HOW TO WRITE PHD PROPOSAL: A BRIEF OVERVIEW

1. PROPOSALS THAT WORK
A Guide for planning dissertation and Grant proposals
PRESENTED BY
FARIHA ASGHAR RAO
ROLL NO 09
PHD 2021-25
BAHAUDDIN ZAKARIYA UNIVERSITY MULTAN

2. Chapter 09
Funding Student Research
 Very few students apply for Grants, Awards or Fellowships
Overwhelmed by the difficulties of planning a study and writing a necessary proposal
Faculty advisors often do not encourage students to apply for research grants
The task of planning and writing a grant application many months in advance of a
project or thesis often must compete with the essential work of attending classes and
preparing for examinations.
What worries the student most is the task assigned for Monday morning and not the
speculative possibility of a grant to support next years research

3. POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE
1. Invaluable training—whether you get the grant or not
The process of locating and applying for funds…An essential skill of modern scholarship
2. Money can make a positive difference in any study.
Superior measurement, recording or processing technology
Using a larger sample for data acquisition
Follow a time schedule that is more appropriate
Make fewer demands on your family, friends or personal bank account for support of
your investigation

4. Revealing the prejudices
Granting agencies give money only to those who have
 Applied for it
Completed the application form exactly as specified in the instructions
Submitted the applications before the indicated deadline
Those who ask, can get. Those do not ask, do not get.

5. WHAT EVERY STUDENT RESEARCHER NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MONEY
1. BEGIN AT HOME
Locate the office that deals with research grants
Talk to the staff
Make use of training programs and follow the advice
2. DO IT NOW
Timing is everything, Being late makes the proposal less attractive to potential source of funding.
Average decision time range is between three and nine months
65% of application deadlines fall between November and March

6. 3. LEARN HOW TO SEARCH
INTERNET SOURCES e.g. IRIS
HARD COPY VOLUMES.. specific directories, indexes
4. BE A COLLECTOR
Once the topic is broadly decided, begin collecting application forms from prospective sources.
Keep all the relevant material at hand

7. 5. NETWORK WITH STUDENTS TO OTHER FIELDS
Interdisciplinary approach to inquiry is often favored
Discussion with students for understanding theoretical and practical problems
6. APPLY EARLY AND APPLY OFTEN
No prohibition against applying to several sources of financial help for the same study.
“Double dipping” is unethical

8. 7. GET READY TO PRESENT YOURSELF
Maintain Resume in up do date condition
Craft a profile that portrays you as a good bet for investment
8. NOT JUST FULL TIME STUDENTS NEED APPLY
Accomplishments and not just awarded degree matters
Strong and specific recommendation from scholars can be required
9. NO MATTER WHAT THE RESULT, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Facing “Approved but not recommended”
The process should leave you smarter and more determined

9. Chapter 10
preparation of the Grant proposal
About Abstracts
 Abstract focus the thinking of individuals developing the proposal by establishing a
clear cut explicit goal.
 It is used for internal purpose to obtain preliminary administrative approval .
 Many agencies require letter of intent or one or two page abstract of the proposed
study.
 Must be revised to maintain perfect congruence with the evolution of that document.

10.  The abstract of a grant proposal is written in future tense and summarizes work that will be
done.
 economy and clarity
Avoid slogans and clichés
Omit flowery descriptions
The best rule is to imagine you ae explaining your study to an intelligent layperson.

11. Format of a proposal
1. General purpose
2. Specific goals…. The object of this study is to determine….
3. Research design
4. Methods
5. Significance ( contribution and rationale)
Some institute and agencies require the total estimated cost and time

12. COMMUNICATING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH
 Funding agencies are accountable either to public or to
their benefactors for the expenditures of funds, hence try to
read your proposal from funding agency’s perspective.
 It could be impressive to point out that the fundings
might be applied to human services.
 Fundings might enable development of other types of
research that previously had been impossible.

13. STAFFING AND CONSULTANT NEEDS
 The staff needed for research project should be carefully planned
and kept as small as possible for budget reasons
 The staff requirement should be explained in detail.
 Consultants should be requested sparingly and only when
absolutely needed. Letter of agreement with consultant should be
included in appendix.

14. THE TIME FRAME
Prepare a time frame which states explicitly when specific parts of the project
will be completed.
An obvious benefit of time sequence is that it keeps the investigator and all
personnel on schedule throughout a long period. All members of research
should have copy of time frame.
Time frame serves to document the need for three or five years of funding for
the project. Reviewer can see that every month is filled with work to be done,
hence length proposed is necessary.
A well described time frame enhance the reviewer’s understanding of the entire
project. It will document the applicant’s organizational skills
A week wise time wise stating schedule for hiring personnel, ordering
equipment, data accumulation, data analysis and report write up.

15. SUPPORT SERVICES
Research project may require support services from university and any other unit of community
that is involved with the project. (e.g. computer graphic person, statistician)
Support services should be anticipated and must be located and confirmed as part of the
preparation for proposed study.
Space needs like laboratory or offices should be anticipated and prior consultation should be
made ..using departmental telephone, mass mailing etc
Preventing logistic problems that create ill will among support service staff and frustration for
the researcher
Written agreement is preferred

16. VITAE: PRESENTING YOURSELF
Two misconceptions about vitae
1. they are not read by the reviewers
2. they have little influence on the success of the proposal (both are untrue)
If format for vitae is provided, follow it exactly .revising, reformatting, reprinting
is mandatory
Keep vitae short and to the point giving prominence to what the reviewer will be
looking for e.g. publication in the area of study
Receipts of previous grants
Involvement in similar study

17. Emphasis on current items, anything that is more than five year old
should not be included.
Use a uniform format divided into sub sections with prominent
headings.

18. DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS
Dissemination of a report into public domain is important. Rules are
simple.
1. Tell which results will be reported
2. Indicate which audience you intend to reach
3. Specify how you plan to disseminate the final report
4. Be specific which particular conference or seminar will be
informed about the results

19. THE BUDGET
Provide speculative round numbers
Grant is given to those who already have necessary equipment so the funds
can directly go into building the capacity to perform research.
Grant is given to those who have skills commonly used by workers in that
research area.
Travel cost require careful explanation…nature of audience in a conference,
relevance of conference and most importantly the interests of funding agency
should be specified

20. LETTERS OF ENDORSEMENT AND CONFIRMATION
The applicant must provide some assurance that the staff,
facilities, support service and subject populations
envisioned in the proposal will, in fact, be available.

21. Using planning modules and flow charts
 Best option for novice to stay organized for important dates and
major development steps
 Remember Murphy’ law that states “ Everything Takes Longer
Than You Expect”

22. Finally…
You may never find yourself regarding the process as enjoyable, but
the challenges are always fresh, and the sense of satisfaction in
completing a good presentation can be a significant reward. Better
still, of course, is obtaining the money

23. Thank you..