Whichever research degree you wish to apply for, you will need to develop a research proposal. This is the critical part of your application – so it’s worth taking the time to get it right.

What is a research proposal

Your research proposal marks the starting point of your doctoral journey at Edinburgh Napier University. It outlines the focus of your research, highlighting its potential scope and impact. A key element of your proposal is the research question — the central query your project will investigate and seek to answer.

A well-defined research question should be clear, specific, and achievable, providing direction throughout your research process.

At ENU, doctoral research is expected to make an original contribution to your academic field, and your proposal should clearly demonstrate this ambition.

Writing your proposal

If you’re applying for an advertised position, then the advertisement will include details about the research to be undertaken. This may be very clearly specified or it may just lay out an area for exploration. Your proposal should:

Include a brief introduction of your relevant experience and skills
Include detail on what you would uniquely bring to the project and how the project fits with your future direction
Be clear and concise - no longer than two pages long
Be written in accessible and non-technical language, so this can be understood by someone who isn't necessarily a specialist in your area.

If you intend to apply based on your own research idea, you must contact a supervisor and they must provide their support for your research proposal and application. The research proposal should include details of your relevant experience and skills, a lay out your idea and how you would approach the research. You should demonstrate a broad understanding of the field. Make sure you name your confirmed supervisor in the proposal.

Title

The title of your research proposal should be clear, concise, and informative. It needs to accurately reflect the core focus of your proposed study. While it doesn't need to be final, a strong working title gives readers a good indication of your research topic and approach. Avoid vague or overly broad titles; instead, aim for a specific and engaging phrase that encapsulates your main research idea or question.

Abstract

The abstract is a short paragraph, usually around 150–250 words, that summerises your entire proposal.

It should include the research problem, objectives, proposed methodology, and potential contribution to knowledge.

Although it's written at the beginning of the proposal, it's often easier to write after you've completed the other sections, as it synthesizes the entire proposal into a quick overview.

Introduction

The introduction sets the scene for your research. It should:

Show you understand the broader context of your topic and explain why it is important.
You should outline the current state of knowledge and highlight and gaps that your research aims to address
Clearly state the problem or issue your research will address.
Introduce the reader to your research focus and why it is worthy of academic investigation.

Literature Review

A literature review is a crucial part of any research project, especially at the PhD level, because it lays the foundation for your study. It should:

Summarize the current state of research on your topic.
Identify key theories, debates, and gaps in the literature.
Show how your proposed research will build on, challenge, or fill those gaps.
Demonstrates your familiarity with the academic field and positions your work within it.

Methodology

The methodology section of your research proposal should explain how you plan to conduct your research.

Include details such as:

Research design (qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods)
Data collection methods (e.g., surveys, interviews, archival research)
Data analysis techniques
Justify your choices and explain how they are appropriate for your research questions.
Also note any theoretical frameworks you may be using.

Plan and Timeline

A PhD proposal should include a realistic timeline for completing the various stages of your research over the course of your study (typically three to four years full-time).

This might be presented in narrative form or as a Gantt chart. Break down the project into phases such as literature review, data collection, data analysis, writing, and revision, and estimate when you plan to complete each stage.

References

List all the sources you cited in your proposal using an academic referencing style appropriate for your chosen school, as each school has it's own referencing guidelines. This shows that you are engaging with relevant literature and also allows reviewers to verify your sources. Make sure your references are appropriate, up-to-date, and directly connected to your research topic.

Resources

If applicable, discuss any special resources your research will require, such as lab equipment, software, travel, or access to archives or field sites.

Ethical Considerations

You should also mention any potential ethical issues, especially if your research involves human or animal participants. Briefly outline how you will address these concerns, including plans for obtaining ethical approval if necessary.

Doctor of Business Administration

If you’re applying for a DBA, then there is a research proposal template to complete. his details the information you need to provide to describe your research idea and the work-based problem or opportunity it seeks to address.

Writing a research proposal

What is a research proposal

Writing your proposal