Key Information

Tutor: Dr Elena Forasacco 
Duration: 2 hours live session (with 1 hour of preparatory work)
Delivery: Live (Online, MS Teams)
ECRI Credit (PGR only): 1 credit
Audience: Master's Students

Dates

There are no further sessions taking place this academic year. Course dates for 2026-27 will be available to book from late September.

In this blended course you will explore how to prepare an effective research proposal, and you will start preparing a draft version of your own proposal in stages.

This blended course has pre-course activities to complete in your own time and course activities to engage with during the live session.

Pre-course activities (duration about 1h) will prepare you for the live session: you must think about a project (context, motivation, methods, potential results, importance of the project, potential supervisor) you would like to develop during your doctorate. A template and a video, will provide you with advice and guidance to prepare an effective PhD proposal. While watching the video, you are encouraged to complete the template, section by section, with your draft proposal. Ask your master coordinators for some examples of PhD proposals on your subject, to use for inspiration.

The live session is a drop-in Q&A session only for students who have prepared their draft proposal. During this session you will clarify doubts, ask questions about your own template-draft PhD proposal, discuss and share information and advice with other students.

This course is open to all Master's Students.

Notes:

  • This course is designed for students with no or little knowledge about PhD applications and preparing a PhD proposal
  • Pre-course resources are a useful tool you can use anytime, when you will need to write your proposal
  • The live session is only for students who have prepared their draft proposal (pre-course activity)
  • The deadline for registration is 2 weeks before the live session to allow the completion of pre-course activities.
  • You will need to complete the pre-course activities and upload your draft PhD proposal by 14.00 the day before the live session (you will receive details from the tutor by email). 

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of this blended course you will be better able to:

  • Identify the key contents required to write a research proposal
  • Recognise the importance of having a clear structure
  • Analyse a written PhD research proposal
  • Write a draft version of the research proposal

How to Book

Book via Inkpath using your Imperial Single-Sign-On. Bookings will close two weeks before each live session.

Please ensure you have read and understood ECRI’s attendance & cancellation policy before booking. 

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