Guidelines for Producing
  aResearchProposal
     PhD/MPhilApplications Theresearchproposalshouldbe
                                                          approximately 1,000-2000 words
     This document is intended as guidance to assist      long. The research proposal should
     postgraduate research applicants in their initial    address the following questions:
     application to Newcastle University.                 Title of proposed project
     Wewouldadviseyoutoconsultthewebsiteof                [Ashort statement of the topic you would
     the school responsible for your subject area         like to investigate]
     before applying to see the areas in which we         Whatareyousettingouttodo?
     can offer supervision.                               [Describe briefly what you would propose to
     Whenyouapplyforaresearchdegreeat                     doin the research]
     Newcastle University you will be asked to            Whyareyouattemptingtodothis?
     supply a short summary of your research topic.       [Explain why you think it is important to conduct
     TheUniversity needs to know in outline form          this particular research project]
     what you are proposing to research so it can
     decide whether it is able to offer you the high-     Are you aware of previous research in this
     quality research supervision and the resources       area?
     that are needed to support you.                      [Set out a brief statement of what other research
     Theresearch proposal also helps the University       you know has been done in this area with a
     to assess your application and to ensure the         short bibliography of the key works. This will
     research you are proposing is appropriate and        help the School to assess whether there are
     realistic.                                           appropriate library resources to support your
                                                          work. It is also possible to draw on previous
     Thepurposeofthis document is to guide you in         work that you have done (eg a Masters
     producing the research proposal, which will then     dissertation) in the research proposal.]
     be carefully considered by academic selectors        Whydoyouthinkthatisappropriateto
     in the light of our ability to supervise and         undertake this research at Newcastle
     support you to a successful conclusion.              University?
     In the first few months at Newcastle University      [Outline any academics
     you will also have an opportunity to refine and       or research groups at
     revise your research proposal, and you will be        Newcastle
     given advice from your supervisor and training
     from a Faculty Research Training Programme to
     help you do this.
    University that you feel are relevant to your            Canyoudotheprojectwithinthe
    research]                                                required time period (three years
                                                             for a full time PhD student and 6
    Whatdatawillyouneedfortheresearch?                       years part time; for an MPhil the
    [Briefly outline the data you need and the sources       periods are 1 year full time and 2
    you will use indicating whether the data comes           years part time)?
    from published sources or field work. Again this         [Indicate roughly how you would allocate
    will help the School to assess whether there are         the time for doing the research project over
    appropriate resources in the University to support       the duration of your studies]
    your work.]
                                                             Whatcontribution do you think that your
    Whattechniquesareyouproposingtouseto                     research might make?
    dotheresearch?                                           [Say how, if your research is successful, it
    [Say how you would go about doing the research           might contribute to knowledge and
    in terms of the methods that you would use for           understanding of the subject.
    example to collect data and analyse it]
                                                             Bibliography
    Whydoyouthinkthatthesetechniquesare                      [Abrief bibliography should demonstrate your
    appropriate?                                             familiarity with literature in the field you wish
    [Say why you think it is appropriate to use these        research]
    methods]
                                                             Theresearch proposal can only be accepted
    Are you familiar with these techniques or                for consideration when it is accompanied by
    wouldyouneedfurthertraining?                             a completed Newcastle University
    [Briefly summarise your experience in using these        PostgraduateApplication Form.
    techniques and identify any areas where you think
    that you would benefit from further training]
    Whatproblemsmightyouencounterinthe
    course of the research?
    Think of any problems that you might encounter
    during the research project and how you might go
    about overcoming them. For example are there
    any safety or ethical issues?