官方干货｜你真正系统地了解过研究计划吗？

海外读博是一个艰难的决定，我们可能会错过人生的重要时刻，也有可能守不住原本并不完整的发际线，但是你get 到了Ph.D的头衔，学会了和自己内心的相处，和对未知无穷探索的勇气。更重要的是，I LIKE THAT I AM CALLED Dr！

这是一篇来自于英国某名校的官方RP写作指导文件，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就是我们通常所说的博士研究课题和研究计划。它要求申请者要有一个明确的博士期间的研究大纲，使导师相信你对此领域有浓厚的兴趣并具有足够的能力和完善的计划去完成它。

通常，一个出色的研究计划需要阐述清楚以下几个方面：1、确立一个明确的研究问题及回答它的方法

2、说明此问题的原创性以及重要意义

3、在目前研究进展基础上的演绎发展或者挑战不同

4、具有足够的说服力，有能力去说服你潜在的导师，开展这样项研究的重要性以及非你莫属。

一篇研究计划要求是3000字，但也有一些学校比较苛刻，要求5000字之类，所以记得动工前去和学院核实具体的字数要求以及撰写模板等。

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， 我们来看看为什么博士录取研究计划是必需品？它到底可以反映和决定什么呢？

1、通过研究计划，导师和招生委员会可以判断出：你的研究问题是否具有原创性和研究意义，是否能够引领学科，值得去研究；你的批判思维及创新思维如何；你的学术写作及语言能力如何；你的研究项目是否可行等。

tips：英国博士一般学制三年，牢记你是要三年毕业的（虽然一般都是3-4年），选题不能太大也不可太小，可收可放，如何把握这个度很关键。同时，在研究计划中要体现出你对博士期间的系统规划，向导师展现出你有能力在规定时间内完成你的研究课题。

2、导师通过研究计划可以评判出你对这一研究领域的专业知识掌握程度、已有文献领悟能力、理解能力以及你的见解如何等。

3、研究方向契合程度的重要性。

你的研究方向直接可以决定你可以做谁的学生、进入哪个方向的team。导师会优先考虑和自己研究领域匹配度高的学生。关于如何选方向选导师选学校到底哪个优先，大家可以参考小曼博士之前的发文，也可找我们索取。

tips：另外，在此也强调了提前和导师沟通联系的重要性，即我们通常说的“套磁”。

4、最后一点很重要的是，研究计划一定要展现出你的兴趣点和对这一领域热情不减的激情。如果能阐述清楚你如何完成、展现出你有能力完成，就不失为一篇很有说服力的研究计划，导师也会抵挡不住哦。

总结：

一篇3000字的研究计划，不可小觑。通过研究计划，导师可以赤裸裸地看清你所拥有的研究能力。一篇高质量的研究计划可以很大程度上直接决定：导师和招生委员会对你是否满足招生要求、是否具有科研所必须的研究能力、是否有能力在规定时间内完成PHD甚至说是否愿意做你supervisor的判断。

当然，从另一个角度来考虑，想打动导师，很简单，一篇高质量的研究计划就可以搞定他。

如果根据重要性来排序，相对与本科研究生成绩、工作经历、科研经历来讲，研究计划是排在首位的。

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’.

研究计划并不是一蹴而就的

有同学觉得RP写完了就大功告成了，你可能忘记了改要比写更具有挑战性。做好修改十次的准备。

研究计划只是一个提案，随着你知识的积累你也许会批评曾经写下的东西。并且如果导师感兴趣的话，他会对你的RP进行修改意见反馈的，这时候你就要快速地把握住机会，一遍遍读文献、写作修改直到导师说ok，I want you 为止。