Writing a PhD research proposal

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I'm going to have to think about writing one soon-ish (I haven't even started my MA yet, but I'm hoping to get the PhD stuff wrapped up by Christmas at the latest owing to having to search for funding) and whilst I have a vague idea of the area I want to research, I'm a bit baffled by certain things.

The methodology? Well, this is going to be a philosophy phd. It does not involve going out and collecting data, more a case of sitting in the library and ploughing through relevant papers in journals. That doesn't sound very impressive, does it? Would travel to conferences/seminars come under this? As obviously, I will probably have to go to such things to learn about any recent and relevant work in my area.

How long should it be? I know for the AHRC it has to be 500 words (not very hopeful with them, having been rejected for my MA), but what about when e-mailing potential proffs? I do not want to deluge busy people with too much information, but I want to come across as reasonably prepared.

I'm sorry if these seem obvious questions. I do not come from an academic background, and sometimes feel overwhelmed by all the academic-sounding-speak when it comes to these things.

melancholly

See if you can find someone in your department who has AHRC funding, or a member of staff who has applied for it in the past. They will be the best source of info. I assume you're going to need a named supervisor on the form, in which case try and schedule a meeting with them to talk about what to write. They should also proof read your proposal and give advice. It may be easier to find a supervisor first, then get onto the application - and if you're staying at the same uni, target only one or two potential supervisors to start with, because if they talk to eachother and think you've been emailling anyone and everyone, they might not like it!

studentphil

What exact area are you looking to research? I would say it always helps if you know a few of the key relevent articles in your area of interest as a good starting point.

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Melancholy: I do intend on remaining in the same department, there is one professor I would particularly like to work with, so I'm only going to send one e-mail. However, I have to be prepared for rejection, hence I have three other institutions which I think seem good places to apply to.

Phil: I'm up-to-date with current research. The area will be conceptualism, focusing on the work of John McDowell (which probably means little to most people). It's about exploring the relationships between language, mind and the world, more specifically, whether the content of experience is conceptual.

I know what the problem is, and I know about the current arguments. I think it's much too ambitious to be developing my own right now, hopefully such things will develop naturally as I begin my research.

studentphil

So do you class this as Metaphysics, philosophy of language,
theory of Knowledge, or even Philosophy of mind?

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Phil. of. Mind. Although it intersects with epistemology, language and phenomology. It's not that unusual in this subject to have an overlap between different areas.

studentphil

The key question is then, you know all the lastest papers out there, you do not see this as a project you can advance yourself, so you need an objective a target that you see your research is going to achieve and to be able to communicate that to Professors. You also need to know why this area of philosophy is important and to be able to express that.

studentphil

I am assuming you are at York University at the moment.

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Yup.

I have some vague ideas about how one or two arguments could be developed. I do not think it is wise to boldly go my own way when it's important to understand and build upon the work of others. Obviously, I'll develop my ideas, but I think it's important to explore where existing arguments go (or so I think) wrong.

anewman

A friend told me someone he knows applied to do a PhD at York University and were quite intensively interviewed and torn to shreds over their proposal and knowledge of the area. Don't mean to worry you, just think you should be aware of the possibility of this sort of thing and be prepared beyond the preparation you put into your proposal. Have answers pre-prepared to any potential questions or doubts anyone may have about your proposal and you should be ok.

I wonder if they tried to find a supervisor first, or not. Having someone in mind as a supervisor who you have had some communication with might prevent the need for the sort of interview I mentioned above?!