Research plan

Writing a research plan can provide a strong start to your project. A research plan clearly formulates the aim of your research, how you will set up the study, and in what way the outcomes will be documented. This can help bring clarity to what you want to do and when, and if you prepare it together with your supervisor, it ensures that all parties have the same expectations and helps support the successful completion of your project. For PhD candidates, an approved research plan is often required in order to have their contract extended after the first 12 to 18 months.

There are various resources that offer guidance on writing a research plan. For example, Frank Pajares’ “Elements of a Proposal” outlines the different components of a research plan.

Often, a research plan/proposal is also necessary if you wish to pursue a career in academia after your PhD. The article “Writing a Research Plan” by Jim Austin, editor of Science Careers, provides an engaging perspective on how to convince reviewers to approve your project. The article “On the Art of Writing Proposals” by Adam Przeworski and Frank Salomon offers tips and tricks for writing successful proposals in the social sciences.

Each of these articles provides advice in its own way on how to write a successful research plan. It is important to extract the elements that apply most to your situation. Most importantly, make sure you have a research plan in place before you actually begin carrying out the research. Think carefully in advance about the steps you intend to follow. These resources can serve as useful guides. Equally important—if not more so—is to have thorough discussions with your supervisor(s) and colleagues about your research proposal.

Formal Basis – Research Plan

In the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) for Dutch Universities, Article 6.9 – Training and Supervision Plan for PhD Candidates, the following has been agreed:

• After consultation with the PhD candidate, the supervisor (or promotor) must establish a training and supervision plan. This plan must be provided to the PhD candidate within 3 months of the start of employment.
• The training and supervision plan must be further specified towards the end of the first year for the remainder of the appointment and updated annually if necessary.
• The training and supervision plan must at minimum specify:
  • Which knowledge and skills must be acquired, and how this will be achieved.
  • Who will act as the PhD candidate’s supervisor. If the daily supervisor is not the promotor, the promotor must have at least one formal discussion per year with the PhD candidate about the doctoral research.
  • The number of hours per month of personal supervision the PhD candidate is entitled to from the designated supervisor.

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