How to write a research proposal Dr Sue Timmis PhD Programme Director, Graduate School of Education

Overview The scholarship process and scholarships available The ESRC process What a proposal should contain Sharing in groups Tips for good writing Your questions answered

Scholarships available and timescales ESRC – UK and EU nationals only University of Bristol – home and international Sasakawa Japanese Studies - open to students of any nationality Zutshi Smith Award – for Indian students only China Scholarship Council – for chinese nationals only See http://www.bristol.ac.uk/education/study/doctoral/phd/scholarship- information/

“I was advised to contact [supervisor] through an academic in Cardiff and I only contacted the Cardiff academic in the first place because I was advised to by a neighbour who had been awarded a 1+3 at Cardiff. There's so much luck involved - but the main thing I say to anyone interested is give it a go. And if you really want it, don't be put off if you're rejected the first time (as my Cardiff friend was). There were lots of reason why, on paper, my application was very unlikely to succeed. But if you write something clear that interests a potential supervisor you just never know.”

ESRC scholarship process Esrc offers - 1+3 (masters (Mres) + three years phd funding) and + 3 (three years phd funding) awards Develop your application and proposal ideally with help from a proposed supervisor Deadline for COMPLETE applications is 12 noon on 2nd February 2017 Panel meeting to prioritise/select applications Interviews on 7th and 9th March– set process, three institution (Bristol, Bath and Exeter) panel Recommendations are sent to faculty - 17th March We can only recommend –SWDTP decides

Key elements of a proposal Title Introduction Rationale/background/ Lit review Research aims/initial research questions Methodology and methods – why? Expected outcomes/impact Timetable References Stick to the 1,000 word limit FOR ESRC - two options either a collaborative , engagement oriented proposal or an ambitious and novel proposal – see esrc information on website for more info

Groups Look at extract and compare with your own drafts What convinces you in this extract? How have they justified the choices they are proposing? How is their style different to yours?

Hints and tips Justify your claims with academic references Show that you understand and can critique some of the key literature in the field Have researchable research questions Set out methodology in stages – justify why each method will be used – used academic references to support this Make a clear plan Include ethics Include all your references Show that you have read recent work on your topic and on relevant methodology For ESRC applications –think creatively about collaboration Patter – Pat Thomson’s blog on academic writing - http://patthomson.net/ http://patthomson.net/2014/06/23/the-research-proposal-as-writing-work/

Questions? For further queries…… Talk to prospective supervisors For information on the process or admin queries - email ed-phd@bristol.ac.uk See our webpages at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/education/study/doctoral/phd/ Scholarship pages again - http://www.bristol.ac.uk/education/study/doctoral/phd/scholarship-information/ My email -Sue.timmis@bristol.ac.uk