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College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Open Competition - Guidance notes

Question 3 (500 words)

In this section, you should provide a clear narrative of your past experiences both in and out of education, including any relevant information which may help inform the decision of the review panel. You should aim to include:

  • Details of any relevant qualifications (undergraduate and/or taught postgraduate degree results, for example) and of the context in which they were undertaken
  • Details of any professional qualifications
  • Details of any significant work and/or voluntary experience in relevant areas
  • Details of any awards received

It is important here to say how your past experiences have prepared you to undertake an advanced research project. These might include organisational and communication skills, the ability to meet a deadline, the ability to analyse and synthesize information. You may wish to highlight experiences that have helped you develop these, as well as other skills. You may wish to indicate how your previous experience(s) will be used academically in the context of this particular project.

Question 4 (1000 words)

In this section, you need to articulate your research proposal, outlining the following aspects:

  • an account of the project’s aims, significance, originality, and relevance
  • the principal research question(s) you will be posing
  • the methodologies for your work and any relevant theoretical approaches to be deployed
  • the primary materials you will be working with/on
  • any outcomes you envisage beyond the PhD thesis itself (e.g. creative outputs, outreach, public engagement, impact)

The proposal should also say why you are the most appropriate candidate to undertake this project, what you will bring to it, and the enhanced skills that you will develop by undertaking the project.

Although there is no one right way to write a research proposal, your research proposal could include the following:

  • A working project title;
  • The research problem(s)/question(s)/hypothesis(-es) that you plan to address, and an explanation of the project’s importance and timeliness, showcasing how the project could be of broader benefit to society;
  • The context to your proposed study:
    • You should explain what has been said/done about this before
    • You may include a selective and critical review of the relevant scholarly literature, assessing its strengths and weaknesses, to show your understanding of the main debates and issues in your research area
    • You should indicate how your proposed research will add to, or rethink, what has been said/done to date on the topic
  • The research methods you will likely use (why are these the most appropriate?)
  • Outcomes arising from the research beyond the PhD itself (these may be creative outputs, outreach materials, public engagement activities, policy impact guidelines, etc.)
  • If you know you will require specialist training to undertake your proposal project (e.g. languages; equipment or software use; analytical techniques training), or you have any placement plans that will support your development of these skills, explain this here. (Awareness that you will need additional training to complete your proposed research is not a negative reflection on your preparedness to date to undertake your project.)
  • A provisional timeline for the completion of your PhD research project

Question 5 (300 words)

In this section, you need to highlight how your research proposal aligns with the priorities of the department, School or research centre where you will be based. This will involve researching the department, School or research centre in question and identifying research priorities/areas which your own project can fit into or link with. You should also identify two to three potential supervisors and explain how your research falls within the field(s) of expertise of these academics. It may be that your research is linked to, rather than encompassed in, the field of expertise of your proposed supervisor. If this is the case, please say how they relate to each other.

Question 6 (300 words)

In this section, you should say how the bursary will help you further your aspirations. How will this research project align with your professional goals? What skills do you expect to gain from the project which will help further your professional career? You may also indicate here how the project builds on previous achievements.