How do I write a strong PhD research proposal?

It starts with a Word doc. Maybe a Google doc. Most likely opened late at night, with three half-written sentences, two tabs open to “PhD proposal,” and the creeping sense that you’re in over your head. And if it feels overwhelming, it’s because you really want it. Even if you don’t know what “it” is yet.

At Bar-Ilan University, we see that moment as the beginning of something real. The first sketch of the work you might devote the next few years to. Not a final draft, not a masterpiece. Just the first signal that you’re ready to start asking better questions, and finding your own way to answer them.

At Bar-Ilan University, our researchers read hundreds of proposals a year. So we’ve created this guide to help you craft a compelling one, step by step.

What is a PhD research proposal, exactly?

A PhD proposal is a 1,500–3,000-word document that outlines your intended research project. It’s your chance to show that:

• You’ve identified an interesting, important research question.
• You understand the current state of the field.
• You have a clear plan for how you’ll investigate it.
• You’re thinking at the level of a future researcher—not just a student.

In short, your proposal should convince the admissions committee (and potential supervisors) that your project is worth doing, and that you are the one to do it.

Step 1: Start with your question

A good proposal begins with a good question. Is doesn’t have to be perfect and it might not be the final, but it’s a specific, researchable question that opens the door to meaningful inquiry.

Here are a few examples from real BIU PhD students:

• How do physicians navigate ethical boundaries when treating terminally ill patients in culturally diverse societies?
• Can AI models detect early markers of Parkinson’s disease from handwriting?
• What are the cultural implications of translating poetry from Arabic to Hebrew?

Your question should reflect curiosity, relevance, and, ideally, some originality.

Step 2: Build your context

Once you’ve got a question, you need to place it in context. This is where you show you’ve read widely, identified a gap in the field, and understand where your research fits.

We often recommend structuring this part like a mini literature review:

• What’s already been said?
• Where’s the disagreement?
• What’s missing?
• How will your work contribute?

Keep in mind: you're not expected to have read everything. You're expected to be thoughtful about what you’ve read.

Step 3: Define your objectives and methodology

What are you actually going to do?

You don’t need to lay out your entire research plan down to the last data point. But you do need to offer a clear sense of:

• What data or sources you’ll use
• What approach or theoretical framework you'll apply
• How you’ll analyze or interpret your findings

Even if you’re debating between two approaches, explain both—and say why you’re leaning in a particular direction.

Step 4: Show feasibility

This part is crucial. You need to show the committee that your project is doable—within a reasonable timeframe, with the resources available, and with your current level of training (plus what you’ll gain along the way).

At BIU, we often ask:

• Is the project too broad or too narrow?
• Are the data accessible?
• Is the methodology realistic?
• Will this project yield publishable insights?

You don’t need to pretend your research will change the world overnight, but you do need to show that it has legs.

Step 5: Polish and personalize

Don’t end your proposal like a journal article. End it like a person.

Include a short paragraph explaining:

• Why you care about this topic
• What motivates you to pursue it at the doctoral level
• Why BIU (or a particular lab, advisor, or department) is the right place to do it

This is your chance to connect as a human being—to make someone reading your proposal say, “Yes. I want to work with this person.”

Final Tips from BIU Faculty

• Don’t overload with jargon. Your reviewer may not be a specialist in your exact subfield.
• Clarity beats complexity. A beautifully written proposal is a joy to read—and more likely to be remembered.
• Get feedback. Ask a mentor or peer to read your draft. And then another. And then rewrite.

"AI revolutionizes academic methodology," Says says Professor Yaniv Fox, Head of AI Initiatives and Vice Dean of Humanities. "You can think of it as having a 24/7 research assistant that is really smart and wants to help you think through your problems. Agentic AI can help find literature, understand it properly, and leverage it in your research. Chatbots are very good at brainstorming and data analysis tools can extract insights from your ideas, even if those ideas are still messy and unpolished. Use all of these tools wisely and your proposal will be stronger!" He concludes.