How to Write PhD Research Proposal: Tutorials & Examples

Today, many PhD applicants are asked to submit a PhD research proposal. Sometimes it is not officially required on the application form. But some supervisors may request one for two reasons: (i) as a writing sample if the student has no publications or their master’s thesis is not in English, and (ii) as evidence that the applicant understands their research interests and already has potential plans in mind. Writing a strong proposal takes time, so it is wise to start developing your project ideas early. Note that the type of PhD proposal discussed here is different from the formal research proposal PhD students usually defend during their first or second year, depending on the country.

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How to write a PhD research proposal: Length & Components

To find out about the length, structure, and key components to consider in your research proposal for PhD, please read our research proposal article. Usually, you need to write a 1-2 page or 1000-2000 word PhD research proposal when you want to find PhD supervisors who offer research-funded positions and apply for research-funded PhD scholarships and fellowships. However, different universities (their schools or departments) and scholarship programs have their own expectations for the length, structure, and key components of research proposals for PhDs; you must be careful and considerate. Let’s have a look at three examples, including two from different universities in the UK, and one from a professor of the University of Melbourne in Australia:

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Example 1: PhD Research Proposal Guide from Scotland

University 1: The University of Edinburgh

School of Literature, Languages and Cultures

Department of European Languages and Cultures

Your proposal should be about 2,000 words long. The following seven elements should help you structure your proposal, though depending on your project, they may not need to come in the order below (apart from the title, of course!). It is a good idea to use subheadings and write short paragraphs to help your reader navigate through your proposal:

1. Choose a title that sums up the project well: this may seem obvious, but a good title can catch your reader’s attention and trigger their interest in your project, so they are keen to read on.
2. A thesis statement, including your hypothesis, is a good way of opening the main body of your proposal. In a way this is a justification for your project, so you should bear the following questions in mind: what is this project about; why is it important or innovative, why now (i.e. why is it timely); what does it address that previous research hasn’t addressed so far or what does it do differently; briefly, what are you planning to do; and why would scholars in, but also beyond, your field and, if appropriate, wider society be interested in, or benefit from, your research; why would it be worth being funded?
3. Outline the primary material (texts, films, or other primary sources) that you will examine in your thesis. Depending on whether you aim for a PhD in a single language area, in Comparative Literature, or in European Theatre, this may be work by one author, several, or many. For PhDs in Comparative Literature in particular, it is important to justify your choice of authors/texts and explain why these texts are the ones that need to be examined in that combination to make your particular argument.
4. Situate your research in the research context, that is, in the existing field or fields of criticism and scholarship. This section needs to give your reader an idea of works in existing literary/cultural criticism on, for instance, the authors featured in your thesis, the literary period(s), or genre(s). You will need to gain an ‘adequate knowledge’ of the existing research and engage critically with it, to be able to develop your own original argument in your thesis. The areas of scholarship on which you draw are also likely to include critical works or works that outline particular theories or approaches that will inform your methodology (see below) and your overall argument.
5. Include the research questions or problems that the argument of your thesis will address (a short list of questions may be helpful here).
6. Then outline the (theoretical) approach and methods you will adopt to address those questions or problems and to analyze your material, that is, to achieve your research aims. Explain why this particular methodology is the appropriate means of doing so. Ask yourself what original outcomes employing those theories and methodologies allow you to reach.
7. Finally, we would like to know why you wish to study your topic at the University of Edinburgh.

Your PhD research proposal should also include a bibliography of the primary and secondary sources you mention in the proposal and any further titles that you have already identified as relevant to your research.

Depending on your project, you may also wish to include ethical considerations. If you are accepted, a research ethics review will have to be conducted during your first year. 

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Example 2: PhD Research Proposal Guide from England

University 2: King’s College London

School of Politics and Economics

Department of European & International Studies

Your PhD research proposal should be 2,000-3,000 words long, plus bibliography, using the following sections: 

• Title – The best titles are simple and descriptive, identifying the topic and approach that will be taken.
• Central research question and objectives – The question your research seeks to answer should be stated simply, then fleshed out to show why it is timely and important – both intellectually and politically – for you to be writing a PhD on this topic. After that, you should state, in straightforward terms, how the PhD will answer the research question.
• Literature review – Here, you must show how your central research question relates to existing academic studies in your field. This requires a short literature review, which will situate your proposed research within the framework of the dominant perspectives on similar issues in the existing literature. Ideally, you should be able to demonstrate how your proposed research fills a gap in the literature and therefore adds substantively and can make a lasting contribution to academic debates. One key criterion for writing a successful PhD is that it is original work, so you must try to avoid setting up your analysis in a way that simply replicates work that can already be found within the literature.
• Theoretical framework – Here, you should detail what theoretical framework(s) will underpin the analysis in your PhD, why that framework has been chosen, and what advantages it gives you for addressing your central research question.
• Case studies and methodology – Here, you should discuss the type of empirical research (statistical work, interviews, surveys etc.) that you will be doing and the case study/case studies that you have chosen. This is essential in all cases except for abstract political theory PhDs. You should show how your theoretical framework informs the methodology that you will use and why that methodology is particularly advantageous for answering the research question.
• Problems – Here, you should reflect on any problems you think you may encounter whilst undertaking your research and indicate how they might be overcome or mitigated. These might include, for example, access to data.
• Bibliography – You should include a complete bibliography for the proposal.

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Example 3: PhD Research Proposal Guide from Australia

This Guideline is Provided by Professor Lu Aye

University 3: The University of Melbourne

School of Engineering

Department of Infrastructure Engineering

Writing a One-page PhD Research Proposal

• This brief notes is for potential candidates who wish to do PhD level research with me at the University of Melbourne.
• I always request a one-page proposal from potential research candidates.
• One page research proposal helps me figuring out what the students think they will be doing.

Why One Page?

• There are several reasons, important ones for me are: (i) Good potential research students should be able to write concisely and communicate what they would like to do on one page. (ii) I do not wish to spend time reading more than one page. I am a time-poor academic trying to be productive and trying to enjoy life.
• I promised this notes be one page too.

Suggested Contents

• Candidate name
• Title
• Aim/Objectives
• Research method
• Expected outcomes
• Resources required
  (Email questions regarding the contents to me.)

What I am looking for in one page proposal written by potential candidate

• Is the topic in the areas of my interest?
• What is the level (PhD or Masters)?
• Is the proposed study feasible within the time frame of the candidature?
• Does the potential student have background knowledge in the area?
• Do we have enough resources to support the research project?

My observations

• Most of the initial research proposals are OK (i.e., good enough for application for candidature) after one or no revisions.
• Getting the one-page proposal right in the first place is not so important; it helps us in a clear thinking process and communication.

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Is Novelty Important for a PhD Research Proposal?

Yes, novelty and originality matter in a PhD research proposal. Unlike the postdoctoral research proposals that require state-of-the-art projects that both advance knowledge and address real-life challenges and make a difference beyond academia, your PhD research idea can still stay within academic boundaries. However, if you show a novelty beyond academia, you increase your chance of getting the position you are after. Consider Aihan, a postgraduate student who was granted an RTP scholarship in Australia by the government in 2025 for his PhD research project at Monash University for 3.5 years. He combined the sense of urgency of the problem and a logical approach in his application for a research-based study on cities and sustainability.

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Conclusion

Writing a PhD research proposal is a crucial step in the application process, even when it is not formally required. Supervisors often use it to assess both your writing ability and your readiness to undertake research. While the level of novelty expected is less demanding than at the postdoctoral stage, originality still plays an important role in strengthening your application. Different universities and supervisors have varying expectations, from concise one-page outlines to detailed multi-thousand-word proposals. Therefore, applicants should carefully follow the specific guidelines provided and start preparing early. A clear, well-structured, and thoughtful proposal can significantly improve your chances of securing a PhD opportunity.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Successful PhD Research Proposal Examples

The following PhD research proposals outline research on targeted drug delivery for cancer therapy using gold nanoparticles and carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption by Microencapsulation of Liquid Sorbent (MECS). They were written by PhD applicants who applied to the University of Melbourne a few years ago and successfully secured a fully funded PhD scholarship in Australia. The scholarship covered their tuition and insurance fees and provided a monthly stipend of ~3,000 AUD.

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Global Guidance on PhD Research Proposals

Below, we have compiled official guidance from leading universities and scholarship sources worldwide on how to write a strong research proposal for PhD positions and scholarships. Remember that universities in the USA and Canada don’t generally require a research proposal for PhD application processes, but their supervisors may request one as a writing sample. First, we recommend reading our comprehensive blog on how to write a successful research proposal. Second, fully read this blog to gain a solid understanding of what makes a PhD proposal successful. Once you are familiar with the key elements, explore the following country-specific and program-specific guides tailored to your target PhD position or scholarship:

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