Discovering Your PhD Potential: Writing a Research Proposal MOOC
5 weeks
Course information
Course description
Course description
- Next start date: Open Now
A carefully prepared and thorough research proposal is usually crucial for applications for advanced or doctoral study, and can provide the launchpad for the first stages of that postgraduate study.
This online course will give you the awareness, skills and tools to write a well thought-out and achievable research proposal, helping you improve the quality of your postgraduate applications. It will also give you a taste of the self-study required in postgraduate doctoral research.
This course will enable you to:
- Understand why you want to do a PhD and whether your expectations are realistic
- Be familiar with the main requirements, structures and problems with aiming to undertake a PhD
- Know how to set a realistic, manageable and impactful research question
- Be able to differentiate between deductive and inductive research questions
- Understand and be able to implement the steps required to writing a literature review, including: doing a literature search, planning, organising and writing the literature review
- Know what kind of theoretical approach would be useful for your research proposal
- Be able to differentiate between ontology, epistemology, different research designs and methodology
- Pull together what you have learned from this course into a first draft of a research proposal
How a MOOC works
MOOCs are flexible courses which allow you to participate at your own pace. Once a course has started you can study the week’s material at a time that suits you. You do not need to be online at the same time as the other students.
If you want to leave your course at any point you may do so, whether or not it has already begun. You can sign up for the same course when it runs again if you want to have another go at it. There is no limit on the number of MOOCs you can take: if you think you have the time to do several simultaneously, that's fine.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements for the current range of MOOCs available from the University of Leicester. You simply need an internet connection and a computer or tablet device. Some other courses may specify expected levels of understanding or experience in certain areas but this will be made clear before signing up for the course.
English Language Requirements
There are no specific English language requirements for our MOOCs. However, to get the most out of this course you should have a reasonable command of written English.
Fees and funding
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Find out about the range of PhDs offered at the University of Leicester, including details of funding, support and how to apply.
Course structure
Week 1
Week 1
Introduction to doctoral research
In this first week, we will look at what doctoral research involves and how to avoid potential problems. We will also provide guidance on securing funding for your research, where to apply and what to apply for.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Week 2
Week 2
Problem definition and research question
This week we will help you to consider which problem your research will cover, and how this will be defined. We will look at approaches to your research problem and the impact your research will have, and provide guidance and exercises to help you to write your research question.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Week 3
Week 3
Literature review
A well-developed literature review is vital for a good research proposal. This week will help you to find the right literature with or without access to a university, and guide you in structuring and planning a structured literature review.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Week 4
Week 4
Research philosophy, design and methodology
In this week, we tackle the large issues of research philosophy, research design, research methodology and research ethics, which all research touches on.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Week 5
Week 5
Bringing the proposal together
In the final week of the course we will give guidance on how to construct a good research proposal. We will look at all the elements you need to include in your proposal, and provide a checklist of what to include with your proposal and further resources to help you to submit a successful proposal.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
International networks facilitate collaborative work focused on theoretical and real-world solutions.
The University of Leicester is one of the UK's leading research and teaching universities with over 25 years' experience of offering high quality distance learning courses.
Teaching and learning
At the end of each week of the course there is often a set of multiple choice questions to test your understanding of what you have learned, and this will count towards your overall course score. Please note that this is a FutureLearn score, and is not valid as credit for other courses at the University of Leicester - although a MOOC is a great 'taster' for university learning and research.
Apply now
| Course | Duration | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Course Discovering Your PhD Potential: Writing a Research Proposal | Duration 5 weeks | Availability Apply Now |
