Writing the Research Proposal and EOI for an RTP Application
Your proposal is the clearest evidence of research potential in your file. It doesn’t need to be final, but it does need a real question, a workable method and a reason to do it at this university.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
What universities say they want
Monash asks all applicants to identify their research area and submit a proposal that sets out the research question, methodology and how it relates to work being done at Monash. It also notes that faculties may give their own guidance and that the proposal can change once you start working with your supervisor (Monash: applying with us).
UQ’s supervisor guidance lists what a proposal should cover: the research questions, the impact on the field, an analysis of existing research, your methods, the relevant experience of your supervisor, and a detailed bibliography (UQ: how to choose a supervisor).
Melbourne says that, depending on the course, you may need a research proposal, a folio of creative work or a writing sample (Melbourne international applications).
Universities and faculties set their own word or page limits. Look for a faculty guide before drafting, and follow it exactly. Going over the limit looks careless to a ranking panel.
A structure that works
Use this as a starting skeleton, then fit it to your faculty’s template. Suggested proportions are ours, not official.
| Section | What goes in | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Title and question | A specific title and one to three research questions you could actually answer. | 5% |
| Background and gap | What is known, what isn’t, and why the gap matters. Cite recent work, including the group’s. | 25% |
| Aims and objectives | Concrete objectives that map to chapters or papers. | 10% |
| Method | Data, samples, experiments or archives; analysis; ethics; feasibility. | 30% |
| Significance | What changes in the field, in policy or in practice if you succeed. | 10% |
| Timeline | A plan that fits the stipend period: 3.5 years at most big universities. | 10% |
| Fit and references | Why this supervisor and university; key references. | 10% |
Get the question right
The most common weakness is describing a topic rather than a question. “Water security in South Asia” is a topic. “Did groundwater pricing reforms in two Indian states between 2015 and 2022 change irrigation choices among smallholders?” is a question a panel can judge for feasibility.
Narrow beats ambitious. A panel would rather see a doable project you can extend than a grand plan that cannot be finished in the stipend period.
Show fit with the university
UTS scores applicants partly on the relevance of the proposed research to the University’s research strengths (UTS 2026 RTP conditions). Even where that isn’t written down, fit shapes supervisor support. Mention the group’s facilities, datasets or partners that make your project possible there and not elsewhere.
EOI versus full proposal
An EOI is not a proposal. At UQ, the EOI asks for supervisor, scholarship, qualifications, referees, English evidence, CV and transcripts (UQ EOI page). Its job is to make the supervisor want a conversation. Keep any research summary you include to a tight paragraph or two, then build the full proposal with the supervisor’s input before the final application.
Before you submit
- The question appears in the first paragraph and again in the conclusion, worded the same way.
- Every method has a data source you can realistically access as an international student.
- Ethics approval or fieldwork permits are acknowledged where relevant.
- The timeline fits the stipend period, not the four-year tuition period.
- Your proposed supervisor has read a draft.
- No unexplained jargon: ranking panels often include people outside your sub-field.