Home » Blog » How to Write a Dissertation Proposal | EasyMarks

How to Write a Dissertation Proposal

Set out what you will research, why it matters and how you will do it.

7 min read · Written by UK academic writers

The proposal is your dissertation in miniature and the document your supervisor uses to approve your project. A clear proposal saves you from problems later. Here is what to include and how to make it convincing.

Introduce the Topic and Its Importance

Open by setting out your topic, the problem or gap it addresses, and why it matters. The reader should quickly understand what you are studying and why it is worth studying.

State Your Research Questions

Give clear aims, objectives and research questions. These define the scope of your project and should be specific enough to answer within a dissertation.

Review Key Literature

Summarise the most relevant existing research to show you understand the field and to locate your gap. This is a focused review, not the full literature review chapter.

Outline Your Methodology

Explain how you will answer your questions: your approach, methods, data sources and analysis. Justify your choices rather than just listing them.

• Research approach (qualitative, quantitative, mixed)
• Data collection methods and sources
• Sampling and participants
• Planned analysis and any ethical issues

Add a Timeline and References

Include a realistic schedule showing how you will complete each stage, and a reference list of the sources cited. A timeline reassures your supervisor that the project is achievable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides & Services