Resources for you

A typical MPhil proposal spans an A4 page, about 500-600 words. A typical PhD proposal spans roughly 1500-2000 words but can be longer depending on topic-specific, funding-body-specific or department-specific guidelines. 

Below, we have compiled guidelines from different universities that you will find helpful, in three categories (all external links): 

1. General guidance - proposal writing process (brief and detailed guides)
2. Subject-specific proposal writing,
3. Samples of MPhil/PhD proposals: subject-wise  

First, some general guidance on framing a proposal:

Brief overview

1. How to write a MPhil/PhD proposal - University of Reading  
2. Writing research proposals - Harvard University

Detailed guides:

1. Writing successful research proposals, one stop guide - ETH Zurich
2. On the Art of Writing Proposals, suggested by Harvard University
3. Differentiate between a cover letter, a research statement and a research proposal - University of Chicago
4. On the structure of a research proposal - URMC Rochester

Some subjects/disciplines may have specific formats and writing styles that an admissions committee expects applicants to follow. These can be made further specific to the school/department concerned. We can only cover a few subjects below; if you need to know a particular subject, feel free to get in touch with us. 

Humanities MPhil/PhD proposals

1. On writing humanities proposals - University of York 
2. Practice Based PhD Proposal – Creative Writing - York St Johns University 

Sciences MPhil/PhD proposals

1. Electronics and Communication: Masters in Engineering - MIT 
2. Computer science, Robotics - Stanford University 
3. Medical science - Stanford University 
4. Geography - Oxford University (Generic advice though, with some specific pointers)

Have a look at these proposals that were successful in getting university admissions and/or funding. These are sourced from the concerned university's websites. We have not covered all subjects, so feel free to reach out to us if you need help with respect to a subject that is not covered here. 

STEM Subjects 

Engineering and Physics 

1. Mechanical engineering: sample proposal and guidelines - MIT 
2. Astrophysics - Stanford University 
3. Condensed Matter Physics - University of Oslo
4. Chemical Engineering, guidelines and samples - MIT

Medicine

1. Sample proposal: University of Utah
2. On various aspects of medicine (education, community service, scientific etc.) - UC San Diego  

Non-STEM Subjects (some examples)

English 

Lots of Mphil and PhD proposals - Cambridge University 

History

Sample MPhil research proposal: Cambridge University

Politics and International Relations

Proposals that got research funding - University of York

Feel free to reach out to us if you need clarifications or help with your application, personalised to your story and academic record.