Application

The MIS Research Proposal: Writing 1,000 Words for MOHE

Research Master’s and PhD applicants must submit a proposal of at least 1,000 words, and it is one of only three selection criteria. Here is what the guidelines ask for and a structure built around those rules.

ScholarshipUnion Editorial 3 min read Updated Oct 6, 2026

What the guidelines actually require

The MIS 2026 guidelines mention the proposal in three places. Together they tell you what to write:

Where	What it says
Eligibility criterion 5	A written research proposal of at least 1,000 words, relevant to your intended field of study.
Documents list	Required for Master’s by research and PhD applicants only.
Selection criterion 2	The quality of the proposal and its potential contribution towards the advancement of technology and human well-being, with a preference for Malaysia-related research topics.
Terms and conditions 7	Research must be carried out in Malaysia.

The guidelines give no maximum length, no template and no list of required headings. The 1,000 words are a minimum, not a target. Most solid proposals need a bit more space to set out their methods clearly.

Make the Malaysia link real

MOHE says it prefers Malaysia-related research topics. The terms also require you to do your research in Malaysia. So the strongest proposals do more than mention Malaysia: they depend on being there. Ways to build that link honestly:

Study a Malaysian case, dataset, ecosystem, industry or community directly, rather than a generic “developing country” setting.
Compare Malaysia with your home country, where the comparison helps answer the question.
Use equipment, field sites, archives or partners at your chosen university and say exactly which ones.
Explain what Malaysia gains from the results: a policy, a technique, data or training.

Do not force it

A pasted-in sentence such as “this will also benefit Malaysia” does not satisfy a preference for Malaysia-related topics. If your topic has no real Malaysian dimension, say clearly where the work will be done and why your listed university is the right place for it.

A structure that maps to the criteria

This outline is our suggestion, not an official MOHE template. Use your university’s own format if it has one.

1
about 100 words
Working title and summary
The question, the setting in Malaysia, the method and the expected contribution, all in one paragraph.
2
about 200 words
Background and problem
What is known, what is missing, and why it matters for technology or human well-being. Use a few key references, not a literature dump.
3
about 100 words
Aims and research questions
Two to four precise, answerable questions. Avoid “to explore” with nothing measurable behind it.
4
about 300 words
Methods and data
Design, sample or materials, data collection in Malaysia, analysis and ethics approvals. This is where weak proposals fall apart.
5
about 150 words
Contribution
Address criterion 2 directly: who benefits, how, and why the work belongs in Malaysia.
6
about 150 words
Timeline and fit
A realistic plan by semester or year. Name the supervisor or research group you hope to join, and the facilities you need.

That adds up to about 1,000 words before references. Expand the methods section first if you have room.

English is judged too

Selection criterion 3 is “excellent communication, writing and reading skills in English”. The proposal is the longest piece of your own writing in the file, so it is the best evidence of that skill. Write short, clear sentences. Define technical terms the first time you use them. Have someone in your field read it for clarity, but the ideas and wording must be yours.

Common weaknesses

Under 1,000 words. That breaks an eligibility rule outright, before quality is even considered.
A topic that does not match your chosen programme or your earlier degree. The guidelines want the proposal to be “relevant to the intended field of studies”.
Fieldwork planned outside Malaysia with no explanation. Research must be carried out in Malaysia.
No method. Pages of background followed by one line saying “qualitative and quantitative methods will be used”.
Copied or ghost-written text. The proposal is also your main evidence for criterion 3 (English), and it has to stand up when you discuss it at interview.

Coursework Master’s applicants

If you are applying for a coursework Master’s, you do not submit a proposal. That leaves criteria 1 and 3: your academic and co-curricular record, and your English. Put that effort into your CV, your referees and the interview instead. See How to Apply and Interview.

Source: MIS 2026 guidelines, eligibility criterion 5, documents list item vii, selection criterion 2 and term 7.