Linguistics and English Language PhD

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Write a research proposal

Your research proposal will be used to consider whether the proposed research is feasible and can be supervised by our staff members, so it is important that your theoretical and methodological preparation for it are clear.

We understand that it can be difficult to formulate research plans well in advance of carrying out the work, but we encourage you to articulate your ideas as clearly as possible. You should draft your proposal several times and, ideally, seek comments on it from other people (perhaps from your referees or former lecturers) before submitting it.

It is recommended that you contact your planned supervisor(s) well in advance of the deadline to identify a suitable topic for your research proposal.

You should then draft the research proposal independently and discuss it with your planned supervisor(s), revising it based on their comments and suggestions.

Each PhD thesis contains several theoretical and empirical chapters. Your proposal should focus on the empirical work, laying out plans for at least two empirical studies (further plans can be worked out as you progress). Ideally, each of the studies should be a publishable journal article. You are strongly encouraged to publish your work in collaboration with your supervisors.

Your proposal must not exceed 1000 words; the panel may not read the part of your proposal exceeding the limit. This does not include references.

Your proposal should include:

• Title for the project
• Brief background for the planned research question(s)
• Compelling, brief rationale for the studies, including the specific research questions/hypotheses
• Description of the methodology for addressing these questions/hypotheses, which generally includes:
  • Sufficiently large sample(s) of participants (allowing for appropriate statistical power) and measurement/experimental procedures
  • Descriptions of data sets, if using existing data (for example, data from large cohort studies or biobanks, imaging data sets, and so on)
  • Your data analytical approach (for example, suitable statistical models)
  • Descriptions of your methods and analytical approach, if using qualitative data such as interviews
• Indication of how your proposed work fits with and contributes to the research programme of your planned supervisor(s)

Please note that the methodology should be realistic, within the resources and time-scales available to you and your supervisor(s), and also allowing for the necessary time for writing the thesis

A PhD thesis typically means teamwork, involving you and one or two supervisors, and often also other members of the research group(s) of the supervisor(s). You will receive training and help from the team, but you can also contribute to the team with your research. Applicants who can show a good fit with a supervising team have an advantage.

If your application is successful, we expect that your research will develop. It is likely that your supervisor(s) or those reviewing the work will suggest changes or developments to your research as your studies progress.

Therefore, you will not be held to the ideas that you explain in your proposal during the course of your research.

How to write a good research proposal

Contact potential supervisors prior to making an application

We strongly encourage you to get in touch with a potential supervisor, and to include their name in your application.

When contacting a potential supervisor, please include a draft proposal and CV, as this will provide the starting point for discussion. You can introduce yourself by explaining why their work interests you.

Please note that our academic staff are very busy and it may take time for them to respond to your enquiry.

View our staff profiles and contact details

Get ready to apply

In order to ensure full consideration of your application, we ask that you submit your complete application, including all supporting documentation.

You will be asked to add contact details for your referees. We will email them with information on how to upload their reference directly to your online application. Please allow plenty of time as we can only consider your application once we have received your full application, including your references.

Find out more about the application process

Consider your funding options

There are a number of funding opportunities both within the University and externally. Funding is highly competitive at PhD level.

More information on funding

Pre-application checklist

To receive a pre-arrival checklist to help you with your application, please email the PPLS Postgraduate Office:

pplspgoffice@ed.ac.uk

Please complete this checklist to keep track of your application preparations. Please submit the completed checklist as an additional document to your application.