phd expose structure

Notes on writing a exposé

The first comprehensive written presentation of a research project takes place after the orientation and planning phase in the form of an exposé. It describes in a generally understandable way all essential aspects of the future project with regard to research context, research topic, research question, methods, sources and resources.

It is necessary or useful

for the registration of research projects (theses, dissertations)
for grant and research applications
as an indicator of practicality and consistency of content
as a basis for discussion
as a starting point for the more detailed planning of a research project.

Both the preparation of the exposé, which often requires a clear structuring and verbalization of the research idea for the first time, is useful for the researcher, as is the fixed result, which forms a thematic, methodological and planning anchor for the duration of the research project - regardless of how far one eventually moves away from it. There are no uniform guidelines for exposés. In the field of audio communication, exposés for theses should have a length of 3-4 pages of text (Arial 11 point single-spaced), for dissertations a length of 6-8 pages is common, while applications for grants and project proposals also require a length of 10-15 pages. The synopsis should have the following structure:

Heavily abbreviated, synoptic statement of research need, research question, method, expected result, and benefits.

Introduction

Brief outline of the topic with a quick focus on the subject under investigation. For this purpose, aspects of the history of technology or a research tradition can be outlined, an existing theoretical background can be illuminated, a classification in research disciplines can be made and, if applicable, a personal research interest can be stated. The introduction of the topic should be focused on a concrete question, at the same time the relevance of the topic should be made clear, e.g. with regard to society, basic research or concrete applications.

State of the art of research

Overview of existing work in the thematically closer research area. The author conveys his/her knowledge of the subject and points out research deficits and, if applicable, points of contact to existing work. This results in the research relevance, a further thematic delimitation as well as possible methodological approaches.

The methods used to answer the question outlined above should be named and their suitability briefly justified. This can be a source research, a qualitative or quantitative analysis, an empirical procedure (with experimental design, effect criteria, variation of conditions, sample, operationalization or measuring instrument, technical means and statistical evaluation) or a technical procedure. Here, too, a reference to methodological literature and methodologically comparable studies is appropriate. If source work is in the foreground, description and assessment of the source situation with regard to type, extent, expected relevance and accessibility, possibly also in the form of a table or a sketch. At this point, reference should also be made to existing declarations of intent and agreements (e.g. with archives, laboratories, cooperation partners).

Preliminary work

If preliminary work has already been done that goes beyond the planning of the investigation (e.g. extensive research, production of objects of investigation or research tools, preliminary experiments), this should be listed with reference to specific points of contact.

Work plan and time schedule

A preliminary structuring of the time available for the project in the form of a work plan documents a realistic assessment of the sequence, structure and scope of the expected research work. A weekly schedule is recommended for smaller projects, and a monthly schedule for larger ones. Within these units, several small work steps can be listed.

List of literature used in the synopsis. It should already include the publications central to the research, even if additional sources and references are developed during the course of the work.

Helpful literature:

Kruse, Otto (2005). Keine Angst vor dem leeren Blatt: ohne Schreibblockaden durchs Studium. (Campus concret; 16). 11. Aufl. Frankfurt/Main, New York: Campus. Karmasin, Matthias und Ribing, Rainer (2006). Die Gestaltung wissenschaftlicher Arbeiten. (UTB 2774), Wien: WUV Facultas

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12. Feb 2024

Writing an exposé

Written by Emma Harlow

Do you have a research question that you would like to investigate? Would you like to do that in the context of a doctorate? Are you planning to present your idea to your preferred professor to apply as a candidate for supervision? It’s time to write your exposé!

The exposé provides an overview of your planned research work. It links your research question with a plan for its investigation. You provide a clearly understandable, coherently reasoned explanation of

what you want to investigate,
why you’re investigating it and
how you want to investigate it.

A well-written synopsis not only convinces scholarship providers or potential supervisors of your research idea. It also helps you as the author to structure your own project, to critically question it and to recognize potential challenges early on. Think of the exposé as a very first draft of your dissertation. This type of preparation can save valuable time, energy and resources later on.

Form and structure of an exposé

A clear structure is the necessary framework for convincingly communicating the core of your idea – the research question. You explain how you derived it and how you want to investigate it. There is not one strict form that an exposé must follow. However, certain key elements should be present in a logical order to achieve a comprehensible result.

The structure

A) abstract.

The abstract narrows down the content of your exposé to approximately half a page. It is the figurehead of your synopsis. Since the convincing power of this section determines whether the reader takes an interest in the detailed synopsis, it should contain the research question as well as the most important information about the research interest, the intended methods and the expected results. The abstract is usually written last.

B) Problem definition and research interest

At first, you situate the planned work in the discipline and demonstrate its relevance. To do so, you introduce a scientific problem that forms the basis of your specific research question. This part should build on a good selection of scientific sources. In order to not get lost in the vastness of a field, try to narrow down the area of your work. By defining the scope of your anticipated research, you’ll already reflect a lot about possible constraints. This will help you develop a good reasoning for your research question and anticipate challenges for its investigation. Also, let the readers know why you want to address this problem in particular and explain to them why you want to find a solution.

C) Current state of research

Closely connected to the definition of the scientific problem, you prove the relevance of the topic based on the state of the scientific debate around it. You outline what is known about the research objective, if it’s been challenged before and if so, in which manner. When selecting works for this section, consider them from the perspective of what the most important scientific positions on the topic are and what gaps in knowledge currently exist. What deficiencies or points of criticism do you see in the existing works in this field? Be careful about judging the work of other scientists, rather focus on the contribution you could add to the field. All these considerations form the base to develop and justify a new research question.

D) Your research question

Based on the knowledge about the scientific problem and the state of the art, you introduce your specific research question. Develop hypotheses and assumptions about possible outcomes. It should become clear what the aim of the work is, why it is relevant and to what extent answering the research question will advance the field of knowledge.

E) Methodology, (re)sources and materials

Here, you identify the methods, resources and materials needed to investigate your research question. They depend heavily on the approach of your work, whether you are primarily conducting primary surveys or aiming for secondary analyses. Explain the choice of methods in terms of their suitability to investigate your research question and the pragmatics of their application. You should also think about the availability of and the access to (re)sources and materials. In case you’re using material from preliminary work, e.g. your master’s thesis, you should also be transparent about this here. At the end of this section, the way of proceeding should be clear and there should be a comprehensible preliminary research design.

F) Preliminary work plan and time schedule

In the next step, you present the planned workflow together with a time reference. Your schedule should prove that your proposed research design is able to gain answers to your research question in a foreseeable and identifiable time frame. At an early stage, it is clear that you cannot plan everything in detail. Larger intervals, such as quarterly targets, are easier to plan at this stage. Subquestions, an intermediate goal or method should be assigned to each time interval. This could be presented in the form of a table. You should add a start and a provisional end date to your plan. It is important that you keep your timetable realistic. Research involves uncertainties, surprises and sometimes delays. You should also consider your own abilities and take into account existing commitments (e.g. care work) when designing your plan. The duration of a doctorate is three to four years. Keep in mind that not all of this time will be dedicated to research. If you are planning to work part-time alongside your doctorate, be transparent about how this will affect the time required to complete your thesis. Adapt the schedule accordingly.

G) Bibliography

Last but not least, giving an overview on the literature you’ve used to design your research proposal is mandatory. Focus on relevant, pertinent and accessible literature and limit yourself to the most helpful works for writing the synopsis. When referring to literature, pay attention to a consistent citation style.

The form and language of an exposé

Number of pages The length and level of details depend on the time, the purpose, the subject area and the respective requirements. If you want to submit a proactive application to a professor and want to convince them with your idea to supervise you as a doctoral candidate, a short synopsis of a few pages (up to 5) will be sufficient. It is not advisable to write a very detailed exposé at this stage and for this purpose. Exposés in more developed versions are usually between 5 and 20 pages long. They mark the end of an in-depth orientation and preparation phase and are therefore more extensive. Exposés written for the acquisition of scholarships and research funding tend to be oriented towards the upper page limit.

Language The general rules for scientific writing also apply for exposés. Precise wording ensures that your synopsis is understood. You should pay attention to the correct use of technical terms and to avoiding colloquial language. As you are presenting your own ideas in the exposé, it is advisable to use your own words and use verbatim quotations only very sparingly. Also, keep an eye on redundancies and try to avoid them. It is also important to pay attention to correct spelling and grammar. Neglecting spelling and grammar will give the reader the impression of carelessness. Proofreading is recommended before an exposé is sent out.

Formal aspects The cover page of your exposé should contain the following information: Your first and last name, your academic degree, the provisional title of the thesis, the topic, and, after they confirmed to supervise you, the name of the respective supervisor(s). Format your exposé reader-friendly: use 1.15pt to 1.5pt line spacing, a calm font (e.g. Arial, Georgia) in an appropriate size (11 or 12), and use justified text, page numbers and add a table of contents.

Further considerations and tips on writing an exposé

When writing down your own research idea for the very first time, it can be helpful to understand the creation of the synopsis as a process that serves to improve your own understanding. For a first application to a potential supervisor, the result does not have to be perfect, as there are still a lot of uncertainties. If your idea leads to a confirmation of supervision, a more differentiated exposé can be developed. During the process, there will most likely be many changes that will influence the outline of the doctorate as it progresses. You don’t have to know every single aspect right away and adjustments can be made later if they become necessary. Expanding your exposé and adapting it to changes is easier if you already have a well thought-out structure.

Sometimes you need to present your research idea for different purposes and/or at different times. For example, when applying to a research school before starting your doctorate or for research funding later on. Depending on the occasion, you can and should adapt your exposé accordingly to meet the respective requirements. If you’re writing an exposé to apply for a scholarship, discussing your exposé with colleagues and your supervisor can be an advantage. They are already familiar with writing research proposals and have academic experience, so they can contribute their perspective on scientific and formal aspects to the discussion. Also, adapt your timeplan to the scholarship’s period of funding.

Further information

An article with video about putting together your exposé is presented on this website . (Note: There is advertising for paid services on this website, but the most important content is available free of charge. We only point out the free content and do not advertise the paid services.)
If you’re interested in a very detailed explanation of what a thesis outline contains and also in the linguistic aspects of it, visit this website and benefit from numerous further links to in-depth content.
In addition to a chapter on the exposé , the brochure “Doing your doctorate. Making conscious decisions and getting off to a good start.” by the network Qualitätszirkel Promotion (QZP) contains lots of further information for anyone preparing for a doctorate .
Griffith University’s tips for developing an exposé focus on identifying a suitable research topic for yourself and provide helpful guidelines as well as a video in which doctoral candidates talk about the process.
Die Universität Osnabrück bietet mit ihrer Broschüre über das Schreiben eines wissenschaftlichen Exposés einen sehr ausführlichen Leitfaden .
Einen guten Übersichtsartikel über das Schreiben eines Exposés mit einem Fokus auf die Literaturverwaltung bietet dieser Artikel .
Der Leitfaden zum Verfassen eines Exposés der Universität Bielefeld enthält eine Checkliste zur Strukturierung und Unterstützung des Schreibprozesses.
In einem ausführlichen Video (19 min) zu Inhalten und Aufbau eines Exposés für die Dissertation teilt ein Wissenschaftscoach seine Erfahrungen und Tipps.
Die Broschüre Promotion – bewusst entscheiden und gut starten des Qualitätszirkel Promotion (QZP) enthält neben einem Kapitel zum Exposé viele weitere hilfreiche Informationen für alle, die sich auf eine Promotion vorbereiten.
Aus dem Netz der MLU (intern oder VPN) kann das Buch Promotionsplanung und Exposee von Jutta Wergen aufgerufen werden (Stand: 06.02.2024). Es enthält unter anderem einen ausführlichen Ratgeber mit Hilfestellungen und Anleitung zum Verfassen eines Exposés.

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Know How to Structure Your PhD Thesis

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In your academic career, few projects are more important than your PhD thesis. Unfortunately, many university professors and advisors assume that their students know how to structure a PhD. Books have literally been written on the subject, but there’s no need to read a book in order to know about PhD thesis paper format and structure. With that said, however, it’s important to understand that your PhD thesis format requirement may not be the same as another student’s. The bottom line is that how to structure a PhD thesis often depends on your university and department guidelines.

But, let’s take a look at a general PhD thesis format. We’ll look at the main sections, and how to connect them to each other. We’ll also examine different hints and tips for each of the sections. As you read through this toolkit, compare it to published PhD theses in your area of study to see how a real-life example looks.

Main Sections of a PhD Thesis

In almost every PhD thesis or dissertation, there are standard sections. Of course, some of these may differ, depending on your university or department requirements, as well as your topic of study, but this will give you a good idea of the basic components of a PhD thesis format.

Abstract : The abstract is a brief summary that quickly outlines your research, touches on each of the main sections of your thesis, and clearly outlines your contribution to the field by way of your PhD thesis. Even though the abstract is very short, similar to what you’ve seen in published research articles, its impact shouldn’t be underestimated. The abstract is there to answer the most important question to the reviewer. “Why is this important?”
Introduction : In this section, you help the reviewer understand your entire dissertation, including what your paper is about, why it’s important to the field, a brief description of your methodology, and how your research and the thesis are laid out. Think of your introduction as an expansion of your abstract.
Literature Review : Within the literature review, you are making a case for your new research by telling the story of the work that’s already been done. You’ll cover a bit about the history of the topic at hand, and how your study fits into the present and future.
Theory Framework : Here, you explain assumptions related to your study. Here you’re explaining to the review what theoretical concepts you might have used in your research, how it relates to existing knowledge and ideas.
Methods : This section of a PhD thesis is typically the most detailed and descriptive, depending of course on your research design. Here you’ll discuss the specific techniques you used to get the information you were looking for, in addition to how those methods are relevant and appropriate, as well as how you specifically used each method described.
Results : Here you present your empirical findings. This section is sometimes also called the “empiracles” chapter. This section is usually pretty straightforward and technical, and full of details. Don’t shortcut this chapter.
Discussion : This can be a tricky chapter, because it’s where you want to show the reviewer that you know what you’re talking about. You need to speak as a PhD versus a student. The discussion chapter is similar to the empirical/results chapter, but you’re building on those results to push the new information that you learned, prior to making your conclusion.
Conclusion : Here, you take a step back and reflect on what your original goals and intentions for the research were. You’ll outline them in context of your new findings and expertise.

Tips for your PhD Thesis Format

As you put together your PhD thesis, it’s easy to get a little overwhelmed. Here are some tips that might keep you on track.

Don’t try to write your PhD as a first-draft. Every great masterwork has typically been edited, and edited, and…edited.
Work with your thesis supervisor to plan the structure and format of your PhD thesis. Be prepared to rewrite each section, as you work out rough drafts. Don’t get discouraged by this process. It’s typical.
Make your writing interesting. Academic writing has a reputation of being very dry.
You don’t have to necessarily work on the chapters and sections outlined above in chronological order. Work on each section as things come up, and while your work on that section is relevant to what you’re doing.
Don’t rush things. Write a first draft, and leave it for a few days, so you can come back to it with a more critical take. Look at it objectively and carefully grammatical errors, clarity, logic and flow.
Know what style your references need to be in, and utilize tools out there to organize them in the required format.
It’s easier to accidentally plagiarize than you think. Make sure you’re referencing appropriately, and check your document for inadvertent plagiarism throughout your writing process.

PhD Thesis Editing Plus

Want some support during your PhD writing process? Our PhD Thesis Editing Plus service includes extensive and detailed editing of your thesis to improve the flow and quality of your writing. Unlimited editing support for guaranteed results. Learn more here , and get started today!

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Writing an Exposé

Your thesis begins by writing a detailed project proposal. The more detailed and thorough your proposal, the better your final thesis.

The structure of the proposal is very similar to that of your final thesis or a scientific paper:

Abstract (~ 200 word summary)
Research challenge or question
Literature review
Proposed approach/methods
Implementation plan and schedule
Hardware and software requirements (e.g. head-mounted display, workstation, tracking system)

Examples of thesis proposals:

Bachelor thesis: Visualisaing protein networks

Bachelor proposal: Eine kritische, komparative Analyse von Methoden zur Untersuchung differentieller Genexpression

Honors Thesis Proposal For Joint Graphical Lasso and Deep Learning Methods for Dynamic Brain Connectome Prediction

Honors Thesis Proposal For Design and Investigation of Vitiated-Air Heater for Scramjet Engine

Masters thesis: Implementation and Evaluation of the TPC-DI Benchmark...

There is no fixed length for an exposé. Much of the material in your exposé will become part of your final thesis. Here is a rough guide:

Additional guides: https://www.scribbr.de/anfang-abschlussarbeit/expose-bachelorarbeit/

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Structuring your thesis
Information and services
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How to write a thesis

The best structure for your HDR thesis will depend on your discipline and the research you aim to communicate.

Before you begin writing your thesis, make sure you've read our advice on thesis preparation for information on the requirements you'll need to meet.

Once you've done this, you can begin to think about how to structure your thesis. To help you get started, we've outlined a basic structure below, but the requirements for your discipline may be different .

If you need help determining a suitable structure:

read other theses in your discipline – you can search for UQ theses on the Library website. For prime examples, search for theses that received commendations from their examiners
check with your advisor.

A basic thesis structure includes the following sections:

Introduction and literature review

Results or findings.

An abstract is a summary of your entire thesis and should provide a complete overview of the thesis, including your key results and findings.

An abstract is different to your introduction, and shouldn't be used to advertise your thesis — it should provide enough information to allow readers to understand what they'll learn by reading the thesis.

Your abstract should answer the following questions:

What did you do?
How did you do it?
Why was it worth doing?
What were the key results?
What are the implications or significance of the results?

As your abstract will have a word limit, you may be unable to answer every question in detail. If you find yourself running out of words, make sure you include your key findings before other information.

All theses require introductions and literature reviews, but the structure and location of these can vary.

In some cases, your literature review will be incorporated into the introduction. You may also review literature in other parts of your thesis, such as in the methods section.

Other options for structuring an introduction and literature review include:

a brief introductory chapter with a longer, separate literature review chapter
a long introductory chapter with a brief introductory section followed by literature review sections
a brief introductory chapter with detailed literature reviews relevant to the topic of each chapter provided separately in each chapter — this is common in a thesis comprised of publications.

If you have a separate introduction and literature review, they should complement, not repeat, each other.

The introduction should outline the background and significance of the broad area of study, as well as your:

general aims – what you intend to contribute to the understanding of a topic
specific objectives – which particular aspects of that topic you'll be investigating
the rationale for proceeding in the way that you did
your motivation or the justification for your research – the level of detail can vary depending on how much detail you will be including in a literature review.

The literature review should provide a more detailed analysis of research in the field, and present more specific aims or hypotheses for your research. What's expected for a literature review varies depending on your:

program – a PhD thesis requires a more extensive literature review than an MPhil thesis
discipline – analyse well-written examples from your discipline to learn the conventions for content and structure.

To get some ideas about how to structure and integrate your literature review, look at how to write a literature review and an example analysis of a literature review , or talk to your advisor.

A possible structure for your methods section is to include an introduction that provides a justification and explanation of the methodological approach you chose, followed by relevant sub-sections. Some standard sub-sections of a methods chapter include:

Participants
Procedures.

How the methods section is structured can depend on your discipline, so review other theses from your discipline for ideas for structure.

Regardless of structure, the methods section should explain:

how you collected and analysed your data – you only need to include enough detail that another expert in the field could repeat what you've done (you don't have to detail field standard techniques or tests)
why you chose to collect specific data
how this data will help you to answer your research questions
why you chose the approach you went with.

You may want to present your results separately to your discussion. If so, use the results section to:

specify the data you collected and how it was were prepared for analysis
describe the data analysis (e.g. define the type of statistical test that was applied to the data)
describe the outcome of the analysis
present a summary and descriptive statistics in a table or graph.

Use tables and figures effectively

Reports usually include tables, graphs and other graphics to present data and supplement the text. To learn how to design and use these elements effectively, see our guides to:

incorporating tables, figures, statistics and equations (PDF, 1.2MB)
graphic presentation (PDF, 2.9MB) .

Use the discussion section to:

comment on your results and explain what they mean
compare, contrast and relate your results back to theory or the findings of other studies
identify and explain any unexpected results
identify any limitations to your research and any questions that your research was unable to answer
discuss the significance or implications of your results.

If you find that your research ends up in a different direction to what you intended, it can help to explicitly acknowledge this and explain why in this section.

Use the conclusion section to:

emphasise that you've met your research aims
summarise the main findings of your research
restate the limitations of your research and make suggestions for further research.

In some cases, the discussion and conclusion sections can be combined. Check with your advisor if you want to combine these sections.

Thesis writing tips

Learning Advisers

Our advisers can help undergraduate and postgraduate students in all programs clarify ideas from workshops, help you develop skills and give feedback on assignments.

How a Learning Adviser can help

Further support

Writing a clear and engaging research paper Thesis and dissertation writing: an examination of published advice and actual practice Scientific writing

How to Give a Presentation as A PhD Student
Doing a PhD

At some point in their career, most researchers will be asked to give a presentation at a conference. These podium talks can be a brilliant way to promote yourself as an academic and also to disseminate your work to a wider audience. Standing up and giving a talk to a large audience can feel scary, particularly if you feel under-prepared. However, with enough preparation and practice this could become an enjoyable experience and maybe even one you look forward to!

Here are a few tips from us to help you with preparation for your next (or first) presentation.

Keep It Simple

Typically, any talk you give will be accompanied by a series of slides. The key thing to remember here is ‘less is more’. Keep the message on each slide very clear with minimal text and ideally an image on every slide. Remember that these slides are designed to support what you’re talking about rather than being a script to read from.

Have a Structure

Prepare your slides with a logical structure in mind. If you’re presenting an experimental study, this may be as simple as: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion and Conclusion. Think about what one thing you want the audience to take away from your talk – what’s the take-home message? A common mantra that’s used by many researchers is to (1) tell the audience what you’re going to tell them, (2) tell them and (3) tell them what you’ve told them. Simple!

Practice, Practice, Practice

There’s really no better substitute for building confidence in giving your talk than by practising it as much as you can. That’s not to say that you should learn it word for word and simply repeat from memory, but it should feel very natural by the time you come to present. A great idea is to write out a script of what you’d like to say and then amend it as you read it out aloud – you’ll find the way you structure your sentences or the words you use may differ slightly as you present out loud versus just writing down in text form.

Practice by yourself as you’re developing your thoughts and the flow of your talk but make sure you also practice in front of others, such as those in your lab, your supervisor and your friends and family.

It’s All in The Delivery

You know what you’re going to say, make sure you also practice how you’re going to say it. Make a conscious effort to speak a little (emphasis on the little!) slower than you normally would. Don’t forget to breathe and be happy – this is a chance to show off the great work that you’ve been doing. Speak clearly and not too quietly and try to connect with your audience – think of this as a discussion you’re having with them about your research. If you can, try to arrive at the presentation hall before others arrive so you have an opportunity to stand at the podium and visualise yourself giving your talk – this way when you go up to present, the environment will be a little more familiar to you. Enjoy it!

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Writing a social sciences PhD proposal

For many academics, each new year brings a flurry of email enquiries about PhD supervision. In my experience these tend to range between a vague notion about a topic (or a few possible topics) and a detailed account of a research idea, usually drawn from a successful MA thesis or an area of professional interest. What I hardly ever get, however, is a proper draft proposal that I can start working up with an applicant.

For me, having at least a rough draft of your proposal before you contact potential supervisors is good practice, for a number of reasons:

it shows you have given the matter some thought
it identifies you as someone who is able to work independently
it allows you to take ownership of your work from the start (and some supervisors WILL take over if you let them).

If you are planning to apply for Research Council funding, a draft gives you a valuable head start – I also see the process of feedback and amendment for these high-profile applications as an excellent insight into what a student will be like to supervise (I generally ask for several redrafts before I will sign off).

A PhD proposal does not need to be long. In fact, I encourage applicants to be as concise as they can – Research Council application forms generally allow a couple of sides, 10 pt font minimum, so I would stick to that. For a social science PhD, proposals will contain a number of common elements:

A short paragraph describing your topic, stating why it is important. First and foremost, you should be proposing a project which is fresh and interesting rather than repeating previous studies. This doesn’t necessarily mean a completely new topic (and there are no completely original arguments), but it could mean, for instance: looking at an existing topic in a new way; asking slightly different questions; researching a specific population; or bringing together two theories that haven’t been used together, or haven’t been used to explore this topic, before.

The best research in my field tends to be both policy/society-relevant and able to make a contribution to academic debates, so look for a social need and gaps in the relevant literature. Your project should pass the ‘so what?’ test on both intellectual and practical grounds. This is especially the case if you want to work with a marginalised group as an outsider – your study needs to have clear benefits for your participants, and it should be obvious that you are the right person to do it and are doing it for the right reasons (if you’re not sure this is the case, perhaps read this post and reflect). If you’re applying for research funding, your project rationale should also link to the strategic priorities of the funding body.

Research questions

Two or three specific questions you will answer. They must be ones which have not been asked before in the particular way you will ask them. They should usually be open but narrow, focusing on aspects of issues or relationships between phenomena (e.g. ‘what are the causes of violence against sex workers?’ is too broad, but ‘what are sex workers’ experiences of violence under different legal/regulatory models?’ is more promising). You should also be realistic – what exactly are you going to be able to find out? Be wary of questions which are too ambitious – in social research this often means causal, categorical, or conclusive. Avoid making assumptions that will threaten the validity of your analysis (e.g. ‘how can parents who formula-feed be made aware of the benefits of breastfeeding?) Never ask something you feel you already know.

The trick is to develop research questions which both create a do-able project and account for the complexity of the social world, and to represent these as simply as you possibly can. This is difficult! Your research questions will probably go through several iterations with your prospective supervisor, so they don’t have to be perfect first time.

Literature review

This is directly linked to your rationale and research questions – a summary of existing relevant work, identifying the gaps (both empirical and theoretical) your project will fill. You may be looking at several areas of literature – some providing general context while others relate to particular issues. In a project on violence against sex workers under different legal/regulatory models, you would probably be making use of general work on violence against women/sexual violence, more specific literature on violence against sex workers (of all genders) and violence against particular groups who may be more at risk within the industry (women of colour and trans women, for example), and literature covering different models of sex industry regulation and their implications. Studies would probably be both empirical and more conceptual in focus.

Don’t just write a list in this section – introduce different bodies of literature, summarise key themes and points, identify gaps, and make explicit how all this frames your particular project. Be clear in your mind about how you are using the literature at hand, and how you might feed back into the literature and make new contributions when you have completed your research.

Theoretical framework

The conceptual material in your literature review might inform your theoretical framework – the concepts most central to your research project. You might be focusing on gender as a key category of analysis; you might (should) also be taking an intersectional approach. You might be making use of other concepts such as agency or stigma, or developing the work of particular theorists. You need to have an idea of how all this relates together and whether there are any useful connections or knotty contradictions at work.

Your theoretical framework will and should change as you develop your PhD project, coming to fruition when you have finished your data analysis and are (hopefully) ready to say something new. It need not be fully developed in your proposal. In fact, if I see a PhD proposal which has an elaborate theoretical framework already, it often raises questions about whether the student is setting out to confirm things they feel they already know. Nevertheless, your proposal should contain some indication of the theories and concepts you find relevant to your research questions, and (most importantly) some thoughts about how you might operationalise these. How can you identify agency, for example? How might you measure stigma? How can you put intersectionality into practice?

N.B. Not all proposals will have a separate literature review and theoretical framework: if your project is heavily conceptual these might be merged into one longer section, or if you are conducting a large empirical study which will generate an entirely new dataset you may not need to be so focused on the theory.

Methodology

This is probably the most important part of your proposal – a description of what you are going to do in very precise terms. This should include your your broad methodological approach – is it quantitative or qualitative? Are you using a particular research design, for instance ethnography or case study? Are you situated within a specific epistemological framework, and why? It should also include any specific methodological techniques or elements of research design – for instance, if you are trying to explore the interactions between phenomena, how will you measure and establish these? (e.g. in a qualitative study exploring how breastfeeding impacts on mothers’ experiences of bonding with their babies, you would need to consider how you would tease out the role of breastfeeding from other factors).

Your methodology should give details of your planned sources of data and how you will sample them. Be specific: if you are doing interviews, how many? What types of people will you hope to recruit as participants, and why? If you are working with documents, how many and how will they be selected? You need to give assurances that you are not just cherry-picking your sample to confirm what you feel you already know – for instance, a proposed study on whether the media contains racist bias will be stronger if you are not just working with content from the Daily Mail . You should also give details of how you will negotiate access to your sources, and the more groundwork you can do in advance the better, especially if you are working on sensitive issues or with marginalised communities. Your methods should then be described as accurately as you possibly can, as well as your planned techniques of data analysis, with full attention paid to how you might operationalise your theories.

Your methodology section should be primarily descriptive – your prospective supervisor needs to be confident that you have thought your project through and are in a good position to carry it out. It should also be mostly practical: although reflexivity is essential to qualitative social research, your PhD proposal is probably not the best place to present your autobiography. You need to show that you are conversant with the methodological literature and with other, similar studies, and have thought about your planned project with reference to these. Of course, your methodology will evolve during the course of your project and it is always possible to change it – but it is essential to be thinking like a researcher from the start.

Sometimes this section will be part of your methodology; sometimes it will be separate. If you are doing any research with human subjects you will probably undergo a rigorous ethical review process within your institution, before you are cleared for fieldwork. If your topic is sensitive or you are working with marginalised communities, this can take a while and can involve various requests for amendments. This section is your chance to show that you have engaged with the literature on research ethics and thought about any potential issues for your study: use it to identify these and talk about how you might address them. Power relations, informed consent, anonymity/confidentiality, risk/harm, participant and self-care all need to be covered.

University ethics committees can be conservative; you can take a critical perspective, especially where notions of ‘risk’ and ‘harm’ are concerned, and particularly in relation to the differences between working with more marginalised and more elite groups. However, you should also be aware that this is a bureaucratic process that could potentially stand between you and the successful completion of your research: some hoop-jumping may be necessary.

As the last section, your proposal should present a description of how you will break your research into manageable tasks and deadlines in order to get your PhD finished within the time you have (3-4 years full-time, 6-8 years part-time). It is best to present this in the form of a table, specifying dates by which you will have completed particular tasks. This timeline may change – but it is useful to have done some advance planning to show potential supervisors and funders that you are organised and likely to be able to deliver.

Finally, remember that you should probably try to fit all this on to two sides of A4. This usually includes references, so be strategic/sparing with these, and remember that you can allude to wider reading by using phrases such as ‘such as’, or ‘amongst others’ as part of your citations (this last tip is for PhD proposals only – you must not do this in your final thesis!)

Alison Phipps is Professor of Gender Studies at the University of Sussex. She was Chair of the Feminist and Women's Studies Association UK and Ireland, 2009-2012. You can visit her blog at https://genderate.wordpress.com/ or follow her on Twitter @alisonphipps.

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PhD Dissertation Outline: Creating a Roadmap to Success

PhD dissertation outline: Dissertation structure and format

A good PhD dissertation outline is as important to your dissertation as a map is to get you to your destination. Imagine for instance you’re trying to drive to a specific place to attend a party you’ve been looking forward to. You know the address, but you don’t have a map or a driving app. You get there eventually, but it takes a lot longer that it should have and stresses you so much that you’re in a bad mood when you get there. The party ends up being a bust.

This is similar to trying to write an academic paper, especially a PhD dissertation, without using an outline.

Why you need a PhD dissertation outline

When you do your PhD, outlines become the driving app for your academic paper, giving you direction so you know what’s in front of you. This is especially important for a PhD dissertation because of its physical length and the amount of time you will need to live with it. Successful PhD dissertation writing requires a laser focus, and an outline makes a great navigator.

There are many advantages of creating a PhD dissertation outline 1,2 :

Organize your project – Using an PhD dissertation outline will help you organize your thoughts and your work. If you have an idea or find a bit of information to include in a different section, simply write a note in the appropriate place to remind yourself.
Stay on task – Like the driving app, a PhD dissertation structure keeps you on the proper road and minimizes distractions. When writing without keeping in mind your PhD dissertation structure, it’s easy to find yourself in the weeds.
Increase productivity – A PhD dissertation outline keeps you aware of what you have to do, allows you to set goals, and be more productive.
Save time – This is a major advantage in PhD dissertation writing. The faster you can successfully complete your dissertation process, the more money you’ll save, and the sooner you can get on with the rest of your life.
Reduce anxiety – The effective use of a good PhD dissertation outline will give you control over this massive project. You’ll be more confident that you can successfully complete your PhD dissertation.

How to write a PhD dissertation outline

So, now that you’re convinced that you need a PhD dissertation outline, where do you start? A few general steps will get you on the right road 3 :

Select an appropriate topic: This one might seem obvious, but it is often a very difficult decision to make. The topic will guide the approach and research methodology. Although the research question will probably be tweaked along the way, not choosing a relevant topic at the start will result in chaos later on.
Review other dissertations on your topic: This will give you an idea about what your PhD dissertation structure will look like.
Draft a research problem: The research problem is the core of your dissertation and will guide your methodology and thus strongly influence your PhD dissertation structure.
Get input from your advisor/supervisor: Seek advice from your supervisor on some PhD thesis outline examples and take advantage of any assistance they provide to help you choose wisely. This will help keep you on the right road

PhD dissertation structure

Doctoral dissertations typically have five standard chapters, although your university might have a specific required structure. Here is a brief description of the typical five-chapter PhD dissertation format 3 .

Chapter 1: Introduction – This section provides an overview of the dissertation including its topic, purpose, and relevance. Typically, the general subject area is discussed and narrowed down to the research topic. Then, the research questions are posed, and the methodology is presented. Chapter 2: Literature Review – A comprehensive survey and synthesis of existing studies on the research topic, the literature review demonstrates the research gap and sets the context for the research question. Depending on the topic, theory may also be explored. Existing methodologies used to address this topic are also discussed. Chapter 3: Methodology – In this section, the methodology and materials used to collect and analyze the research data are presented in enough detail to demonstrate the validity of the method and allow the research to be duplicated by others. Chapter 4: Results – The research findings are reported in this section and presented in relation to the research question. Relevant visuals such as tables and figures are typically included here to communicate the findings effectively. C hapter 5: Discussion – In a five-chapter format, this is the final chapter in a PhD dissertation format. In this chapter, the findings are discussed and interpreted in light of the research question. Bits from all the chapters are synthesized to completely address the research question.

An additional chapter is sometimes added that includes conclusions, recommendations, and suggestions for future research.

Tips for creating your PhD dissertation outline 3,4

Finally, here are some quick and useful tips for your PhD thesis outline journey.

Use the structure to complete the outline – Carefully think about each chapter and write down questions and information you will need.
Create your outline early – Keep it up to date through your early research and advisor meetings.
Be flexible – Changes will need to be made to your outline as you progress.
Be detailed – You never know when a small piece of information you jotted down in your outline will save you time and anxiety.
Keep in close contact with your PhD dissertation advisor/supervisor – Make sure to share your outline. You may just save yourself a lot of time and misery if major changes need to be made.
Stay calm – Changes will come from different committee members. Remember, they are just trying to strengthen your work.
Statistics Solutions. The benefit of outlining. https://www.statisticssolutions.com/the-benefits-of-outlining/ [Accessed 14 July 2022].
PapersOwl. How To Create An Outline For A Dissertation? https://papersowl.com/blog/outline-for-dissertation [Accessed 14 July 2022].
Research.com. What Is A University Dissertation: Structure, Challenges & Writing Tips. https://research.com/research/what-is-a-university-dissertation [Accessed 14 July 2022].
Docformats.com. Dissertation Outline Templates. https://www.docformats.com/dissertation-outline-templates/ [Accessed 14 July 2022].

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How to write a research paper summary, you may also like, phd qualifying exam: tips for success , ai in education: it’s time to change the..., 9 steps to publish a research paper, self-plagiarism in research: what it is and how..., 6 tips for post-doc researchers to take their..., 8 most effective ways to increase motivation for..., how to make your thesis supervision work for..., how to write a conclusion for research papers..., ethical research practices for research with human subjects, 5 reasons for rejection after peer review.

Expose TUM DocGS Template

LaTeX Template for the Technical University of Munich, Technische Universität München, TUM, Exposé for Doctoral School, DocGS. This template should be similar enough to the Word template given by DocGS.

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How Do You Write A Phd Exposed: Secrets To Success

bởi Chu Dung
Tháng Chín 14, 2023

The Ways Phd Students Cheat On Their Thesis. Avoid Doing This…

Keywords searched by users: How do you write a PHD exposed how to write an expose on someone, example of an exposé, what is an exposé, one page phd proposal, what is an exposé in writing, expose science, phd research proposal sample in education pdf, cambridge phd proposal sample pdf

What Is An Expose Phd?

An expose PhD, also known as a dissertation proposal (referred to as “Exposé” in German-speaking academia), is a concise document designed to introduce the subject matter of your doctoral research to a broader audience. It functions as a comprehensive blueprint, guiding your research project by outlining its structure, content, and timeline. Essentially, your expose PhD elucidates the key themes and methodologies you intend to explore in your dissertation, offering a clear roadmap for your academic endeavor. This critical document not only defines the scope and direction of your research but also serves as a foundation upon which your doctoral thesis will be built.

How To Write A Good Expose ?

To craft a well-structured exposé effectively, you need to provide a concise yet comprehensive overview of the current state of research in your field, with a particular focus on how it directly relates to your own project. This entails acknowledging and referencing pivotal works by other prominent scientists in your field of study. Additionally, it is crucial to elucidate recent research developments in a manner that not only highlights their central concepts but also contextualizes them within the broader landscape of your project. In doing so, you should emphasize the innovative aspects and novel contributions that your own project brings to the field.

What Is An Expose In Academic Writing?

An exposé in academic writing functions as a foundational document for guiding the development of your master’s or doctoral thesis. It essentially acts as a detailed roadmap that outlines each crucial phase of your research journey and highlights the specific inquiries you intend to explore. To create a compelling exposé, you should demonstrate several key elements:

a. A well-defined research question that succinctly encapsulates the core focus of your thesis. b. A persuasive argument showcasing the significance and relevance of your chosen research topic within the broader academic context. c. A comprehensive plan for your research methodology and approach, including data collection and analysis methods, to support your thesis.

In essence, an exposé is an essential preparatory step that sets the stage for your entire academic research project, ensuring that you have a clear direction, a convincing rationale, and a strategic plan for your thesis.

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Home > Admissions > Admission to a PhD

Admission to a PhD

Candidates who already hold a Master's degree or equivalent and who wish to enter a PhD programme at thesis level, regardless of their previous studies (international or French), should apply directly online . The doctoral programme must be chosen carefully: only one application per year is possible, all doctoral programmes combined.

Degree requirements

Criteria for the application evaluation

Application

Financing studies, co-supervised thesis, joint thesis, doctoral programmes in economics, history*, political science and sociology**.

Applications starting 11 October 2023

To be eligible for assessment, your application must be complete and submitted before:

10 January 2024 at 11:59pm (Paris time), for an admission result mid-March 2024
17 May 2024 at 11:59pm (Paris time), for an admission result mid-July 2024

Auditions for applicants may be organised on 18 June 2024 for the Doctoral programme in History (*) Auditions for applicants may be organised on 26 June 2024 for the Doctoral programme in Sociology (**).

Doctoral programme in Law

Only one admission session this year for the Doctoral programme in Law (*)

12 March 2024 at 11:59pm (Paris time) for an admission result from mid-April 2024

(*) This year, there will be only ONE admission session for the Law doctoral programme with results communicated from mid-April 2024. Contact: Professor Vincent Forray , Head of doctoral studies in Law

The PhD application is open to students with a Research Master's degree , a postgraduate degree (Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies - DEA) or an equivalent degree (bac +5). There must be a match between the candidate's graduate studies and the discipline of the requested doctoral programme.

For the record, the IEP awards PhDs in Economics , History , Law , Political Science and Sociology . For candidates who do not have the required degrees to be directly admitted into the First thesis year, see admissions into Master’s programmes offered by the School of Research.

In Sociology only, the PhD application can only be reviewed if the thesis supervisor has provided you with a preliminary letter of consent and if a research unit Director has provided you with a preliminary letter of consent. In Economics, Law and Political science , no preliminary letter of consent is requested. In History , the name of the potential research supervisor must be indicated (in the “Personal statement” tab), no preliminary letter of consent is requested.

The candidate must identify a host research laboratory . See the list of Sciences Po's research units and affiliated researchers.

Sciences Po's Graduate School is careful to limit PhD admissions to students whose thesis proposal is likely to succeed. It is therefore important that the candidate have a developed vision of his/her thesis subject and the implications of this choice for his/her research and career plans. The thesis topic might change during the first months of the PhD programme, but it is important that the candidate formulate in the most precise and coherent way possible the key elements to evaluating his/her research project.

Criteria for the Application Evaluation

Several criteria are taken into account for the selection of candidates applying for a doctorate:

The selection of the research problem must be supported by previous work.
A presentation of the chosen methodology to address the given problem.
An evaluation of the feasibility of the planned research from both a scientific and practical perspective. Some topics require access to areas or data that are not easily accessible.
The candidate must also indicate his/her availability to produce a thesis. This is particularly important for employed candidates. (1)(See the section "Financing of studies" below).
The financing of studies (See the section "Financing of studies" below).
Finally, it is important that the candidate be able to explain his/her project in relation to his/her academic and/or professional background . The academic record should preferably be consistent and coherent. In all cases the requisite academic track record must be very good. Moreover, for employed candidates, the professional career must be explained and related to the thesis project: how might the candidate's professional experience tie into the thesis project? Is the thesis part of a professional development plan?

The application must be submitted exclusively online , according to the Admissions calendar.

Documents for your application may be uploaded in French or in English (CAUTION: only png, jpeg, jpg or pdf formats are accepted):

For all doctoral programs:

Two academic recommendations (an optional professional recommendation may be added)
Proof of identity
Thesis project ( PDF or Word format, 5,000 words maximum, i.e. about ten pages, excluding bibliographic references)
Thesis project synopsis (two pages, PDF or Word format)
Copy of last completed academic degree (Master or equivalent)
Master transcripts ( the documents must be attached in the original language, along with an official or informal translation in English or French if necessary. Please add a sworn statement of compliance if the translation is yours)
If obtained, official proof of doctoral funding obtention (see the "Financing of studies" section below).

PLEASE NOTE : no supporting document will be accepted after the evaluation process has begun. Please make sure that your application is complete before submitting it. For candidates currently in the process of obtaining the requested diploma, please attach all the transcripts available at the time of your application. Incomplete applications will not be assessed.

Additional information for the following doctoral programmes

If you have a potential supervisor in mind, please indicate his/her name after your Thesis project title in your online space
Indicate at least one potential Thesis supervisor from Sciences Po’s Center for History in the “Personal statement” tab.
The Thesis project mustn’t exceed 3,000 words excluding bibliography, that shouldn’t exceed 20-25 titles
A grade of 16/20 or equivalent is required for the Master Thesis

Political science

A signed letter from a thesis supervisor authorised to supervise research, indicating that he/she accepts to supervise your thesis ;
A letter from the laboratory Director indicating that he/she accepts to host you in the laboratory (contact the laboratory Director) ;
A grade of 16/20 (if graded) is required for the Master Thesis.

The result of the language test is optional.

Economics: English C2, French
History: French B2
Law: English C2, French
Political Science (Compared politics, International Relations, Political Theory) : French B2
Sociology: French B2

CAUTION: "Required languages" is a mandatory field in our application file; i f you do not have a CECR test result or self-assessment to upload, please select "two years of study in the language" by default.

The €100 application fee is not refundable. We do not offer fee waivers, unless you have a refugee status or are a recipient of a CROUS scholarship. In that case, please contact us to inform us, and attach the official proof of your current situation to your file. Please note: Paying the application fee does not mean that your application form has been submitted. Make sure to submit your application form within the deadline by clicking on the “Submit“ button. If you are unable to pay by credit card, please contact the Admissions Department to obtain our bank details. Your payment will be validated on receipt of a copy of the proof of transfer.

Do not wait until the last day to submit your application. To be assessed, your application must be complete and submitted before the deadline of the programme you are applying to. Deadlines always refer to Paris time (23:59pm). Please note:

As our platform does not automatically invalidate incomplete files, it is your responsibility to submit an application that includes all required documents (including references).
Once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to bring any change, please be very careful.

Applicants may be contacted for an interview as part of the admission procedure.

In accordance with the decree of 25 May 2016 setting the national training framework and the procedures leading to the issuing of the national doctoral degree, the financial preconditions must be met to ensure the orderly conduct of the research work and preparation of the thesis. Doctoral funding is therefore necessary to engage in a doctoral thesis. The doctorate is full-time at Sciences Po (except in the particular case of full-time employees who work on a research subject directly related to their job and have obtained the employer's agreement to have the necessary time to carry out their research) and the funding must meet the following criteria :

a duration of at least three years;
a net monthly amount akin to that of the doctoral contrat in force ;
the obligations attached to the financing must not represent more than one day per week (with the exception of CIFRE, where the obligations must be assessed on a case-by-case basis);
the funding organisation must respect the academic freedom of the doctoral student regarding the content of his research and the composition of the defense jury;
funding must not come from personal resources but from public or private organisations (foundations, associations, companies, public authorities, international organisations, local authorities or others to be validated beforehand by the doctoral school) offering doctoral funding.

For more information on funding opportunities, see the section on Funding .

For all students entering the PhD programme, the annual fee for 2022/2023 is 380 euros, irrespective of tax residency.

In addition to receiving guidance from their thesis supervisor, some PhD students receive assistance from another Professor or Researcher who may be based in a different institution.

The role of this co-supervisor must be formalised through a co-supervised thesis agreement established :

between the PhD student's institution and the co-supervisor if the co-supervisor works at a different institution, or
between the supervisor and co-supervisor if both work at IEP Paris. At Sciences Po the co-supervision is formalised through an exchange of letters.

The PhD student will obtain a PhD from his/her home institution. The co-supervisors commit to following the PhD student's work and to sit on the thesis examining committee. The thesis will explicitly state it was co-supervised and include the names and titles of the co-supervisors on the thesis cover page.

The Administrative Officer of the program must be informed of the co-supervised for validation.

The joint thesis involves guidance from two supervisors : a professor at IEP Paris and a professor from a foreign institution. It allows the issuance of two PhD degree, or of a joint degree where applicable. In France, joint theses are governed by the amended decree of 6 January 2005 on international joint theses (PDF, 45Ko) At Sciences Po, joint theses may only be permitted if:

The student has already been admitted to Sciences Po
The two thesis supervisors approached have conferred and provided their consent in writing.

Joint theses require the establishment of an agreement signed by all the partners (individuals and institutions). The three-year agreement must cover, among other things, the terms of registration, tuition, and the defence. It must be established in the first thesis year: see the section below on administrative procedures .

A joint thesis only makes sense and is only possible if the research project is shared by two institutions. In cases where this condition cannot be met, the student might consider a co-supervision , which also provides guidance from two supervisors, but does not allow the issuance of a dual degree. A joint thesis allows the student to:

have access to greater resources (documentary resources, networks)
pursue international career opportunities.
Have access to, joint thesis scholarships covering the costs of joint theses (student's residence and defence fees)

Disadvantages

Joint theses may be difficult if the thesis supervisors have divergent views on the PhD student's work, or if the institutions' rules are too far apart.

In this case, the student might consider a co-supervision, which also provides guidance from two supervisors, but does not allow the issuance of a dual degree.

Administrative procedures

Even if the student is already enrolled in a foreign university, he/she must also be admitted to Sciences Po's at the thesis level.

Upon admission, the student must submit his/her joint project to the administration (administrative manager).

The agreement must include the following information :

The university of primary enrolment
Terms of tuition payment
Terms of the defence
Terms of sharing the defence fees

Once the agreement is signed, all parties will receive a copy.

If any breach of agreement should arise, management should be contacted.

Tuition fees will be paid in accordance with agreement. However, until the agreement is signed, the student is liable for the tuition at both institutions.

The organisation of the defence is framed by the agreement.

For the presentation of the thesis, certain specific rules must be observed. See "Presentation Norms" on the page "Defence"
For more on submitting a thesis in a foreign language, see the "Defence" page.
Some foreign universities require a pre-defence. Inquire with the relevant academic authorities.

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Exposé schreibt Wie schreibt man ein Exposé für die Dissertation?

Wer eine Doktorarbeit schreiben will, muss ein Exposé vorlegen. Es sollte die wissenschaftliche Eignung des Kandidaten oder der Kandidatin belegen und ist eine wichtige Vorarbeit für eine erfolgreiche Promotion.

Ein junger Mann macht konzentriert Notizen für sein Forschungsexposé

Was ist ein Exposé?
Erste Schritte
Aufbau eines Exposés

Tipps und Beispiele für gute Exposés

Das exposé einer doktorarbeit: was ist das.

Bevor Doktoranden und Doktorandinnen ihre Promotion angehen können, müssen sie ein Exposé für die Dissertation an der Hochschule einreichen. Wer sich für finanzielle Unterstützung der Doktorarbeit, zum Beispiel im Rahmen eines Forschungsstipendiums, bewirbt, braucht auch dafür ein Exposé.

In diesem Dokument legen die angehenden Promovend:innen dar,

welches Thema sie bearbeiten wollen,
welche Ansätze und Quellen sie nutzen wollen und
warum das Thema relevant für die Forschung ist.

Im Grunde gleicht das Exposé einer Dissertation also einem wissenschaftlichen Projektplan, der als wichtiges Element auch einen Zeitplan beinhalten soll. Da das Dokument bereits ganz zu Beginn der Recherche verfasst wird, hat es aber nicht den Anspruch, eine Kurzversion der späteren Dissertation zu sein. Wichtig ist, dass es den oder die Promotionsbetreuenden oder den Promotionsausschuss von der Relevanz des Forschungsprojektes überzeugen kann.

Neben der Zielsetzung des Exposés, einen Doktorvater oder eine Doktormutter beziehungsweise eine Promotionsstelle zu bekommen, erfüllt es jedoch auch für die zukünftigen Doktoranden oder die Doktorandin eine wichtige Funktion: Sie dient auch der eigenen Strukturierung . Da sich angehende Promovierende beim Verfassen des Exposés notwendigerweise intensiv mit dem Thema, der Herangehensweise und einem Zeitplan beschäftigen, wird das Vorgehen auch für sie selbst klarer.

Im Exposé muss die Quellenlage und die wichtigste Literatur zum Thema angegeben werden. Es ist also sinnvoll, bereits in diesem Stadium mit der Recherche zu beginnen.

Wissenschaftliche:r Mitarbeiter:in (m/w/d) an der Fakultät Erziehungswissenschaften

Research assistants (m/f/d) (EG 13) in the fields of engineering/mathematics/geosciences

Wissenschaftliche/r Mitarbeiter/in (m/w/d, TV-L-13) - Digital Transformation and Circular Economy -

Verfassen eines Exposés: Die ersten Schritte

Bei der Erarbeitung des Exposés sollten Promovierende präzise und systematisch vorgehen , um keinen wichtigen Bestandteil zu vergessen. Die Leser:innen sind schließlich Wissenschaftler:innen und fachliche Expert:innen, die nicht nur den forschungsrelevanten Gehalt des Projekts, sondern auch dessen Machbarkeit bewerten.

Dissertationsthema eingrenzen und seine Relevanz darlegen

Der erste und wichtigste Schritt ist, das richtige Dissertationsthema zu finden. Im Exposé muss die leitende Fragestellung und Zielsetzung des Dissertationsvorhabens klar werden. Egal, ob der politische Widerstand in Francos Spanien oder die Synthese von Metalloxidmaterialien beleuchtet wird, die Eckpunkte für die Legitimation eines Themas sind fast immer dieselben: Neben einer thematischen Abgrenzung sind vor allem die Einordnung in die Forschungslandschaft sowie die Aktualität und Relevanz des Themas entscheidend.

Zukünftige Doktorand:innen müssen deshalb schlüssig belegen, wo sie die bestehende Lücke in der Forschung sehen und warum gerade jetzt der richtige Zeitpunkt ist, die von ihnen aufgeworfene Fragestellung umfassend zu untersuchen. Je nach Disziplin kann zusätzlich die Entwicklung von Hypothesen ein wichtiger Bestandteil des Exposés sein.

Wichtig ist, dass das Exposé an den Forschungsschwerpunkten der Hochschule, des Lehrstuhls oder der Graduiertenschule ausgerichtet ist. Nur wenn das Projekt dazu passt, hat die Bewerbung Aussicht auf Erfolg. Auch im Exposé sollte bereits wissenschaftlich gearbeitet werden – Fußnoten und Verweise auf Quellen inklusive.

Mit unserer Job-Mail erhalten Sie wöchentlich passende Stellen sowie interessante Inhalte zu Ihrem Suchprofil.

Forschungsmethode benennen und ihren Einsatz begründen

Im Exposé wird zudem üblicherweise bereits die Methode dargelegt, mit der das Forschungsobjekt untersucht werden soll. Denn: Eine gut gewählte Methode ist die Grundlage für eine erfolgreiche Dissertation. Das Exposé sollte schlüssig begründen, welche Methode oder Theorie verwendet wird und wie die Hypothesen überprüft werden .

Während im empirischen Teil der Arbeit inhaltlich Neues zutage treten muss, muss in Bezug auf die Methode das Rad nicht zwingend neu erfunden werden. Es lohnt sich also, zu recherchieren, wie andere Forschende in den vergangenen Jahren ähnliche Fragestellungen angegangen sind. Es ist durchaus legitim, sich im Forschungsexposé auf die Vorgänger:innen zu beziehen. Damit lässt sich nicht nur viel Zeit sparen – Doktorand:innen können so auch belegen, dass sie wissenschaftliche Prozesse verstehen.

Aufbau und Inhalt des Exposé

Der Aufbau eines Exposés kann sich je nach Fachbereich und Forschungsprojekt stark unterscheiden. Als Beispiel kann aber folgende Gliederung dienen:

Forschungsfrage
Aktueller Forschungsstand
Theoretischer Hintergrund
Zielsetzung
Forschungsdesign und Methodik
Zeit- und Arbeitsplan
Bibliographie

Wie jede wissenschaftliche Arbeit dieser Größenordnung sollte das Exposé mit einem Deckblatt beginnen. Dort stehen Informationen zur Person (Name, Geburtsdatum, Email-Adresse, Anschrift, Telefonnummer) sowie ein vorläufiger Titel des Dissertationsprojekts.

Der inhaltliche Teil beginnt mit den bereits skizzierten Aspekten zu Forschungsfrage, Forschungsstand, Theorie und Methodik. Es versteht sich von selbst, dass eine Gliederung zu diesem Zeitpunkt nur vorläufig ist. Niemand weiß, was die Laborergebnisse aussagen, welche Überraschung im Archiv wartet oder wie ergiebig die Interviews sind, auf denen die Dissertation basiert. Dennoch ist eine gut durchdachte Gliederung mit einem schlüssigen Zeitplan wichtig für die Bewertung des Dissertationsprojekts.

Das Forschungsexposé endet mit einer Bibliographie aller im Text zitierten Quellen. Es bietet sich an, diese Liste durch wichtige Texte aus dem Forschungsbereich zu ergänzen. Im Idealfall haben angehende Doktorand:innen diese Bücher und Aufsätze nicht nur schon identifiziert, sondern bereits mit deren Lektüre begonnen. Denn es kann durchaus sein, dass im Vorstellungsgespräch Fragen zum Stand der Forschung kommen.

Der Zeitplan muss angemessen und realistisch sein

Wer sich an einer Graduiertenschule bewirbt , sollte berücksichtigen, dass dort oft der Doktortitel innerhalb von drei bis vier Jahren erreicht werden soll. Sollte schon im Exposé deutlich werden, dass ein solcher Zeitplan utopisch ist, wird die Bewerbung mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit abgelehnt.

Auch an anderen Hochschulen sollte bei einer Vollzeitpromotion die Dauer auf drei Jahre ausgerichtet sein – das empfehlen auch der Wissenschaftsrat und die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Wer eine nebenberufliche Promotion und deshalb einen längeren Zeitraum anstrebt, sollte das transparent und explizit darstellen. Ein Konzept mit konkreten Arbeitsschritten zur Beantwortung der Fragestellung oder zur Überprüfung der Hypothesen hilft dabei, einen realistischen Zeitplan zu entwerfen.

Einer der wichtigsten Ratschläge für das Erstellen eines Forschungsexposés ist, sich so viel Zeit wie möglich dafür zu nehmen – es ist schließlich nicht weniger als die Grundlage der Dissertation.

Auch auf Sprache und Stil sollte großer Wert gelegt werden. Ganz grundlegend gilt: Das Exposé sollte in derselben Sprache wie die spätere Doktorarbeit verfasst werden. Weil das Foschungsexposé für die Prüfenden auch den Beweis erbringen soll, dass der angehende Doktorand oder die angehende Doktorandin zu wissenschaftlichem Arbeiten in der Lage ist, sollte das Dokument objektiv, präzise und verständlich formuliert werden. Hier finden Sie mehr Tipps für gutes wissenschaftliches Schreiben .

Außerdem sind Angaben aus der Theorie oder dem Forschungsstand sorgfältig mit Quellenangaben zu versehen. Hier sollten sich Promotionskandidat:innen auch an den Konventionen ihres Faches orientieren, vor allem, was sprachliche Besonderheiten, Terminologien sowie formale Richtlinien betrifft. Im Zweifel kann auch zu diesem Thema Rücksprache mit der Betreuungsperson, dem:der Vorsitzenden des Promotionsausschusses oder der Fakultätsleitung gehalten werden. In allen Fachdisziplinen sind jedoch klare und eindeutige Satzgefüge wichtig. Zudem sollten Promovierende auf eine gendergerechte Sprache achten.

Beispiele aus der Praxis

Um ein Gefühl dafür zu bekommen, wie ein Exposé aussehen sollte, ist es am besten, sich Beispiele wie dieses Exposé zum ethischen Leser auf Researchgate . Die Rechtswissenschaftliche Fakultät der Universität Freiburg hat eine Vorlage ins Netz gestellt , die Promovierenden ihres Fachbereichs bei der Erstellung des Forschungsexposés helfen kann.

Es lohnt sich auch, andere Promovierende anzusprechen oder im eigenen Fachbereich um Einsicht in bisher eingereichte Forschungsexposés zu bitten. Auch in Doktorandennetzwerken können Ansprechpartner:innen bereit sein, Beispiele von Exposés zur Verfügung zu stellen oder Tipps zu geben.

Weitere Ratgeber zum Thema Promotion

Buecher Symbolbild Promotionsstipendium Doktorandenstipendium

Die Doktorarbeit kann eine zähe Angelegenheit werden. Um sich voll und ganz auf die Promotion konzentrieren zu können, bieten verschiedene Organisationen Promotionsstipendien an. Mit welcher Unterstützung Doktoranden rechnen und wo sie sich bewerben können, lesen Sie hier.

Eine schwangere Doktorandin begutachtet eine Probe

Mit Kind oder schwanger zu promovieren ist eine besondere Herausforderung. Sie kann aber gelingen. Was ist zu beachten, wo gibt es finanzielle und beratende Unterstützung, und was ist mit Mutterschutz und Elternzeit?

Ein Doktortitel ist etwas Besonderes. Oder? Wie viele Deutsche sind eigentlich promoviert? In welchen Fachbereichen, und wie sieht die Geschlechterverteilung aus?

Gartenstuehle Symbolbild Vorstellungsgespraech wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter

Sie wurden zu einem Vorstellungsgespräch als wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter oder wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin an einer Hochschule oder Forschungseinrichtung eingeladen? Wir erklären Ihnen, worauf es ankommt.

COMMENTS

PDF Recommendations for Writing an Exposé
Recommendations for Writing an Exposé. Explain your project in general terms (not more than 15 lines). 3. State of research. Short and precise explanation of the state of research. It must refer directly to your project, and you must name the most important works by other scientists in your field of research.
PDF The Structure of an Exposé
The Structure of an Exposé Dear students, The following guide is intended to give you an impression of the structure and the most important components of an exposé for the application for a thesis. Please compose your exposé according to this guide and check that it contains all the necessary points for understanding
PDF How to Write an Expose
6. Preliminary structure of your term paper . 7. References/bibliography . Author: Hannah Grohe Created Date: 4/21/2017 3:38:58 PM ...
PDF Instructions for Preparing an Exposé
Outline. In this section, you outline a draft of your structure in descriptive or table form. This facilitates further work and gives you a basic framework for the further procedure, which you can refine and modify step by step. When planning your work, it may be useful to specify the expected scope of the individual sections in page numbers.
PDF How to Write an Expose
The Structure of the Exposé 1. Statement of the problem 2. State of the art 3. Research question 4. Methodology 5. Rough outline/time table 6. References 1. Statement of the problem When conceptualizing the exposé for a master's thesis, the statement of the problem and the research question function like two ends of a funnel.
PDF Notes on writing an exposé
structure (for doctoral theses, different guidelines apply depending on the institution): Abstract Very abbreviated, overview-like presentation of the research need, research question, method, expected result and benefit. Introduction and research question Brief outline of the topic with a quick focus on the subject to be investigated.
Writing an exposé
In the field of audio communication, exposés for theses should have a length of 3-4 pages of text (Arial 11 point single-spaced), for dissertations a length of 6-8 pages is common, while applications for grants and project proposals also require a length of 10-15 pages. The synopsis should have the following structure:
Writing an exposé
Exposés in more developed versions are usually between 5 and 20 pages long. They mark the end of an in-depth orientation and preparation phase and are therefore more extensive. Exposés written for the acquisition of scholarships and research funding tend to be oriented towards the upper page limit. Language.
PDF Guidelines for Writing a Master T hesis Exposé
Structure of the main text of the exposé . 1. Introduction (1 page) An introduction is both there to give the reader a first good impression of your approach, as well as of how your work relates to broader societal and academic discussions, problems or concerns. So, best start by identifying: what makes your work interesting? How does it tie
How to Write a Great PhD Research Proposal
You'll need to write a research proposal if you're submitting your own project plan as part of a PhD application. A good PhD proposal outlines the scope and significance of your topic and explains how you plan to research it. It's helpful to think about the proposal like this: if the rest of your application explains your ability to do a PhD ...
Know How to Structure Your PhD Thesis
As you put together your PhD thesis, it's easy to get a little overwhelmed. Here are some tips that might keep you on track. Don't try to write your PhD as a first-draft. Every great masterwork has typically been edited, and edited, and…edited. Work with your thesis supervisor to plan the structure and format of your PhD thesis.
Writing an Exposé
Writing an Exposé. Your thesis begins by writing a detailed project proposal. The more detailed and thorough your proposal, the better your final thesis. The structure of the proposal is very similar to that of your final thesis or a scientific paper: Abstract (~ 200 word summary) Research challenge or question. Literature review.
How to nail your PhD proposal and get accepted
When writing your PhD proposal you need to show that your PhD is worth it, achievable, and that you have the ability to do it at your chosen university. With all of that in mind, let's take a closer look at each section of a standard PhD research proposal and the overall structure. 1. Front matter.
How to Write an Expository Essay
An expository essay should take an objective approach: It isn't about your personal opinions or experiences. Instead, your goal is to provide an informative and balanced explanation of your topic. Avoid using the first or second person ("I" or "you"). The structure of your expository essay will vary according to the scope of your ...
Structuring your thesis
Structuring your thesis. The best structure for your HDR thesis will depend on your discipline and the research you aim to communicate. Before you begin writing your thesis, make sure you've read our advice on thesis preparation for information on the requirements you'll need to meet. Once you've done this, you can begin to think about how to ...
How to Give a Presentation as A PhD Student
You know what you're going to say, make sure you also practice how you're going to say it. Make a conscious effort to speak a little (emphasis on the little!) slower than you normally would. Don't forget to breathe and be happy - this is a chance to show off the great work that you've been doing. Speak clearly and not too quietly and ...
Writing a social sciences PhD proposal
A PhD proposal does not need to be long. In fact, I encourage applicants to be as concise as they can - Research Council application forms generally allow a couple of sides, 10 pt font minimum, so I would stick to that. For a social science PhD, proposals will contain a number of common elements:
PDF Academic writing : guidelines for preparing a seminar paper with examples
Structure of seminar paper: Key Aspects The paper must have an explicit structure: • The text is divided into sections and subsections which follow in a logical order. • Adequate depth: for a seminar paper usually two main sections of the main body are sufficient. • If a section has subsections, it must have at least two of them.
PhD Dissertation Outline: Structure and Format
Chapter 4: Results - The research findings are reported in this section and presented in relation to the research question. Relevant visuals such as tables and figures are typically included here to communicate the findings effectively. Chapter 5: Discussion - In a five-chapter format, this is the final chapter in a PhD dissertation format.
Expose TUM DocGS Template
Structure of the exposé \begin{enumerate} \item Introduction / Topic of the dissertation project \item Question \item Objective \item Research status (State of science and technology) \item Procedure and method (own attempts) \item Work and schedule \item Bibliography \item Appendix (if applicable) \end{enumerate} This structure is only ...
How Do You Write A Phd Exposed: Secrets To Success
An expose PhD, also known as a dissertation proposal (referred to as "Exposé" in German-speaking academia), is a concise document designed to introduce the subject matter of your doctoral research to a broader audience. It functions as a comprehensive blueprint, guiding your research project by outlining its structure, content, and timeline.
Admission to a PhD
In Sociology only, the PhD application can only be reviewed if the thesis supervisor has provided you with a preliminary letter of consent and if a research unit Director has provided you with a preliminary letter of consent. In Economics, Law and Political science, no preliminary letter of consent is requested. In History, the name of the potential research supervisor must be indicated (in ...
Exposé schreiben für die Dissertation
Das Exposé einer Doktorarbeit: Was ist das? Bevor Doktoranden und Doktorandinnen ihre Promotion angehen können, müssen sie ein Exposé für die Dissertation an der Hochschule einreichen. Wer sich für finanzielle Unterstützung der Doktorarbeit, zum Beispiel im Rahmen eines Forschungsstipendiums, bewirbt, braucht auch dafür ein Exposé.