Should you’re making use of for a European-style economics PhD or Grasp’s of Analysis program, it’s extremely probably that you just’ll be requested to submit a analysis proposal. This can be a doc the place you’ll describe the unique analysis undertaking you propose to pursue when you’re accepted into the economics program.
That is going to be a reasonably intense course of. Whereas not legally binding, this doc is a serious a part of your utility, and it’s extraordinarily necessary to write down a convincing and high-quality proposal. Giving your self as a lot time as potential to work on it could possibly solely assist you to.
Nevertheless, when you’re making use of to PhDs for the primary time, that is additionally almost definitely your first time writing an economics analysis proposal. So, what to do?
Take a deep breath, learn this text, and begin brainstorming!
Step 0: Perceive What a Analysis Proposal is For
The principle objective of your analysis proposal is to present the admissions committee an concept of two issues: your potential to conduct high quality analysis in economics, and your suitability for this system itself. Due to its significance, it’s additionally extremely advisable to start out this course of as early as potential – ideally a number of months earlier than utility deadlines.
Your proposal ought to point out to the admissions committee that you just perceive the sphere and are able to (with the appropriate coaching and supervision) producing high quality economics analysis. The subject you select, the preliminary literature evaluate you conduct, your meant methodology, and extra: all of those will sign to the admissions committee that you just both perceive what it takes to conduct critical analysis, or that you don’t.
However even when the committee believes your analysis proposal is great, you will not be admitted. That’s as a result of the second objective of the proposal is to point out that your analysis pursuits are a superb match for that particular economics division’s work.
Bear in mind, to earn your PhD, there have to be a school member at that college who’s prepared to oversee your analysis! You would have a fully superb analysis proposal on microfinance, but be rejected by this system on the grounds that none of their economics school are considering microfinance. That’s why the following two steps within the course of are critically necessary.
Step 1: Establish your Analysis Pursuits
Earlier than you begin writing your proposal, you clearly want a subject. It’s necessary to determine what you’re most considering, particularly since – when you’re accepted – analysis on this space will grow to be your life for the following a number of years!
The sector of economics is huge, and there are all kinds of papers being printed. Should you’re uncertain the place to start out, first take into account the economics courses you’ve loved most previously. Do you take pleasure in microeconomic concept, or empirical macroeconomics? Maybe behavioral economics is extra your fashion, or possibly environmental economics is asking to you.
When you’ve chosen a normal subfield (or two), studying just lately printed papers in these subfields is a good way to start out digging for a subject. Ask your self: which of those papers are most attention-grabbing? What analysis strategies might you alter, or make use of for a unique however associated query, to provide unique work? What additional analysis recognized by the authors sounds attention-grabbing to you? Is there any subject or query that you just suppose is lacking from present analysis output?
Should you’re nonetheless struggling to decide on a subject after exploring, take a look at our article about how to decide on a subject in your economics analysis for extra recommendation.
Step 2: Examine the College and School Analysis Pursuits
You’ve chosen a analysis subject; wonderful work! Now, recall that an necessary a part of the analysis proposal’s job is to point out the admissions committee that your pursuits align with these of the economics division. It’s time so that you can begin a vital investigation.
This course of will look totally different relying on the kind of program you apply to. As an example, many European-style PhD packages would require you to achieve out to potential supervisors straight, and obtain their approval earlier than you submit your utility. On this case, you need to analysis the varsity’s school, test their analysis output, and message the people that you just suppose could be each considering your analysis concept and make an efficient supervisor for you – ideally far upfront of the deadline.
American-style PhD packages, or PhD packages that start with a taught part like some MPhil/PhD choices, might not ask you to determine a supervisor once you apply. Nevertheless, even these packages will probably be judging your proposal primarily based on how properly it suits throughout the analysis pursuits of the economics division – so that you’ll nonetheless have to do some digging.
Total, it’s best to anticipate to spend an honest period of time wanting up professors and their analysis pursuits, in addition to any specialised analysis teams throughout the economics division and the division’s analysis output. Sources like RePEc might assist you to out right here.
As you examine, ask your self – actually – whether or not you can see these school members being considering your subject and selecting to oversee you. In case your reply isn’t a transparent “sure”, understand that it is going to be considerably more durable for that admissions committee to justify supplying you with a proposal.
Relying on what number of faculties you propose to use to, you might even take into account writing a number of analysis proposals on totally different subjects. Whereas this will sound like numerous work, it’s a much better technique than writing only one proposal and hoping it suits in all places.
Step 3: Drafting: What to Embody in Your Proposal
After you’ve chosen a analysis subject and confirmed that there are professors who would almost definitely wish to supervise your concept, it’s time to start out drafting.
You’ll be able to consider a analysis proposal as a mini-research paper, the place you stroll by the everyday steps of doing analysis however cease in need of really conducting knowledge assortment and testing hypotheses. As a substitute, you merely describe what you’ll do.
A analysis proposal sometimes contains the next sections:- Introduction/analysis question- Preliminary literature review- Proposed methodology & proposed data- Attainable future research- References & Bibliography
You may additionally select to incorporate small sections on the potential supervisors you’ve recognized on the program in query, why your analysis is an efficient match for the division, and your funding scenario.
Introduction & analysis query
This temporary part needs to be considered like an summary, besides that you just don’t have conclusions to share. As a substitute, state clearly what you purpose to analysis, and what your predominant analysis questions/hypotheses are.
Preliminary literature evaluate
This is a crucial part. Right here, you ought to write down a literature evaluate as when you’re really going to conduct the analysis.
What’s the present state of the economics literature surrounding this query? What insights produce other papers supplied? The place’s the hole within the literature? What papers will you be primarily counting on or constructing off of? Answering these questions as you write your evaluate will assist present the admissions committee that you just perceive the best way to learn the literature and conduct high quality analysis.
Don’t skimp on this part, or the studying you need to do so as to construct it correctly. The extra you perceive concerning the literature surrounding your subject, the simpler it is going to be so that you can write about your methodology, and the extra well-prepared you’ll be for potential interviews.
A aspect be aware right here about utilizing AI – whereas AI instruments can assist you determine sources which are related to your literature evaluate, don’t depend on them utterly. Additional, don’t use AI to write down any portion of your analysis proposal.
Should you use AI to assist discover sources, take the time to then learn the sources rigorously and critically. Are they actually as related as they appear? Do the findings really match any claims you may have made in your proposal? Don’t get caught out by trusting that an AI suggestion is an efficient suggestion. As of 2025, AI instruments are removed from infallible relating to postgraduate degree analysis, and within the worst case may even create statistics out of skinny air to assist your argument (this can be a widespread AI drawback often called “hallucination”). Use AI instruments with excessive warning, if in any respect!
Methodology & Information
On this part, it’s best to purpose to be as clear and goal as potential. Restate your speculation, then describe the strategies you propose to make use of to check it. Record particular knowledge sources as a lot as you’ll be able to. Use econometric language, determine particular fashions you’ll probably make use of, or describe the kind of experiment you’ll design.
This part ought to present clearly that you just’ve put critical thought into answering your analysis questions and that you understand how to check your hypotheses successfully. Additional, itemizing precise knowledge sources will make it clear that your analysis concept is possible, not simply hypothetical.
Together with the literature evaluate, this part needs to be the most important and most complete in your proposal. Don’t maintain something again – purpose to impress your readers right here!
Future analysis
Together with a small part about future analysis that might stem out of your work is a pleasant contact.
The school and admissions committee perceive {that a} analysis proposal doesn’t all the time find yourself being precisely what a PhD scholar will work on. However, when you record future or associated analysis that might stem from this proposal, it’ll be simple for the committee to see how you can proceed to grow to be an knowledgeable on this specific sub-topic, and the way you can contribute to the literature for years to come back. It is also a great way so that you can pivot, when you later determine that your unique proposal wouldn’t be the most effective dissertation subject.
References & Bibliography
Citing your sources is crucially necessary. That’s partly as a result of plagiarism is a critical offense, in fact. However as well as, having a top quality bibliography and reference part is one other nice sign to the committee that you just’re a superb candidate and needs to be critically thought of.
Step 4: Reaching Out to Potential Supervisors
Drafting your analysis proposal isn’t any stroll within the park, so when you’ve completed, pat your self on the again!
Relying on the kinds of packages you’re making use of to, figuring out a prepared supervisor might or will not be a part of the applying course of. Whether it is, it’s best to begin reaching out to school members who may be prepared to oversee you as quickly as you may have an preliminary proposal drafted. Embody the draft in your message to them, alongside together with your CV.
Usually, professors are pretty responsive. Even so, your mileage might range with this course of. In case your proposal appears overly amateurish or underbaked, you’re unlikely to get a constructive response, even when the subject aligns with the people’ analysis pursuits.
Additional, some professors will not be accepting new college students. Typically college web sites point out which professors are open to receiving new PhD college students, however it’s completely potential that your first alternative of supervisor isn’t obtainable.
Even when you do obtain a constructive response, you might be requested to make updates or edits earlier than a professor is prepared to say “sure”. Should you’ve reached this level, don’t despair – it’s really an excellent signal that you just’re heading in the right direction, and that you just’ve achieved properly to find a possible supervisor with related analysis pursuits to you.
Step 5: Don’t Give Up!
Writing a top quality analysis proposal is tough work. So is learning in your PhD! However it’s necessary to understand that there’s a purpose for all of this work. Discovering and getting admitted to the appropriate economics program will make your journey in the direction of incomes your PhD far more pleasing. Furthermore, it’ll assist immensely when the trials and difficulties of PhD analysis threaten to burn you out.
Crafting your analysis proposal ought to get you excited to slim down into a particular subject, and picture getting your individual analysis printed. What query produce other economists not answered, however you suppose is necessary or attention-grabbing? How will you uniquely contribute to the literature? Your analysis proposal ought to provide you with a transparent concept of the reply!
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