Dr Kevin Morrell, Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management (HRM) & Organisational Behaviour (OB), This page suggests some supervisors’ questions to think about before applying to do a PhD

As stated on the PhD Tips page, regrettably I don’t have the time or resources to respond to unsolicited PhD proposals – though I am delighted to receive full proposals that are formal applications to my institution.

This page of additional guidance is to help you if you are thinking of doing a PhD proposal in the social sciences.  A good piece of advice is, try to imagine yourself as a potential supervisor.

If a PhD proposal comes through the proper channels and survives a basic minimum quality threshold, these are the sorts of things a supervisor might consider when they review it.

GOOD LUCK

CANDIDATE ABILITY AND MOTIVATION

·       Why does this person want to do a PhD (what do they want to do afterwards)?

·       What makes them think they can complete a PhD?

·       What evidence is there of academic ability (if they are doing it in a second language, do they have evidence of adequate language skills)?

·       What standard is their writing? [do not get someone else to write your proposal, it is a waste of everyone’s time and could be especially costly for you]

·       What is the quality of the ideas they express (e.g. are they simply reciting other people’s ideas or do they criticise and synthesise them in an interesting and original way)?

·       Is there any evidence they have completed challenging projects before?

CHOICE OF TOPIC

·       How have they identified a topic area (have they clearly identified a topic area)?

·       What interests them about that topic area?

·       Have they identified key research questions?

·       Are these research questions good ones?

·       What is their proposed title (is it hopelessly broad or vague for example)?

·       Is it likely to be an interesting project?

·       Do they [the applicant] have prior experience of research or work in that area?

·       Have they considered the feasibility of the topic (access, ethics and timescale for instance.).

 FIT AND LOGISTICS

·       Do I want to spend 3-4 years supervising this person and their topic?

·       Why have they sent a proposal to me [i.e. the preferred supervisor] in particular?

·       Is there anything that attracts them to this institution?

·       How will they get funding?

·       Are they planning on doing a PhD full or part-time [some supervisors are reluctant to take on part-time students because their completion rates are a lot lower]?

·       Are they planning on doing the PhD while living overseas? [again, some supervisors are reluctant to take on students based overseas because there is less scope for regular feedback and completion rates can be a lot lower]?