THESIS RESEARCH PROPOSAL TEMPLATE

Student Name: Student ID:

Program: Department:

Date of Proposal Submission: Expected Graduation Semester:

Check one: Thesis Option: Project Option:

Committee Members:

Member Name Role Affiliation* Graduate Faculty member**

(supervisor/
co-supervisor/member)
Yes No

*in case the member is from outside QU, please provide updated CV
**Please mention if the member has an active Graduate Faculty membership

Proposed Research Title: (Not to exceed 200 characters, Arial Bold 14 font size, Double space)

1. STATE OF THE PROBLEM: (100 words, Time new roman, 12 font size, 1.5 spaces)

2. LITERATURE REVIEW: (The literature review should explain how your research topic is related
to significant literature and current trends in your field. What has been written about this topic
before? What have you read and by whom? What are the existing relevant debates, theories and
findings? What are the key ideas, theories, concepts, and findings in the current literature on that
topic, and those specific problems? The literature review should demonstrate that you are aware
of relevant research in your field of study).

3. THEORETICAL CONCERNS / SITUATING THE STUDY IN THE FIELD: (Here, you should
position your study in relation to the reviewed literature. Also, here you should state your basic
ideas about the topic. What has been overlooked in the existing studies and theories in relation to
the topic and the research problem of interest to you? Are there any new factors, ideas, problems,
concepts, etc. that you think should be considered and added to the debate?)

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Thesis Research Proposal Template
 4. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: (clear applicable and achievable objectives)

5. RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND/OR WORKING HYPOTHESIS: (clear applicable and

achievable)

6. RESEARCH METHODS: (around 2-5 pages, Time new roman, 12 font size, 1.5 spaces)

7. TENTATIVE THESIS CHAPTER OUTLINE (What is the planned outline of your thesis? Please
explain what sections your thesis will have, and what will be addressed in those sections.)

8. RESEARCH PLAN / TIMETABLE (The research plan / timetable is your plan of action. It can
be formatted as a list or a table of concrete tasks / activities and deadlines. It should clearly state
when will you start and complete key aspects of your thesis research such as literature review,
fieldwork, drafting each chapter (shown separately in your plan), attending workshops or
conferences, consultations, producing preliminary versions of the thesis, and submitting the final
thesis paper).

9. BIBLIOGRAPHY (list in alphabetical order the literature and sources you have used for
producing this thesis proposal. This is not going to be a comprehensive list that you will use for
writing your actual thesis. Use APA or Chicago Manual).

10. Similarity Report Please make sure to attach similarity report for the whole proposal.

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Thesis Research Proposal Template
 Approval List

Name: Signature Date

1. Student:
2. Thesis Main supervisor:
3. Thesis Co-supervisor (if applicable):
4. Supervisory Committee
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
5. Departmental recommendation (signed by
Department Head/Program Coordinator)

6. Decision of CAS Graduate Committee

Decision Comments Deadline for

re-submission***

Approved without modifications

Approved with modifications

Not approved.

*** The resubmission date of Items (6: B and 6: C) to be determined by CAS Graduate Committee.

Signature of Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies:

Date:

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Thesis Research Proposal Template