Writing your economics research proposal

If you are applying to the Economics postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit a research proposal with your application.

The research proposal is a key part of the assessment of your application. Your submission should be no more than 1,500 words in total (including references). Please provide a word count with your submission. If over length, the submission will be returned to you.

While you are encouraged to discuss your ideas with a prospective supervisor, the content of your proposal must be your own original work, written in your own words.

The nature of your proposal will depend on when you apply.

Year 1

The role of the proposal

For entry into Year 1 of the programme, the proposal is used to:

  • identify your broad areas of interest;
  • see if you have consulted relevant literature beyond the standard textbooks;
  • obtain an impression of your ability to think critically;
  • assess what motivates you to pursue a research degree in economics.

Proposal guidelines

For entry into Year 1 of the programme, the research proposal is expected to include the following:

  • The research area with which you would expect to be affiliated;
  • The member(s) of staff you would like to provide supervision (this information is also requested in the online application form under ‘Proposed research supervisor’); You are strongly encouraged to contact a preferred supervisor in advance of submitting an application to get their input into developing your research proposal.
  • A description of the area in which you expect your eventual research to be. This should describe possible research questions you might address, and describe why you find them interesting and relevant. In so doing, you should relate the possible research questions to the extant literature in this area of economics;
  • You should identify and address any potential ethical considerations in relation to your proposed research. Please discuss your research with your proposed supervisor to see how best to progress your ideas in line with University of Manchester ethics guidance, and ensure that your proposed supervisor is happy for you to proceed with your application;
  • A bibliography of any journal articles and books to which you have referred;
  • No more than 1500 words.

Year 2

The role of the proposal

If you are seeking entry into Year 2 you are expected to have more developed research ideas. Your proposal will be used to assess:

  • the quality and originality of your ideas;
  • whether you are able to think critically;
  • if you have a grasp of the relevant literature.

It will also give us:

  • important information about the perspectives you intend to take in your research area;
  • how you fit into the Economic department’s research profile;
  • an idea how to allocate a supervisory team.

Proposal guidelines

For entry into Year 2 of the programme, the research proposal is expected to include the following:

  • The research area with which you would expect to be affiliated;
  • The member(s) of staff you would like to provide supervision (this information is also requested in the online application form under ‘Proposed research supervisor’); You are strongly encouraged to contact a preferred supervisor prior to submitting your application to get their input into your research proposal.
  • A detailed description of the area in which you expect your eventual research to be. This should describe the specific research questions you plan to address, the research methods you expect to use, and the expected data source for any empirical work planned.

The proposal should also:

  • Describe why you find these research questions interesting and relevant, and relate the specific research questions to the extant literature in this area of economics;
  • You should identify and address any potential ethical considerations in relation to your proposed research. Please discuss your research with your proposed supervisor to see how best to progress your ideas in line with University of Manchester ethics guidance, and ensure that your proposed supervisor is happy for you to proceed with your application.
  • A bibliography of any journal articles and books to which you have referred;
  • Around 1500 words. In exceptional cases proposals significantly exceeding the word limit will be accepted.

Plagiarism and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Your research proposal should reflect your individual academic thinking. While generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT and similar) may seem useful, applicants are strongly advised not to rely on AI-generated content. Proposals that show limited independent thought or depend heavily on descriptive, AI-produced text are unlikely to be successful.

If AI tools are used (e.g. for background research or idea development), they must be used sparingly, and any content drawn from them must be:

  • Critically evaluated
  • Clearly acknowledged and cited according to academic referencing standards

Presenting AI-generated content as your own without appropriate attribution is considered plagiarism and will be treated as academic misconduct.

The University uses plagiarism detection tools as part of its assessment process. Your final proposal should reflect your own planning, reasoning, and academic voice. While it is natural for research proposals to build on prior studies or existing literature, it is essential that the work you submit is entirely your own and properly referenced.

Allocation of supervisors

For Year 1 entrants, the proposal is used to allocate a preliminary supervisor to act as mentor during the first year of study. This person will normally also act as a supervisor and may also become your MSc-dissertation supervisor. The exact composition of your supervisory team will be decided by the end of Year 1.

You will not be forced to follow the proposal exactly once you have started to study. It is normal for students to refine their original proposal over time.

With this in mind, the composition of your supervisory team may also change. Please note that members of staff are only expected to provide supervision in areas that are of interest to them and admittance to the programme does not imply the provision of supervision on any topic devised by the student.

Further information

Contact us

If you need help and advice about your application, contact the Postgraduate Admissions Team.

Admissions contacts

University guidelines

You may also find it useful to read the advice and guidance on the University website about writing a proposal for your research degree application.

Visit the University website