Checklist: Structure of proposal
The research proposal must be of the following
structure: Table of Content, Abstract, Introduction
into the General Topic, Problem Statement, Hypothesis and Objectives of the Study, Literature and
Research Review, Research Methodology, Data
Collection, Analysis and Evaluation of Data, Expected Results and Output of the Study, Bibliography, Appendix (Tables, Graphs, Questionnaires),
Financial Budget and Timetable.
Checklist: Scholarship Application
If you intend to apply for a DAAD PhD or Research
scholarship, the following documents will have to be
handed in: Research proposal, 2 Letters of recommendation by researchers from applicants field,
Statement of the home university, Correspondence
with Scientific Supervisor and formal agreement on
supervision in Germany in detail (confirmation on
the use of laboratory equipment, materials etc.),
C.V. (focusing on educational and scientific background: Publications, Conferences, Teaching experiences etc.).
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Introductory Sessions on
Study & Research in Germany:
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individual consultation.
1st Thursday of every month
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Office hours for individual consultation:
DAAD Information Center Accra
Mon.
3.30pm – 6.30pm
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Research Proposals What to consider
October 2015 Edition
Information Center Accra
www.daad-ghana.org
Lea_Leaflet_Study in Germany_benefits_first adviceLea_Leaflet_Study
in Germany_benefits_first advice
How to Write a Research Proposal
The following recommendations do not guarantee a
successful research scholarship application. They
may, however, help you to prepare a carefully conceptualised and comprehensive research proposal.
The proposal is to ensure that you have done sufficient preliminary reading and research in the area of
your interest and that you have thought about all
issues involved in the piece of research work. With
your research proposal you will have to convince
members of the scientific community that you have
identified a scientific problem as well as that you
have the theoretical background and methodical
approach that will enable you to solve the problem
within a realistic time frame and at reasonable expenses.
The research proposal should comprise 10 to 30
pages. It should have a proper layout (typeface and
line spacing) as well as a table of content and page
numbers.
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Title page:
- Personal information:
applicant’s name, academic title (if applicable),
current position at the university, date of birth,
nationality, work and private address including
telephone and e-mail address
- Title of the planned dissertation (or research
report) and a realistic time frame in which the
project should be completed
- Name of supervisor(s), host university
department and if applicable: information about
other academics with whom you plan to collaborate for your research.
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Statement on the research topic: It should not
be more than one page and focus on the new,
current and relevant aspects of the topic. It is
advisable to choose a topic which can be researched through appropriate and valid methods
and for which research material is available.
Literature review: A short and precise overview
about the current state of research that is immediately connected with the research project
should be given. The most important contributions of other scientists should also be stated.
The proposal should contain a clear and logical
discussion of the theoretical scope or the framework of ideas that will be used to back the research. It needs to show that the applicant is fully conversant with the ideas he is dealing with.
The research review must indicate an open problem which then will be the motive for the project
and state clearly how it will contribute to the existing research. The most important results of the
applicant’s work on the topic should be summarised. Copies of the applicant’s publications that
might be seen in connection with his research
project might be attached.
Academic objectives: A concise and clear outline of what shall be achieved through the project
must be given. The proposal needs to show why
the intended research is important and to justify
the effort of doing the research. Such justification
may either be of an empirical nature or of a theoretical nature.
Outline of the project: This is the central part of
the research proposal. It may well fill half of the
space of the proposal and it should give detailed
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information about the intended research procedure during the given time, about the sources
and quality of evidence, the analytical technique
and the timetable for the project. Depending on
the topic, suitable research strategies should be
defined to ensure that enough and adequate
empirical data will be gathered for a successful
research project. The intended methods of data
gathering, the controls that will be introduced,
the statistical methods to be used and the type
of literature or documentary analysis will have to
be outlined. However, one should be ready to
revise the proposal according to new insights
and upcoming questions and keep on modifying
the working hypothesis.
Time table: It should indicate the sequence of
research phases and the time that will probably
be needed for each phase - if possible shown in
tabular form.
Selective research bibliography: Those academic works will be listed which have been
mentioned in the research outline before. Additionally a number of other important works to
which the applicant will refer during the research
should be listed.
Editing stage: Once the conceptual and content work on the proposal is finished, a careful
editing stage should follow.