Dissertations/Final Year Projects

A dissertation proposal is a detailed description of the project you are going to undertake. Your supervisor may require you to submit a research proposal as part of the dissertation assessment criteria. But even if you are not required to, it can be a good idea to write one. It provides justification for your project, situates it within the field, describes what you will do and how, suggests expected results and explains how you will analyse your data.

A strong research proposal needs to answer several key questions to demonstrate clarity, feasibility, and academic value: 

• What is the research problem or question? Clearly define the issue your study aims to address.
• Why is this research important? Explain its significance and potential contributions to the field.
• What are the objectives and aims? Specify the goals you hope to achieve.
• What is the current state of research on this topic? Provide a literature review to show where your study fits within existing knowledge. This could be a short review at this stage.
• What methodology will you use? Outline the research methods, data collection techniques, and analysis approach.
• What are the expected outcomes? Describe the potential findings and their implications.
• What are the limitations and challenges? Acknowledge possible obstacles and how you'll address them.
• How does this research align with academic or societal needs? Make a case for its relevance beyond academia.
• What resources will be required? Identify any funding, equipment, or support necessary for your study.
• What is the timeline for completion? Provide a clear schedule to ensure feasibility.
• Are there any ethical considerations? Provide a clear explanation how you will tackle the ethical considerations.