Structure of a research proposal
Usually the idea of producing a formal document is rather intimidating, but it should not be. A formal document means that there is a formula which, if followed carefully, ensures that you have covered all of the areas you need to cover in order to present your proposed research. Although requirement for a research proposal can often differ slightly according to funding body, academic or professional body regulations, there is an almost universally accepted ‘list of content’ that is expected. It is important to pay very close attention to any specific instructions you have for presenting a proposal and use this as a guide to individual sections within that proposal. As already discussed, many funding bodies have their own proposal framework ready to receive your input, regulations differ from university to university and often within individual department – be aware of exactly what is required. The aim here is to provide as comprehensive a list as possible of the detail that should be included in a proposal. It is your responsibility to make sure you conform to the requirements of the target audience, whether reviewers, academic research supervisors or your line manager.