Home Page > Research > Research Degrees and Support > Outline of Intended Research (OIR)

An important part of the application process is the preparation of an Outline of Intended Research (OIR).

Whenever possible, this should be done with advice from a potential supervisor or program coordinator.

The OIR should be a document of about 2000 words. It is not the same as a research proposal, which aims to provide very specific details about the intended research.  A full research proposal, including design, methodology and ethical concerns, will be developed through a workshop program provided in the first year.

The OIR should provide information in three principal areas:

• background to the intended area of research

This should comprise at least half of the OIR and should demonstrate through an overview of relevant literature a sound knowledge of past and recent work in the domain of interest;

• a case for its significance and importance

This section should make a case for why the intended research is of importance. Why does it matter? To whom? What use will it be?

• the connection to a research program in the Faculty

This section should explain how the intended research fits with a research program in the Faculty. Show how the proposed research connects with current Faculty research by consulting the appropriate webpages, program directors or research degree coordinator