官方干貨｜你真正系統地了解過研究計劃嗎？

海外讀博是一個艱難的決定，我們可能會錯過人生的重要時刻，也有可能守不住原本并不完整的發際線，但是你get 到了Ph.D的頭銜，學會了和自己內心的相處，和對未知無窮探索的勇氣。更重要的是，I LIKE THAT I AM CALLED Dr！

這是一篇來自于英國某名校的官方RP寫作指導文件，How?to?Writing a Good PhD Research Proposal？

1

What is a PhD proposal?A PhD proposal is a an?outline?of your proposed project that is designed to:

1. Define a clear question and approach to answering it
2. Highlight its originality and/or significance
3. Explain how it adds to, develops (or challenges) existing literature in the field
4. Persuade potential supervisors and/or funders of the importance of the work, and why?you?are the right person to undertake?it

Research proposals may vary in length, so it is important to check with the department(s) to which you are applying to check word limits and guidelines. Generally speaking, a proposal should be around 3,000 words which you write as part of the application process.

首先，PhD proposal是什么？

RP就是我們通常所說的博士研究課題和研究計劃。它要求申請者要有一個明確的博士期間的研究大綱，使導師相信你對此領域有濃厚的興趣并具有足夠的能力和完善的計劃去完成它。

通常，一個出色的研究計劃需要闡述清楚以下幾個方面：1、確立一個明確的研究問題及回答它的方法

2、說明此問題的原創性以及重要意義

3、在目前研究進展基礎上的演繹發展或者挑戰不同

4、具有足夠的說服力，有能力去說服你潛在的導師，開展這樣項研究的重要性以及非你莫屬。

一篇研究計劃要求是3000字，但也有一些學校比較苛刻，要求5000字之類，所以記得動工前去和學院核實具體的字數要求以及撰寫模板等。

2

What is the research proposal for?

Potential supervisors, admissions tutors and/or funders use research proposals to assess the quality and originality of your ideas ,your skills in critical thinking and the feasibility of the research project.

Please bear in mind that PhD programmes in the UK are designed to be completed in three years (full time) or six years (part time). Think very carefully about the scope of your research and be prepared to explain how you will complete it within this timeframe.Research proposals are also used to assess your expertise in the area in which you want to conduct research,your knowledge of the existing literature (and how your project will enhance it).Moreover, they are used to assess and assign appropriate supervision teams.

If you are interested in the work of a particular potential supervisor – and especially if you have discussed your work with this person – be sure to mention this in your proposal. We encourage you strongly to identify a prospective supervisor and get in touch with them to discuss your proposal informally BEFORE making a formal application, to ensure it is of mutual interest and to gain input on the design, scope and feasibility of your project. Remember, however, that it may not be possible to guarantee that you are supervised by a specific academic.

Crucially, it is also an opportunity for you to communicate your passion in the subject area and to make a persuasive argument about what your project can accomplish. Although the proposal should include an outline, it should also be approached as a persuasive essay – that is, as an opportunity to establish the attention of readers and convince them of the importance of your project.

其次， 我們來看看為什么博士錄取研究計劃是必需品？它到底可以反映和決定什么呢？

1、通過研究計劃，導師和招生委員會可以判斷出：你的研究問題是否具有原創性和研究意義，是否能夠引領學科，值得去研究；你的批判思維及創新思維如何；你的學術寫作及語言能力如何；你的研究項目是否可行等。

tips：英國博士一般學制三年，牢記你是要三年畢業的（雖然一般都是3-4年），選題不能太大也不可太小，可收可放，如何把握這個度很關鍵。同時，在研究計劃中要體現出你對博士期間的系統規劃，向導師展現出你有能力在規定時間內完成你的研究課題。

2、導師通過研究計劃可以評判出你對這一研究領域的專業知識掌握程度、已有文獻領悟能力、理解能力以及你的見解如何等。

3、研究方向契合程度的重要性。

你的研究方向直接可以決定你可以做誰的學生、進入哪個方向的team。導師會優先考慮和自己研究領域匹配度高的學生。關于如何選方向選導師選學校到底哪個優先，大家可以參考小曼博士之前的發文，也可找我們索取。

tips：另外，在此也強調了提前和導師溝通聯系的重要性，即我們通常說的“套磁”。

4、最后一點很重要的是，研究計劃一定要展現出你的興趣點和對這一領域熱情不減的激情。如果能闡述清楚你如何完成、展現出你有能力完成，就不失為一篇很有說服力的研究計劃，導師也會抵擋不住哦。

總結：

一篇3000字的研究計劃，不可小覷。通過研究計劃，導師可以赤裸裸地看清你所擁有的研究能力。一篇高質量的研究計劃可以很大程度上直接決定：導師和招生委員會對你是否滿足招生要求、是否具有科研所必須的研究能力、是否有能力在規定時間內完成PHD甚至說是否愿意做你supervisor的判斷。

當然，從另一個角度來考慮，想打動導師，很簡單，一篇高質量的研究計劃就可以搞定他。

如果根據重要性來排序，相對與本科研究生成績、工作經歷、科研經歷來講，研究計劃是排在首位的。

3

Is the research proposal ‘set in stone’?

No. Good PhD proposals evolve as the work progresses. It is normal for students to refine their original proposal in light of detailed literature reviews, further consideration of research approaches and comments received from the supervisors (and other academic staff). It is useful to view your proposal as an initial outline rather than a summary of the ‘final product’.

研究計劃并不是一蹴而就的

有同學覺得RP寫完了就大功告成了，你可能忘記了改要比寫更具有挑戰性。做好修改十次的準備。

研究計劃只是一個提案，隨著你知識的積累你也許會批評曾經寫下的東西。并且如果導師感興趣的話，他會對你的RP進行修改意見反饋的，這時候你就要快速地把握住機會，一遍遍讀文獻、寫作修改直到導師說ok，I want you 為止。