Writing Grant Proposals

Target group

Doctoral candidates (all disciplines).

Content

• Functions of grant proposals: planning, communication, persuasion, contract
• Refining research ideas, choosing and narrowing topics
• Section structure of proposals: problem statement, aims and objectives, literature review, methodology, timetable, budget, etc.
• Differences between proposal writing and paper writing
• Characteristics of high-quality proposals: clarity, correctness, consistency, conciseness, confidence

Objectives

This workshop answers three questions:

• What are characteristics of high-quality grant proposals?
• What are appropriate text structures for proposals?
• Which strategies help to accelerate the preparation of proposals?

Methods

The workshop includes lectures, group work, and exercises. In the exercises, participants analyse sample proposals and draft components of their own proposals.

Preparation

• Please think of a research question you want to tackle in your next research project. De-scribe the problem your research is trying to solve (a few sentences are fine). Please bring your notes to the workshop.
• Please ask your supervisor or a colleague for a sample grant proposal. Note the section structure of this proposal and bring this information to the workshop.