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Research Proposal Template
Starting out on your research proposal and not sure how to structure it, or how to craft a smooth-flowing document? Our free proposal template will help you fast-track your writing and improve your chances of a speedy approval.
What’s Included In The Proposal Template
Grad Coach’s free dissertation/thesis proposal template covers the core essential ingredients for a strong proposal. It includes clear explanations of what you need to address in each section, as well as straightforward examples and links to further resources.
The research proposal template covers the following core elements:
- Introduction & background (including the research problem)
- Literature review
- Research design/methodology
- Project plan, resource requirements and risk management
- References
- Appendix
The cleanly-formatted Word document is fully editable, so you can use it for your proposal, copy over the contents to a fresh document, or convert to LaTeX.
PS – you can also download our dissertation/thesis chapter templates here.
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
How To Write A Research Proposal
The template provides step-by-step guidance for each section of your research proposal, but if you’d like to learn more about how to write up a high-quality research proposal for your dissertation or thesis, check out the rest of our free proposal-related resources:
- Research Proposal 101
- Examples of research proposals
- How To Find A Research Topic
- How To Find A Research Gap
- Developing Your Golden Thread
- How To Write A Research Proposal
- 8 Common Proposal Writing Mistakes
If you’d prefer 1-on-1 support with your research proposal, have a look at our private coaching service, where we hold your hand through the research process, step by step.

Psst… there’s more (for free)
This post is part of our dissertation mini-course, which covers everything you need to get started with your dissertation, thesis or research project.
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Wow! very impressive and informative, I can see clearly now and I think I am ready to start.
Guided points mentioned in the article. It covers more of what is needed for research papers.
Amazing content. Easy to understand, clear, precise and to the point. Research was a scary topic for me but after watching these videos, my confidence level has certainly increased.
Thank you very useful guiding will recommend to my friends
nice and easy to understand, thank you
Thanks, Toni. Best of luck with your research proposal.
Thank you so mauch for helping me by giving so many informato n
This is a good addition!
Thanks too much for your help.
If only universities explained it so simple. Thank You, sending love from South Africa
I so much appreciate your help, very useful.
Fantastic, I like it so much
Clear and simple. Thanks, coach!
The information is found useful thank you
Thank so much ! It is very useful…
I need help writing my research proposal
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I need help to start writing my research proposal
Thanks
For your help. I wish I could help in the future
Even though I haven’t started writing my dissertation, the understanding I have gathered from grad coach is enormous and definitely will make it so easy for me when I start to work on it.
thank so much I have benefit alot
Thank you so much for this informative piece. I feel ready to start writing my PhD proposal now. It is good information if universities explain it this simple.
I need help on how to structure my advance research proposal portfolio.
What is the difference between article writing for PhD dissertation
I’m just starting to watch the videos. The first video has been super helpful.
thank you
you have research proposal