparation, additional to the formal undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications already listed, which is relevant to your proposed study
• for practice-led subjects, you should include details of your professional or work experience (including relevant voluntary work or exhibitions), as the panel will be looking at your track record. For example, if your application is for doctoral study in creative writing, please describe the kind of writing (published or unpublished) you have undertaken. If your work experience was completed over several short periods, it would be helpful to give an overall number of weeks or months, e.g. 3 months' gallery experience.

Supervisors

We encourage you to discuss your proposal informally with a potential supervisor before making a formal application to ensure it is of mutual interest.

Please note that we cannot guarantee that we will be able to allocate you to the supervisor you initially contact and that we may allocate you to another expert in the area.

• Find a supervisor

Flexibility

You will not be forced to follow the proposal exactly once you have started to study. It is normal for students to refine their original proposal, in light of detailed literature review, further consideration of research approaches and comments received from your supervisors (and other academic staff).

Plagiarism and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Your research proposal should reflect your individual academic thinking. While generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT and similar) may seem useful, applicants are strongly advised not to rely on AI-generated content. Proposals that show limited independent thought or depend heavily on descriptive, AI-produced text are unlikely to be successful.

You are expected to demonstrate:

• A clear and original research idea
• Critical engagement with relevant literature
• Awareness of the broader academic context
• A well-reasoned approach to your proposed study

If AI tools are used (e.g. for background research or idea development), they must be used sparingly, and any content drawn from them must be:

• Critically evaluated
• Clearly acknowledged and cited according to academic referencing standards

Presenting AI-generated content as your own without appropriate attribution is considered plagiarism and will be treated as academic misconduct.

The University uses plagiarism detection tools as part of its assessment process. Your final proposal should reflect your own planning, reasoning, and academic voice. While it is natural for research proposals to build on prior studies or existing literature, it is essential that the work you submit is entirely your own and properly referenced.