Postgraduate Prospectus

Applying to Essex | www.essex.ac.uk/pgapply
We may ask for originals if you are offered
a place and some of our departments,
schools or centres will require additional
items to support your application. Full
details, and where to send information,
is available alongside our online
application form.
Writing your research
proposal
Your research proposal should set out what
you plan to accomplish, why this matters
and how you are going to achieve this. It
needs to demonstrate that you have, or
are able to develop, the competencies
and skills to complete your proposed
project within the time and resources
available. The quality of your writing is
important and a good research proposal
may be rejected if it is poorly expressed
or badly presented. You should write in
a clear and accessible way. If you are
applying for funding, you should ensure
that your proposal fulfils the requirements
of your preferred funding body.
Your research proposal should be
800-1,000 words and should include:
n working title and key words;
n summary of the aims and objectives
of your research;
n outline of the ways you will meet these
aims and objectives, referring to
research methods and specific
resources you will use;
n evidence of your awareness of relevant
literature and theoretical approaches;
and
n an overview of the expected outcomes
and the original contribution your
research will make to existing bodies
of knowledge.
Is there a deadline for
applying?
There is no deadline for applications
but it can be difficult to obtain copies of
transcripts, certificates and references at
short notice. We therefore advise that you
apply by 1 July. You should also take into
account any deadlines for applications
for funding, such as scholarships.
Keeping track of your
application
We aim to respond to applications for
taught courses within three weeks, and
to applications for research degrees within
six weeks, once we have received all the
relevant documents from you and your
referees. When we acknowledge your
application, you will be issued with an
application number, which is your unique
reference number. You can use this to
create your account on our applicant web
pages myEssex at: www.essex.ac.uk/apply.
If we offer you a place, we will send you
our decision electronically. You will be able
to view and download your offer letter from
myEssex within 24 hours of a decision
being made. We will send you an e-mail
with instructions on this. You should use
myEssex to accept your place and to keep
us informed of any changes to your contact
details by updating them online.
26 | Postgraduate Prospectus 2012