Writing a research proposal

The research proposal is the most important document in your application. The purpose of the proposal document is to assess the candidate’s:

  1. ability to communicate their ideas and write a coherent document
  2. ability to identify and describe a research-worthy topic that is capable of being supervised by the chosen supervisor
  3. ability to compile (a non-comprehensive list) of relevant background material (for example, existing work in the area)
  4. ability to pose specific research questions that need to be addressed
  5. ability to propose a preliminary, but appropriate, course of action for research (for example, mentioning possible methodologies)
  6. genuine interest in the topic of study.

A good proposal document does not have to be lengthy. We recommend a maximum of three pages.  It should be proof-read, clear and easy to understand.

Proposal structure

We do not mandate a specific structure, as this may depend on the particular candidate and project. But we would expect to see at least:

  • Title
    A working title for your research project. This may change as the project progresses.
  • Research problem and questions
    You should describe the problem that you aim to investigate, and propose one or more research questions or hypotheses.
  • Context
    You should set the scene for your research, and show understanding of existing knowledge and debates in your chosen area. What are the key existing articles and texts? What is the gap in existing knowledge that your project will aim to fill?
  • Methods
    You should discuss how you plan to investigate your research questions. If you are using well-known methodologies, then references to these and/or other uses of these will demonstrate your understanding of the field. If not, then you should justify why you need to develop your own methodology. What data will you need and how will you obtain and analyse them?
  • Timeline
    The UK doctorate is typically a 3-4 year programme. You should provide a rough timeline and milestones for a 42-month period.
  • Bibliography
    You must include a well-formatted appropriate list of references. Computer Science as a discipline does not tend to be prescriptive about reference style, but you may want to consider The devil's guide to citing the literature.

When making initial contact with a potential supervisor, you may not have all of the details of your research proposal ready. But there should be sufficient detail such that a supervisor can determine whether your research interests are in line with theirs. Similarly, do not worry that you will be held to your exact research proposal. If you are granted admission, there is flexibility to reorient your proposal. The first year of doctoral study is typically spent exploring related work in further detail, and you and your supervisor may find that your proposal ends up being refined or reoriented such that it does not adhere completely to what is in your admission proposal. Note that the MSc(Res) is a shorter one-year programme and so it is unlikely that you will have time to change your proposal.

Your proposal must be your own work. The University’s admissions policy states that materials should be produced by the applicant and not third parties and should not be drawn from the Internet or generated through AI. Applications that are found to be false or misleading may lead to your application being rejected, your offer being withdrawn or your studies being terminated.