dissertation proposal template word

Mission & Vision
Academic Calendar
Doctoral Exam Schedule
Graduate Programs
Financial Support
Priority Deadlines
Catalog and Handbook
New Graduate Student Orientation
Signature Events
Degree Planning
Embedded Counseling
International Students
Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD)
Graduate Peer Mentoring
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
Graduate Assistantships Overview
Graduate Student Support Plan
Tuition, Fees and Other Resources
Fellowships and Grants
Goodnight Doctoral Fellowship
University Fellowships Office
Professional Development
Getting Started
Career Readiness Program for Non-Academic Careers
Communication Skills Program
Leadership Program
Teaching Programs
Wellness Program
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)
Faculty & Staff
Forms and Data
GSC Resources
ABGS Resources
Resources for Student Funding
Curriculum Development
Program Assessment
Recruiting Resources
Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP)

ETD Templates

This page includes templates for both Microsoft Word and LaTeX. Scroll down to find the LaTeX templates and learning resources.

Microsoft Word templates

Before using these templates, read all of the following instructions.

It would be best for you to start out writing your thesis or dissertation in a template. If you copy and paste a previously written thesis or dissertation into a template, incorrect formatting settings may also be copied into the document. If you do need to insert existing work into the template, it’s best to separately insert individual sections of body text. When doing so, make sure to maintain the standard headers and set formatting.

These templates are provided to get you started. These files are not guaranteed to be perfect for everyone as the files require customization. Even if you use a template, you are required to fix anything that does not meet the requirements covered in the ETD Guide. Therefore, you must consult the ETD Guide prior to electronically submitting the file to the Graduate School for review.

Styles These templates include three pre-programmed Styles–Body 1, Heading 1, and Subtitle–which are already applied to the existing headers and body text. The “Styles” box appears on the right-hand side of the “Home” tab. To apply these styles to new text, you have two options:

Click the desired style and then type in that style.
Highlight existing text and apply the desired style by clicking on its Style square.

ETD guidelines do allow some flexibility in formatting. You can alter these styles in the following ways:

Change Subtitle style to be italicized instead of bold.
Change chapter headers to be larger and move them to a different location on the page.

To alter a Style, you can do one of the following:

Highlight your altered text, right click on the style square, and select the first option, “Update Style to Match Selection.”
Right click on the style square and select “Modify.”

The Heading 1 style maintains the bold setting, but you must keep all main headers ALL CAPS. Styles do not maintain this automatically. However, you can alter the font of headers to match the font you’ve chosen for your entire text (font must be consistent throughout the document).

Table of Contents

There are different ways to create a Table of Contents page. The templates use Tabs, found in the “Paragraph” settings, which will be explained below. Alternatively, you can insert a Table of Contents from the References tab, as long as its formatting and appearance match that of the Table of Contents in the ETD Guide . In the templates, the tabs are set so that you simply need to type out a Table of Contents entry, hit “Tab” on your keyboard, and type the appropriate page number. Hitting “Tab” will create a dotted leader line that will change length as you type.

An ETD requirement is that your Table of Contents has a spacing hierarchy that differentiates main sections from subsections. This requires indenting the entry text for subsections. Since the templates already have altered Tab rules for the dotted lines, you must use the Ruler bar at the top of the page to make simple indentations. If you do not see the Ruler, go to the “View” tab and check the “Ruler” box.

In addition to the dotted line Tab settings, the templates already have a tab rule set for .5 inches from the left margin (it appears as a little black notch on the ruler bar). This allows you to indent lines with the Tab key while also maintaining the rules for dotted lines. However, if you need to indent lines further than this, to create another level of hierarchy, you must add a new Tab by clicking the ruler bar on the desired Tab location, creating a new notch on the ruler.

MS Word Template 1 (Page numbers at the top of the page) – or – MS Word Template 2 (Page numbers at the bottom of the page)

LaTeX templates

These LaTeX templates were created and supplied by fellow graduate students and faculty. Unfortunately, NCSU does not support LaTeX—meaning the NCSU Helpdesk and the Graduate School (ETD Reviewer and Webmaster) are not able to provide technical support for these files. You are encouraged to utilize your fellow classmates, your faculty, and the internet for assistance.

These templates are provided to get you started. These files are not guaranteed to be perfect for everyone as the files require customization. You are required to fix anything that does not meet the requirements set forth in the ETD Guide even if you used one of the templates. Therefore, you must use the Appendix A Checklist in the ETD Guide prior to electronically submitting the file to the Graduate School for the thesis review.

Thesis Class and Template Files:

A graduate student recently helped us update our LaTeX template to better reflect the latest ETD Guidelines. These files are linked below. If you find have issues or find errors in the updated template files, please let me know ([email protected]).

Updated Template files

NOTE: the most common issue students have with their LaTeX ETD file is the right-hand margin; sometimes tables, figures, or lines of text extend too far right, and violate the required 1-inch margin. Prior to submitting, please ensure that all of your content fits within the main body area of the document.

There are some websites that may be helpful. A few are listed here. Do a search in your favorite search engine to discover more.

* LaTeX information Dr. Bloomfield’s Website (For information purposes only. Assistance is not offered). * LaTeX information LaTeX project site * LaTeX information Trinity College * LaTeX information University of Cambridge Department of Engineering * LaTeX information Emory University

Find websites, locations and people

🚀 Work With Us

Private Coaching

Language Editing

Qualitative Coding

✨ Free Resources

Templates & Tools

Short Courses

Articles & Videos

Research Proposal Example/Sample

Full Walkthrough + Free Proposal Template

In this video, we walk you through two successful (approved) research proposals , one for a Master’s-level project, and one for a PhD-level dissertation. We also start off by unpacking our free research proposal template and discussing the four core sections of a research proposal, so that you have a clear understanding of the basics before diving into the actual proposals.

Research proposal example/sample – Master’s-level (PDF/Word)
Research proposal example/sample – PhD-level (PDF/Word)
Proposal template (Fully editable)

If you’re working on a research proposal for a dissertation or thesis, you may also find the following useful:

Research Proposal Bootcamp : Learn how to write a research proposal as efficiently and effectively as possible
1:1 Proposal Coaching : Get hands-on help with your research proposal

⚡ GET THE FREE TEMPLATE ⚡

Fast-track your research with our award-winning Proposal Template .

Download Now 📂

Research Proposal Example: Frequently Asked Questions

Are the sample proposals real.

Yes. The proposals are real and were approved by the respective universities.

Can I copy one of these proposals for my own research?

As we discuss in the video, every research proposal will be slightly different, depending on the university’s unique requirements, as well as the nature of the research itself. Therefore, you’ll need to tailor your research proposal to suit your specific context.

You can learn more about the basics of writing a research proposal here .

How do I get the research proposal template?

You can access our free proposal template here .

Is the proposal template really free?

Yes. There is no cost for the proposal template and you are free to use it as a foundation for your research proposal.

Where can I learn more about proposal writing?

For self-directed learners, our Research Proposal Bootcamp is a great starting point.

For students that want hands-on guidance, our private coaching service is recommended.

⚡ THE ULTIMATE PROPOSAL CHECKLIST ⚡

Give your markers EXACTLY what they want with our FREE checklist.

Download For Free 📄

Ace Your Research Proposal

How To Choose A Tutor For Your Dissertation

Hiring the right tutor for your dissertation or thesis can make the difference between passing and failing. Here’s what you need to consider.

5 Signs You Need A Dissertation Helper

Discover the 5 signs that suggest you need a dissertation helper to get unstuck, finish your degree and get your life back.

How To Choose A Research Topic: 5 Key Criteria

Learn how to systematically evaluate potential research topics and choose the best option for your dissertation, thesis or research paper.

Writing A Research Proposal: 4 Hacks To Fast-Track The Process

🎙️ PODCAST: Writing A Research Proposal 4 Time-Saving Tips To Fast-Track Your...

Research Proposal Essentials: 5 Critical Dos & Don’ts

Learn about 5 critically important things that you need to do (or avoid doing) when writing a research proposal for a dissertation or thesis.

📄 FREE TEMPLATES

Research Topic Ideation

Proposal Writing

Literature Review

Methodology & Analysis

Academic Writing

Referencing & Citing

Apps, Tools & Tricks

The Grad Coach Podcast

15 Comments

I am at the stage of writing my thesis proposal for a PhD in Management at Altantic International University. I checked on the coaching services, but it indicates that it’s not available in my area. I am in South Sudan. My proposed topic is: “Leadership Behavior in Local Government Governance Ecosystem and Service Delivery Effectiveness in Post Conflict Districts of Northern Uganda”. I will appreciate your guidance and support

GRADCOCH is very grateful motivated and helpful for all students etc. it is very accorporated and provide easy access way strongly agree from GRADCOCH.

Proposal research departemet management

I am at the stage of writing my thesis proposal for a masters in Analysis of w heat commercialisation by small holders householdrs at Hawassa International University. I will appreciate your guidance and support

please provide a attractive proposal about foreign universities .It would be your highness.

comparative constitutional law

Kindly guide me through writing a good proposal on the thesis topic; Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Financial Inclusion in Nigeria. Thank you

Kindly help me write a research proposal on the topic of impacts of artisanal gold panning on the environment

I am in the process of research proposal for my Master of Art with a topic : “factors influence on first-year students’s academic adjustment”. I am absorbing in GRADCOACH and interested in such proposal sample. However, it is great for me to learn and seeking for more new updated proposal framework from GRADCAOCH.

Kindly help me write a research proposal on the effectiveness of junior call on prevention of theft

kindly assist me in writing the proposal in psychology education

Please,Kindly assist my in my phd thesis writing on personal and socio cultural factors as determinate of family planning adoption

I’m interested to apply for a mhil program in crop production. Please need assistance in proposal format.

kindly assist me in writing the proposal for PHD level

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Submit Comment

Print Friendly

Dissertation Proposal Template

Download this Dissertation Proposal Template Design in Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages Format. Easily Editable, Printable, Downloadable.

Make your readers understand what your research is all about by delivering a well-written, understandable, and thorough dissertation proposal. This dissertation proposal template gives you an easy-to-edit document outline. Discuss your research background, methods, and projected results on this template. Easily download this template on your PC or mobile device.

Already a premium member? Sign in