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Academic English & Research vocabulary · Graduate Study and Supervision

Research proposal

Meaning in academic english & research, with examples

nounCore term

In academic english & research, research proposal means: A document that describes a planned study, including its aims, research questions, background, methods, timeline and expected contribution.

In Turkish: araştırma önerisi, tez önerisi, proje önerisi

How it is used

Written when applying to PhD programs, when a thesis topic needs approval and in grant applications. Students write, submit, revise and defend a research proposal, and committees approve or reject it.

Example sentences

  1. Applicants must include a 2,000-word research proposal with their application.

  2. My research proposal was approved, so I can start collecting data.

Common collocations

  • write a research proposal
  • submit a research proposal
  • defend a research proposal
  • thesis proposal
  • research questionA clear, focused question that a study is designed to answer; it guides the choice of methods, data and analysis.
  • supervisorAn academic who guides a student's thesis or research project, giving feedback on plans, drafts and progress.
  • grantA sum of money given by a government body, foundation or university to pay for a research project, often after a competitive application.
  • methodologyThe overall approach and reasoning behind how a study is done, including the choice of design, methods, data and analysis, and the reasons for those choices.
  • PhDDoctor of Philosophy: the highest university research degree, awarded after several years of original research and a thesis.

More terms: Graduate Study and Supervision

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