research plan for scholarship

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How to Write a Study Plan for a Scholarship

Last Updated: October 25, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed. . Alexander Ruiz is an Educational Consultant and the Educational Director of Link Educational Institute, a tutoring business based in Claremont, California that provides customizable educational plans, subject and test prep tutoring, and college application consulting. With over a decade and a half of experience in the education industry, Alexander coaches students to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence while achieving skills and the goal of achieving skills and higher education. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 249,693 times.

If you are asked to write a study plan for a scholarship, you may not know where to begin. Basically, a study plan describes what you'll be studying and why. One common scholarship committee that asks for study plans is the China Scholarship Council (CSC). Start by establishing your main educational goals, and then talk about how you plan to achieve them. Conclude your study plan, and spend time refining your writing.

What to Write About

• For instance, maybe your main goals for studying in China are to gain a bachelor's degree in business and learn Chinese because it's becoming a global language. You could write, "My main two educational objectives are to gain a bachelor's degree in business and to learn to speak Chinese. Chinese is becoming a global language, so I feel it's necessary to learn it."

• For instance, you might write, "I was born in the United States, but my grandparents on both sides are Chinese. I chose this business program because I want to connect with my heritage, improve my Chinese, and eventually, help establish better relations between China and the U.S. by improving trade relations."

• For example, you might say, "As a PhD candidate, I plan to conduct research on how ancient tradition and ritual influence contemporary Chinese culture, which will include a literature review and extensive interviews with historians and a small sampling of the Chinese population."

• It can help to draw a conceptual model. Start with the antecedents (the causes) and the mediators (the processes that change the antecedents). Finish with the outcomes. Draw lines between them to help you see which variables are more central to your problem.
• Consider asking peers or professors to look at your research proposal. They may be able to help you narrow.

• For instance, you might say, "One of my long-term goals is to open an import business from China to the United States, and learning about business in China will be essential to making my endeavors a success."

Explaining Your Plans

• For instance, if you plan on doing a PhD where you'll need participants, discuss how you'll find people for your study. You might say, "I plan to put out an ad to gain participants for a focus group, as well as contact historians by phone and email for interviews."

• For example, you might write, "I anticipate the language barrier will be an issue at first. However, I plan to work hard early on to learn the language, and I am already taking intensive classes now."

• To help you choose, do a thorough literature review. Look at the research that has been done in the area you plan to study. Note the primary methods used to do the research and the pros and cons of each. Choose a method based on what you think will work best for your research. [6] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source

• For instance, you might use simple random sampling or systematic sampling when the whole population is similar based on the variables for your study. On the other hand, a stratified random sample is often used when you have people who are different from each other based on your variables.

Concluding and Refining Your Writing

• For example, you might write, "Thank you for considering me for this scholarship. If I receive this award, I can focus solely on my studies. I will work hard to implement my goals of learning Chinese and gaining a business degree at a Chinese university, and your trust in me will not be wasted."

• You don't need to write as if you're talking to a child. However, you should write so someone outside of your discipline can easily understand your plan.

• The space for the study plan on the CSC application is only a couple of lines. However, the application suggests you attach more paper as needed.

Scholarship Study Plan Template

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• ↑ https://www.ecpi.edu/blog/how-to-set-educational-goals-and-meet-them
• ↑ https://bangalorestudy.com/blog/factors-to-consider-while-choosing-a-school
• ↑ Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.. Educational Consultant. Expert Interview. 18 June 2020.
• ↑ http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2005/03/methods.aspx
• ↑ https://www.collegedata.com/resources/money-matters/10-ways-to-stand-out-when-applying-for-scholarships
• ↑ http://www.natco1.org/research/files/SamplingStrategies.pdf

About This Article

If you’re unsure how to go about writing a study plan for a scholarship, focus on explaining your educational goals and discussing how you’ll achieve them. Begin by briefly stating what you want to study and why. For example, you might say you want to study business management in China so you can learn Chinese, because it will soon be a global language. Then, provide some personalized reasons as to why you chose the school you want to go to, such as research interests or long-term goals. After laying out your goals, show the scholarship committee how you’ll achieve them. If you’ll be carrying out research, for instance, write about how you’ll find participants for your study. You should also try to mention possible obstacles and how you’ll overcome them, since the committee will be impressed to see you’re thinking ahead. For tips on how to proofread your study plan before sending it off, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How To Write Study Plan For Scholarship

• Post author By admin
• March 5, 2024

In the competitive landscape of scholarship applications, a well-crafted study plan can be your ticket to success. But what exactly is a study plan, and why is it crucial for securing scholarships? Let’s dive in and explore how to write study plan for scholarship that will also serve as a roadmap to achieving your academic goals.

Table of Contents

What Does A Study Plan Look Like?

A study plan typically includes details such as:

• Academic goals: Short-term and long-term objectives you aim to achieve.
• Course schedule: Listing the classes you plan to take each semester.
• Study schedule: Allocating time for studying, research, and assignments.
• Extracurricular activities: Including relevant activities such as internships, volunteer work, or clubs.
• Milestones and deadlines: Setting measurable targets for tracking progress.
• Evaluation criteria: Establishing how you’ll assess your performance and adjust your plan accordingly.
• Potential challenges: Anticipating obstacles and outlining strategies to overcome them.
• Revision process: Planning how you’ll review and update your study plan as needed.

10 Reasons Why Scholarships Are Important

Scholarships play a crucial role in facilitating access to education and empowering individuals to pursue their academic aspirations. Here are ten reasons why scholarships are important:

• Financial Accessibility

Scholarships provide financial assistance to students who may otherwise struggle to afford the costs of tuition, fees, and other educational expenses.

• Reducing Student Debt

By covering all or part of a student’s educational expenses, scholarships help reduce the need for student loans and alleviate the burden of student debt after graduation.

• Promoting Equal Opportunity

Scholarships promote equal access to education by providing support to students from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their socioeconomic status or personal circumstances.

• Encouraging Academic Excellence

Scholarships incentivize academic achievement by recognizing and rewarding students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, leadership abilities, or other merit-based criteria.

• Supporting Career Aspirations

Scholarships enable students to pursue their career aspirations by removing financial barriers and allowing them to focus on their studies without the burden of excessive financial stress.

• Fostering Talent Development

Scholarships nurture talent and potential by providing opportunities for students to pursue their interests, develop their skills, and excel in their chosen fields of study.

• Empowering Underrepresented Groups

Scholarships empower underrepresented groups, including minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities, by offering support and encouragement to pursue higher education.

• Encouraging Innovation and Creativity

Scholarships inspire innovation and creativity by providing resources and incentives for students to explore new ideas, conduct research, and pursue projects that contribute to academic advancement and societal progress.

• Building Stronger Communities

Scholarships contribute to the development of stronger communities by investing in the education and future success of individuals who will become leaders, professionals, and contributors to society.

• Creating a More Knowledgeable Society

Scholarships contribute to the creation of a more knowledgeable and informed society by enabling individuals to acquire the skills, knowledge, and expertise needed to address complex challenges and drive positive change.

In short, scholarships are important because they make education more accessible, reduce financial barriers, promote academic excellence, support career aspirations, foster talent development, empower underrepresented groups, encourage innovation, build stronger communities, and contribute to the advancement of society as a whole.

How To Write Study Plan For Scholarship?

Writing a study plan for a scholarship requires careful consideration and strategic planning. Here’s a step-by-step guide along with relevant examples and tips for each step:

• Understand the Scholarship Requirements:
• Example: If you’re applying for a STEM scholarship, the requirements might include maintaining a high GPA and participating in relevant extracurricular activities.
• Tip: Thoroughly review the scholarship guidelines to ensure you understand what the committee is looking for in a candidate.
• Self-Assessment and Goal Setting:
• Example: If your goal is to pursue a career in medicine, you might set a short-term goal of completing prerequisite courses with a certain GPA.
• Tip: Be realistic about your strengths and weaknesses when setting goals, and break them down into manageable steps.
• Research the Institution and Program:
• Example: If you’re applying to a university known for its strong engineering program, highlight your interest in engineering and how it aligns with the institution’s values.
• Tip: Tailor your study plan to align with the institution’s mission and the specific program you’re interested in.
• Structure the Study Plan:
• Example: Create a weekly schedule that includes dedicated study time for each of your classes, as well as time for extracurricular activities and personal commitments.
• Tip: Prioritize tasks based on their importance and deadlines, and be flexible enough to adjust your schedule as needed.
• Tailor the Study Plan to Scholarship Requirements:
• Example: If the scholarship emphasizes community service, incorporate volunteer work into your schedule and highlight it in your study plan.
• Tip: Demonstrate how your academic and extracurricular activities align with the scholarship’s objectives to strengthen your application.
• Include Milestones and Evaluation Criteria:
• Example: Set a milestone to achieve a certain GPA by the end of each semester, with evaluation criteria based on your grades and feedback from professors.
• Tip: Make your milestones specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) to track your progress effectively.
• Address Potential Challenges and Risks:
• Example: If you struggle with time management, allocate specific time blocks for studying and use tools such as planners or apps to stay organized.
• Tip: Identify potential obstacles early on and develop strategies to overcome them, such as seeking help from tutors or adjusting your study habits.
• Seek Feedback and Revision:
• Example: Share your study plan with teachers, mentors, or peers for feedback on its feasibility and effectiveness.
• Tip: Be open to constructive criticism and willing to revise your study plan based on feedback to improve its quality.

By following these steps and incorporating relevant examples and tips (for how to write study plan for scholarship), you can create a comprehensive study plan that enhances your scholarship application and sets you on the path to academic success.

Study Plan for Scholarship Application: Do & Don’t

Creating a study plan for a scholarship application is crucial for demonstrating your commitment to academic excellence and achieving your goals. Here are some do’s and don’ts to consider when crafting your study plan:

Do’s: Study Plan for Scholarship Application

• Do Understand the Scholarship Requirements:

Read and comprehend the scholarship guidelines thoroughly to ensure your study plan aligns with the scholarship’s objectives and expectations.

• Do Set Clear and Achievable Goals:

Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that reflect your academic aspirations and the requirements of the scholarship.

• Do Research the Institution and Program:

Familiarize yourself with the values, mission, and offerings of the institution providing the scholarship, and tailor your study plan accordingly to demonstrate your genuine interest.

• Do Structure Your Study Plan Effectively:

Organize your study plan in a clear and logical manner, including sections for academic goals, course schedules, study routines, and extracurricular activities.

• Do Include Milestones and Evaluation Criteria:

Set achievable milestones and establish criteria for evaluating your progress, such as grades, feedback from professors, or completion of specific tasks.

• Do Address Potential Challenges and Risks:

Identify potential obstacles that may hinder your academic progress and develop strategies to overcome them, such as time management techniques or seeking academic support.

• Do Seek Feedback and Revision:

Share your study plan with mentors, advisors, or peers to solicit feedback and suggestions for improvement, and be open to revising your plan accordingly.

Don’ts: Study Plan for Scholarship Application

• Don’t Underestimate the Importance of the Study Plan:

Avoid treating your study plan as a mere formality; instead, recognize its significance in showcasing your dedication and readiness for the scholarship.

• Don’t Set Unrealistic Goals:

Refrain from setting goals that are too ambitious or unrealistic, as this may undermine your confidence and lead to frustration if not achieved.

• Don’t Neglect Researching the Institution and Program:

Avoid submitting a generic study plan that does not reflect your understanding of the institution or program offering the scholarship, as it may appear disingenuous.

• Don’t Overwhelm Your Study Plan with Extraneous Details:

Keep your study plan focused and concise, omitting unnecessary information or irrelevant details that detract from its clarity and coherence.

• Don’t Ignore Milestones and Evaluation Criteria:

Neglecting to establish clear milestones or evaluation criteria can make it difficult to track your progress and assess the effectiveness of your study plan.

• Don’t Overlook Potential Challenges and Risks:

Ignoring potential challenges or risks in your study plan may leave you unprepared to address them, potentially jeopardizing your academic success and scholarship candidacy.

• Don’t Disregard Feedback and Revision:

Dismissing feedback or failing to revise your study plan in light of constructive criticism may limit its effectiveness and weaken your scholarship application.

By adhering to these do’s and don’ts, you can create a compelling study plan that strengthens your scholarship application and enhances your prospects for academic success.

Crafting an effective study plan for scholarship applications is a critical step towards achieving your academic goals. By understanding the scholarship requirements, setting clear goals, and tailoring your plan to meet the scholarship’s objectives, you can demonstrate your commitment and dedication to academic success.

With careful planning, perseverance, and a well-crafted study plan, you can pave the way towards securing scholarships and realizing your dreams. I hope you understand the details about how to write study plan for scholarship.

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A Comprehensive Guide to Crafting a Winning Study Plan for Scholarship Applications

Introduction.

Writing a study plan is an essential step in the process of applying for a scholarship. A well-structured and thought-out study plan can help you to showcase your commitment, focus, and goals to the scholarship committee, increasing your chances of being selected. In this outline, we will explore the key elements of a winning study plan, from setting specific and achievable goals to seeking guidance and support from mentors and advisors. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this outline, you can increase your chances of success and achieve your academic and professional goals. Whether you are a current student or looking to return to school, a study plan can help you to stay focused, motivated, and on track to achieving your dreams.

Setting Specific and Achievable Goals

One of the most important elements of a successful study plan is setting specific and achievable goals. Having clear, defined goals can help you stay focused and motivated, and ensure that you are making progress towards your academic and professional aspirations. To set effective goals, it is important to make use of the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) framework. This framework helps you to define your goals in a way that is both clear and attainable.

When setting goals for your study plan, it is important to consider your long-term aspirations as well as your immediate priorities. For example, if you are applying for a scholarship to study a specific field of study, your goal may be to graduate with honors and to attain a high level of proficiency in the subject matter. Other goals might include pursuing internships or research opportunities, developing your leadership skills, and building a strong professional network.

It is also important to be realistic when setting goals. Consider your current level of academic performance, the amount of time you have available to devote to your studies, and any other responsibilities you may have. By setting achievable goals, you can increase your chances of success and avoid becoming discouraged or overwhelmed.

Setting specific and achievable goals is a critical step in creating a successful study plan for a scholarship application. By using the SMART framework and being mindful of your long-term aspirations and current circumstances, you can ensure that your goals are both meaningful and attainable.

Time Management and Balancing Academics and Extracurricular Activities

Balancing academics and extracurricular activities is a key challenge for many scholarship applicants. In order to be successful in your scholarship pursuits, it is important to develop effective time management skills and to make the most of your time.

One strategy for effective time management is to prioritize your tasks and to focus on the most important responsibilities first. This may involve setting deadlines for yourself, breaking down larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks, and seeking help from others when necessary.

In addition to academics, it is also important to consider the role of extracurricular activities in your life. Pursuing extracurricular activities can help you to develop important skills and build a strong network, but it is important to balance these pursuits with your academic responsibilities.

One way to balance academics and extracurricular activities is to set aside dedicated time for each pursuit. For example, you might set aside time each day for studying, and set aside specific days or evenings for extracurricular activities. Another strategy is to seek out opportunities that align with your academic goals and interests, such as volunteering in your field of study or pursuing leadership roles in student organizations.

Overall, effective time management and balancing academics and extracurricular activities is essential for scholarship applicants. By prioritizing tasks, seeking out opportunities that align with your goals, and being mindful of the time you have available, you can increase your chances of success and achieve your aspirations.

Self-Reflection and Continuous Improvement

Self-reflection and continuous improvement are important components of any successful study plan. Through regular self-reflection, you can assess your progress, identify areas for improvement, and make adjustments to your approach as necessary.

One way to engage in self-reflection is to regularly review your goals and track your progress. This might involve setting aside time each week or month to reflect on your achievements and challenges, and to determine what changes you might need to make in order to continue to grow and succeed.

Another important aspect of self-reflection is to seek feedback from others. This might involve seeking feedback from classmates, professors, or mentors, or participating in regular performance evaluations. By incorporating feedback from others into your self-reflection process, you can gain new perspectives and insights, and identify areas for growth and improvement.

It is important to continuously seek new opportunities for learning and growth. Whether it is through taking additional courses, pursuing internships or research opportunities, or engaging in extracurricular activities, continuous learning can help you to stay on top of new developments in your field and expand your skill set.

Self-reflection and continuous improvement are essential for success in scholarship applications. By regularly reviewing your goals, seeking feedback from others, and engaging in continuous learning, you can stay on track to achieving your aspirations and reach your full potential.

Staying Motivated and Avoiding Burnout

Staying motivated and avoiding burnout is critical for success in scholarship applications. Pursuing a scholarship requires a significant commitment of time, energy, and effort, and it is important to maintain your motivation and enthusiasm throughout the process.

One strategy for staying motivated is to set clear and achievable goals, and to regularly track your progress towards these goals. This can help you to see the tangible benefits of your efforts and keep you motivated to continue.

Another important aspect of staying motivated is to seek out a supportive community. This might involve connecting with classmates, professors, or mentors, or joining student organizations or study groups. Having a network of supportive individuals can provide encouragement and help you to stay motivated and focused.

In addition to staying motivated, it is important to take steps to avoid burnout. This might involve setting realistic expectations for yourself, seeking out opportunities for self-care and relaxation, and being mindful of the amount of time and energy you are devoting to your studies.

In summary, staying motivated and avoiding burnout is essential for success in scholarship applications. By setting clear goals, seeking out a supportive community, and taking steps to maintain your physical and emotional well-being, you can increase your chances of success and achieve your aspirations.

Seeking Guidance and Support

Seeking guidance and support is an important component of a successful study plan for a scholarship application. Navigating the scholarship process can be complex, and it is important to have a support system in place to help you succeed.

One way to seek guidance and support is to connect with individuals who have gone through the scholarship process themselves. This might involve reaching out to alumni, former scholarship recipients, or other professionals in your field. They can provide valuable insights, advice, and encouragement as you navigate the scholarship process.

Another way to seek guidance and support is to connect with a mentor. A mentor can provide guidance and support as you work towards your goals, and can help you to stay focused and motivated. Additionally, they can connect you with resources and opportunities that can help you to succeed.

It is also important to seek guidance from academic advisors or other support staff at your institution. These individuals can provide information about scholarship opportunities, as well as help you to develop a strong study plan and manage your time effectively.

Seeking guidance and support is a critical component of a successful study plan for scholarship applications. By reaching out to others and seeking out a support system, you can increase your chances of success and achieve your aspirations.

Financial Management and Budgeting

Financial management and budgeting are key components of a successful study plan for scholarship applications. The scholarship process often involves significant expenses, such as application fees, travel expenses, and the cost of materials and supplies. It is important to have a solid plan in place for managing these expenses and staying on top of your finances.

One way to manage your finances is to create a budget that accounts for all of your expenses, including the costs associated with your scholarship application. This can help you to stay on track with your spending and avoid overspending.

Another important aspect of financial management is to seek out additional sources of funding, such as part-time work, student loans, or grants. These additional resources can help you to cover the costs associated with your scholarship application and reduce the financial burden on you and your family.

In addition, it is important to be mindful of your long-term financial goals and to plan for your future. This might involve setting aside money for tuition and other education-related expenses, as well as considering your future career goals and the financial impact they may have.

Financial management and budgeting are essential components of a successful study plan for scholarship applications. By creating a budget, seeking out additional sources of funding, and being mindful of your long-term financial goals, you can ensure that you have the resources you need to succeed and reach your aspirations.

A well-crafted study plan is a critical component of a successful scholarship application. By setting specific and achievable goals, managing your time and balancing academics and extracurricular activities, reflecting on your performance and seeking continuous improvement, staying motivated and avoiding burnout, seeking guidance and support, and managing your finances effectively, you can increase your chances of success and achieve your aspirations.

Remember, the scholarship process can be competitive and demanding, but with a well-structured study plan , you can increase your chances of success and achieve your goals. Stay focused, stays motivated, and stays on track with your plan, and you will be well on your way to success.

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How To Write a Study Plan

Find out the possible steps to create a scholarship-winning study plan

Without knowing about how to write study plan or research plan, getting a fully funded scholarship is not easy. 

If you are planning to study abroad for undergraduate, master’s or postgraduate studies, an effective study plan is required to get selected.  

But writing a killer study plan for scholarships does not seem easy. In this blog, we are going to explain to you all the significant points to write a study plan.  

So, let’s get straight into writing an effective study plan for scholarships!   

How to Write a Study Plan for Scholarships   

1. Why Study Plan is Important for International Scholarships? 

2. How to write a study plan

3. Mistakes to Avoid in a Study Plan

4. Important Questions while writing a Study Plan

5. Final Thoughts

If you want to study in the USA with a scholarship, here is the guide for Yale University Scholarship 

1. Why Study Plan is Important for International Scholarships?   

A Study plan is a necessary document you will need for your higher studies. It’s important because it helps students to use their time effectively & efficiently. Study-plan also plays a vital role in the self-discipline of the students who do online courses. 

Study plan for scholarships is mostly required by Chinese, German, Italian or Canadian Scholarships. Your research supervisor or professor you are approaching to get an acceptance letter could ask for a study plan too. 

A study plan helps you forecast your studies and career moves. It also makes you accountable & increases your self-determination. Putting your study plan in writing will help you see the bigger picture.

The scholarship selection board assess your discipline, determination and enthusiasm for your respective course program through a study plan for scholarships. 

2. How to Write a Study Plan? 

Writing a good study plan is all about a strategic structure of your aims and goals. You need to be simple yet motivated to showcase your future plans to the selection committee. 

We have divided the five parts of the study plan. You need to follow this sequence to have a great study plan for scholarships. 

2.1   Personal Introduction

2.2.  Academic Background

2.3.  Work experience & Academic achievements

2.4.  Career Goals

2.5.  Time Scheduling & Management

Got stuck while drafting your research proposal? Check this detailed guide on Research proposal for Scholarship programs

2.1. Personal introduction

Introduce yourself in a short, precise & enthusiastic way. Write about your passions, interests & social circle in two-three sentences at the beginning of the essay. It will give the professor a general idea about your personality & professional attitude.  

You can start your introduction with any of your strengths, passion, habit, interest or about your journey. You can begin with a quotation that connects with your personality. 

2.2.  Academic Background 

A: You should write about your most advanced studies. Focus more on your recent education.  For example, if you have done Bachelors’ & you are applying for a Master’s education abroad, you must focus more on writing about your Bachelors rather than FSC & Matric.

B: Also write a short description of your previous studies before your bachelor’s.

You need to write in a smooth and connected way so that readers do not get distracted. You need to develop your own life story in a compelling way. 

2.3. Work Experience & Academic Achievements

Mostly, the selection committee check out your previous work experience. This paragraph should contain details about your previous experience. You can elaborate on any skill or expertise you gain under a specific role.  

You can write about the following things here: 

A : Write in detail about your research papers & their relevance to your future studies at the university

B : You can write about Seminars/Conferences you attended, online courses, Certificates, and short courses you ever completed. 

C : You can write short & precisely about your all academic or non-academic -extra-curricular activities 

A : You need to Write about future courses & semester subjects. You must mention how the courses are important and how you are going to study them in the near future.  

B : Explain your academic & research goals in detail along with the career possibilities you want to pursue after your education.

C : Potential pathways you can take if you finish this education. Also, write about how it’s impossible to achieve these goals if you don’t follow this education.

2.5. Time Scheduling & Management:

A : Plan your course outline semester-wise within a time frame. It’s a lot more time-efficient & professional.

B : study the course bulletin & cross-check it with your time plan to ensure that you met all the requirements.

3. Mistakes to Avoid in a Study Plan   

There are still a few mistakes that students do while writing their first study plan. Following are tips for these mistakes: 

• Don’t take it for granted or lightly, must give it your thought and take your time with your essay, it’s very important, to work on your introduction and conclusion.
• Give it a  proofread with the help of an expert or consult with your professor, but don’t expect that someone will do the whole thing for you. You can take advice but it’s your essay and your life story, so you have to write it by yourself.
• Try to finish your essay in 850-1000 words, don’t make it very long and stretchy. Just make it precise & well-articulated.
• Whenever you write about your future goals or past achievements, try not to be overconfident or delusional about realities. Explain it in a realistic way by explaining how you overcome your problems.
• Make sure there are no mistakes related to grammar or sentence formulation.

Here is all you need to know about DAAD scholarship in Germany

4. Important Questions While Writing A Study Plan 

Your study plan must have a well-structured format so that the selection board get a whole perspective while reading. It can be professional and effective by keeping these questions in mind while writing your study plan.    

4.1. Why you chose respective program/ Academic course or technology? 

This question must be answered in detail   

Explain your motivation for pursuing this specific program. The reasons why you like this program and the history you shared with this course. Don’t forget to mention if you have any job experience or you did some online courses or you have attended some seminars related to this program. 

4.2. Why do you want to study at the specific university?

Answer this question in a short but precise manner .  

Explain your intentions about choosing this university, and talk about the university from a broader perspective. Write about its cultural environment, student councils, educational achievements, and faculty members that impress you. 

4.3. Why you are not interested in pursuing this course in your home country?

Answer this question in a concise way.  

This question will allow you to explain the multicultural environment which you always wanted to experience in an educational institute. Talk about that country’s educational scholarships & grants systems. 

You can also talk about your host country’s culture & heritage which you always wanted to visit & explore. You can also mention that your country is not offering this specific course; that’s also one reason you are not staying there.

4.4. What kind of research have you done so far in this course or topic?

It’s a very important question & your study plan must answer this question in detail.  

Write about your educational background or research papers you have done on this topic. Talk about the seminars or classes or courses you have attended that are relevant to the topic. Write about the job opportunities & career moves you can do after the completion of your education.

Here is everything about UNSW International research scholarship, Take this opportunity now!

4.5. Tell them about your Time-Schedule & Acting plan for this course

Your Answer must be short and precise

You have to be very careful while answering this question.  Do a proper brainstorming before you answer this question.  Time scheduling means you should know exactly how much time you will stay in the country & university while pursuing this course.

5. Final Thoughts   

A study plan is an important yet tricky part of your scholarship application. A good study plan throws a good impact on the selection board. You must have a well draft study plan before starting your application process.  

The study plan should be concise, compelling, professional and well-articulated. This blog provides detailed guidelines to write a study plan for scholarships. Keep all the important tips in mind before beginning your journey.                            

We cover everything in detail, but if you still have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments.

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How to Write Study Plan for Scholarship & Admission Applications

Are you curious about how to write a study plan for scholarship & admission applications?  This could be a little stressful as the quality of your study plan for scholarship and admission applications goes a long way to determine if you will be selected. So you will definitely want to write the best study plan.

The study plan comprises between 500-1500 words; describing the study objectives, class schedule, and planning for completion of a chosen course on time. It also includes information about skills, academic background, and interest in extra-curricular activities .

I will be your guide to writing a top-notch and professional study plan for scholarship & admission applications through this post. Also, in order to understand how to create a study plan for the scholarship application , I will let you know why a study plan is actually important, and other tips to make your study plan will be given.

Why a Study Plan is Important for Scholarship & Admission Applications

Step-by-step guide: how to write study plan for scholarship & admission applications, pointers or tips for drafting the best study plan for scholarship & admission application, congratulations you are all set to write your own study plan now.

A study plan is a document required for scholarship applications that shows the learning objectives and study schedules of applicants along with their scholastic ambitions, which makes it important for the scholarship & admission process. It also contains the strategies students might adopt to achieve those academic goals .

Meanwhile , study plans are not required by all types of scholarships, some of the scholarship sponsoring organizations consider it as a compulsory document as it depicts applicants’ potencies and worthiness to them. A well-compiled study plan can actually increase one’s chances of getting a scholarship.

1. Insert your introductory paragraph

Start your study plan with a brief introduction of yourself that captures the reader’s attention and provides an overview of what to expect in the essay.

Example: “I am excited to present my study plan for consideration for the . This plan outlines my academic goals, research interests, and strategies for achieving success in my chosen field of study.”

2. Shed some light on your academics and research

Discuss your academic background, including your previous studies, degrees obtained, and any relevant research experience. For example: “I hold a Bachelor’s degree in from , where I graduated with honors.

3. Present the abstract of your achievement

Now, at this point, you need to provide details about a recent study project or research endeavor you have been involved in, highlighting the methodologies used and the outcomes achieved.

Also, summarize your academic and extracurricular achievements, including any awards, publications, or leadership roles.

4. State your learning objectives

At this point, you need to articulate your learning objectives for the scholarship or program clearly, outlining what you hope to achieve during your studies. You will need to put in more effort here to convince the reader to select your study plan.

5. Provide a plan to execute the proposed study/research

Here, all you need to do is list your plan for executing the proposed study or research, including the methodologies you will employ and any resources or collaborations required.

In addition to this, outline the strategies you will employ to achieve your academic and career goals , including networking, professional development activities, and mentorship.

6. Share future scholastic aspirations

To give your study plan an edge over others, discuss your future academic and career aspirations , including any plans for further education or professional development. You can state how you will apply your expertise to address real-world challenges and make a meaningful impact.

7. Wrap up your study plan essay with a conclusion

Lastly, discuss the anticipated outcomes of your proposed study plan, including how it will contribute to your personal and professional growth, with a summary of your key points and a reiteration of your enthusiasm and commitment to your academic and career goals.

To make your study plan stand out from the rest of the scholarship applicants, Here are our top tips to help you ace that study plan for your scholarship applications:

1. Use a great purpose of the study schedule

The first thing to keep in mind while constructing a study plan is to determine the reason why it is being drafted. Since this is going to be a study plan for scholarship applications, all the relevant information should be included.

Defining the nature of a study schedule helps to divert all your efforts to the correct task. For example, in this case, by determining the nature of your study plan, you will make sure to do proper research, which is a prerequisite for study plans for applying for scholarships.

2. Use a flexible schedule

Now, this is where the majority of the students go wrong. In order to depict their studious side, they construct their schedule in such an unrealistic way that instead of contributing positively, it has an adverse effect on their study schedules.

How to counter this problem? Keep it as realistic as possible. Do not overburden yourself by including a nonstop 8 to 10-hour study time, and keep sufficient time for other activities as well. Include short intervals between study sessions to keep that zeal from turning into stress.

3. Give it a personal demeanor

The first thing to keep in mind is that one person’s schedule might differ from another person’s. Irrespective of the fact, students tend to copy-paste online templates by making slight modifications and presenting them as their own.

This way, they end up all confused and stressed. Devise your own schedule based on busy and light weeks. Give it a personal touch because it will ultimately have to be followed by you.

4. Keep modifying your study plan

Sticking to the same old routine is never a good idea . Especially when you are in a phase of constant growth. Hence, you should keep updating your schedule as per your current progress because there might be things that you included in your schedule that are pivotal but may not seem that important over time and vice versa.

5.  Optimize efficiency

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” You don’t want to be Jack now, do you?

Make sure to give yourself a light hand at times. Go for a picnic, eat out with your family, or simply enjoy with them over a fun movie night. Prepare and boost yourself for the upcoming week by giving yourself some me-time and relaxing on the weekends.

This article provided you with a complete guide on how to prepare an effective yet impressive study plan for applying for scholarships & Admission. Also, it’s a cheat sheet to help you save time on thinking about what to include in your study plan.

Using these points in your study plan guarantees the creation of an impressive study plan for your next scholarship application submission.

A college scholarship and application expert with passion for helping applicants secure their dream admission and grants to further their career aspirations

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My a study plan is; I am Hanifa Omar from Afghanistan, I am working as a general manager of gender at Takhar University, Afganistan. As well as a woman activist. I spend most of my time working and guidance for penurious and poor women or our countryside. I am really interested to help and services from disabling women till to they become self-sufficiency . I dream that one day no women remain to disable in our community.

I got my master’s degree in the field of MA English language literature from LPU in India. Now I plan to get my Ph.D. Program in the field of public and administration in the country of the United States or Canada. But I don’t have a sufficient bandage to apply to that University and get my dream. And I want to be an excellent leader in the future and for saving gender equality and assisting women. I need a full fund scholarship for the Ph.D. program in the field of public and administration in the country of the USA or Canada. Please please and Please help and assist me to get a free scholarship.

Best regards, Hanifa Omar

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Study Plan for Scholarship: 10 Steps to Write a Study Plan from Scratch: How to Write a Study Plan?

Study plan elements: 10 steps to draft study plan: study plan writeup outline creation and structure.

Writing a winning study plan for your next scholarship application can get a little tricky in case you don’t know where to begin and with what to start with. Therefore, i created this 10 simple step guide to draft your first-ever study plan for your next scholarship application submission:

10 Steps Guide to Write a Study Plan from Scratch

Following are the basic elements of a Study Plan that one thinks of first before composing the Study Plan Essay :

#1 Research Objectives’ Identification

What a research project can do? Identification of that role is called the identification of the research objective. The research objective answers the research questions and is used to work on a hypothesis or for a scholarship application. The identification of the research objective includes a sketch of the research question, measurable variables, research processing, and challenges.

#2 Research Challenges’ Identification  

Types of research challenges that a researcher can face are financial challenges, literature issues, and any specific field related issues. To run the project smoothly a timely identification of research challenges is crucial. As they can only be worked out if identified.

#3 Possible Research Results

Possible research results are the research outcomes . That can either be success or failure. Identification of possible outcomes helps in modifying the research project’s direction timely. It saves time and resources as during the project issues consume both a lot.

#4 Required Time Identification

A basic sketch of the research project is enough to allocate time for each step. The time allocation should not be unrealistic and must consider real-world challenges and requirements. Realistic time allocation for each step will make the whole research project smooth running.

#5 Set a Timeline for Academic Goals

When you worked out a time schedule for your research project then you will get a generalized timeline. This timeline will make your mind for effort and will let you plan reasonable breaks.

#6 Carry out Literature Review

A literature review is studying all the past work on the concerned topic and write a short summary of it. The literature review supports the benefits and possibilities of the research project. It also helps in sketching the working principles of the study. Missing the literature review means missing a lot of important aspects of the research project.

#7 Prepare List of Required Resources for Research Study

This step will be clear after the literature review. As it will let the researcher identify what instrument, chemical, software, or resources are used by the previous researchers. And what will he need to complete the project? The requirements will largely be similar and might need slight modifications. This list will let the researcher identify the financial needs and efforts for the project.

#8 Who Will Fund the Required Resources?

After estimating the required resources an estimate of required finance is necessary. This estimated amount can be arranged from a funding agency or by developing a research academia relationship. The financial support is usually available from the ones with common benefits from the research study. Finding those concerned organizations or individuals is a key point for a research plan.

#9 Properly Cite References

Proper citation of references is required for the literature review as well as the need for the project part of the study plan. There are software’s available in the market that helps to place citations correctly. The software is mostly of paid subscriptions that’s why their expense should also be part of the financial sketch.

#10 Get A Second Opinion

After crafting the study plan read it again and make someone professional to proofread it. the grammatical errors can be corrected by using grammar software but the authenticity of the human proofreading is superior.

Yousaf Saeed

Related articles.

Study Plan Essay – Study Plan for Scholarship: Study Plan Samples, Template, Format, Examples – Study Plan Writing Outline

Study Plan Samples Writing Instructions for Scholarships Application

Chemical Engineering Study Plan and Research Proposal

Study Plan VS Research Proposal – A brief Comparison

I want to study abroad on need base scholarship

I wish you good luck with your scholarship application.

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Writing the Research Plan for Your Academic Job Application

By Jason G. Gillmore, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Hope College, Holland, MI

A research plan is more than a to-do list for this week in lab, or a manila folder full of ideas for maybe someday—at least if you are thinking of a tenure-track academic career in chemistry at virtually any bachelor’s or higher degree–granting institution in the country. A perusal of the academic job ads in C&EN every August–October will quickly reveal that most schools expect a cover letter (whether they say so or not), a CV, a teaching statement, and a research plan, along with reference letters and transcripts. So what is this document supposed to be, and why worry about it now when those job ads are still months away?

What Is a Research Plan?

A research plan is a thoughtful, compelling, well-written document that outlines your exciting, unique research ideas that you and your students will pursue over the next half decade or so to advance knowledge in your discipline and earn you grants, papers, speaking invitations, tenure, promotion, and a national reputation. It must be a document that people at the department you hope to join will (a) read, and (b) be suitably excited about to invite you for an interview.

That much I knew when I was asked to write this article. More specifics I only really knew for my own institution, Hope College (a research intensive undergraduate liberal arts college with no graduate program), and even there you might get a dozen nuanced opinions among my dozen colleagues. So I polled a broad cross-section of my network, spanning chemical subdisciplines at institutions ranging from small, teaching-centered liberal arts colleges to our nation’s elite research programs, such as Scripps and MIT. The responses certainly varied, but they did center on a few main themes, or illustrate a trend across institution types. In this article I’ll share those commonalities, while also encouraging you to be unafraid to contact a search committee chair with a few specific questions, especially for the institutions you are particularly excited about and feel might be the best fit for you.

How Many Projects Should You Have?

While more senior advisors and members of search committees may have gotten their jobs with a single research project, conventional wisdom these days is that you need two to three distinct but related projects. How closely related to one another they should be is a matter of debate, but almost everyone I asked felt that there should be some unifying technique, problem or theme to them. However, the projects should be sufficiently disparate that a failure of one key idea, strategy, or technique will not hamstring your other projects.

For this reason, many applicants wisely choose to identify:

• One project that is a safe bet—doable, fundable, publishable, good but not earthshaking science.
• A second project that is pie-in-the-sky with high risks and rewards.
• A third project that fits somewhere in the middle.

Having more than three projects is probably unrealistic. But even the safest project must be worth doing, and even the riskiest must appear to have a reasonable chance of working.

How Closely Connected Should Your Research Be with Your Past?

Your proposed research must do more than extend what you have already done. In most subdisciplines, you must be sufficiently removed from your postdoctoral or graduate work that you will not be lambasted for clinging to an advisor’s apron strings. After all, if it is such a good idea in their immediate area of interest, why aren’t they pursuing it?!?

But you also must be able to make the case for why your training makes this a good problem for you to study—how you bring a unique skill set as well as unique ideas to this research. The five years you will have to do, fund, and publish the research before crafting your tenure package will go by too fast for you to break into something entirely outside your realm of expertise.

Biochemistry is a partial exception to this advice—in this subdiscipline it is quite common to bring a project with you from a postdoc (or more rarely your Ph.D.) to start your independent career. However, you should still articulate your original contribution to, and unique angle on the work. It is also wise to be sure your advisor tells that same story in his or her letter and articulates support of your pursuing this research in your career as a genuinely independent scientist (and not merely someone who could be perceived as his or her latest "flunky" of a collaborator.)

Should You Discuss Potential Collaborators?

Regarding collaboration, tread lightly as a young scientist seeking or starting an independent career. Being someone with whom others can collaborate in the future is great. Relying on collaborators for the success of your projects is unwise. Be cautious about proposing to continue collaborations you already have (especially with past advisors) and about starting new ones where you might not be perceived as the lead PI. Also beware of presuming you can help advance the research of someone already in a department. Are they still there? Are they still doing that research? Do they actually want that help—or will they feel like you are criticizing or condescending to them, trying to scoop them, or seeking to ride their coattails? Some places will view collaboration very favorably, but the safest route is to cautiously float such ideas during interviews while presenting research plans that are exciting and achievable on your own.

How Do You Show Your Fit?

Some faculty advise tailoring every application packet document to every institution to which you apply, while others suggest tweaking only the cover letter. Certainly the cover letter is the document most suited to introducing yourself and making the case for how you are the perfect fit for the advertised position at that institution. So save your greatest degree of tailoring for your cover letter. It is nice if you can tweak a few sentences of other documents to highlight your fit to a specific school, so long as it is not contrived.

Now, if you are applying to widely different types of institutions, a few different sets of documents will certainly be necessary. The research plan that you target in the middle to get you a job at both Harvard University and Hope College will not get you an interview at either! There are different realities of resources, scope, scale, and timeline. Not that my colleagues and I at Hope cannot tackle research that is just as exciting as Harvard’s. However, we need to have enough of a niche or a unique angle both to endure the longer timeframe necessitated by smaller groups of undergraduate researchers and to ensure that we still stand out. Furthermore, we generally need to be able to do it with more limited resources. If you do not demonstrate that understanding, you will be dismissed out of hand. But at many large Ph.D. programs, any consideration of "niche" can be inferred as a lack of confidence or ambition.

Also, be aware that department Web pages (especially those several pages deep in the site, or maintained by individual faculty) can be woefully out-of-date. If something you are planning to say is contingent on something you read on their Web site, find a way to confirm it!

While the research plan is not the place to articulate start-up needs, you should consider instrumentation and other resources that will be necessary to get started, and where you will go for funding or resources down the road. This will come up in interviews, and hopefully you will eventually need these details to negotiate a start-up package.

Who Is Your Audience?

Your research plan should show the big picture clearly and excite a broad audience of chemists across your sub-discipline. At many educational institutions, everyone in the department will read the proposal critically, at least if you make the short list to interview. Even at departments that leave it all to a committee of the subdiscipline, subdisciplines can be broad and might even still have an outside member on the committee. And the committee needs to justify their actions to the department at large, as well as to deans, provosts, and others. So having at least the introduction and executive summaries of your projects comprehensible and compelling to those outside your discipline is highly advantageous.

Good science, written well, makes a good research plan. As you craft and refine your research plan, keep the following strategies, as well as your audience in mind:

• Begin the document with an abstract or executive summary that engages a broad audience and shows synergies among your projects. This should be one page or less, and you should probably write it last. This page is something you could manageably consider tailoring to each institution.
• Provide sufficient details and references to convince the experts you know your stuff and actually have a plan for what your group will be doing in the lab. Give details of first and key experiments, and backup plans or fallback positions for their riskiest aspects.
• Hook your readers with your own ideas fairly early in the document, then strike a balance between your own new ideas and the necessary well referenced background, precedents, and justification throughout. Propose a reasonable tentative timeline, if you can do so in no more than a paragraph or two, which shows how you envision spacing out the experiments within and among your projects. This may fit well into your executive summary
• Show how you will involve students (whether undergraduates, graduate students, an eventual postdoc or two, possibly even high schoolers if the school has that sort of outreach, depending on the institutions to which you are applying) and divide the projects among students.
• Highlight how your work will contribute to the education of these students. While this is especially important at schools with greater teaching missions, it can help set you apart even at research intensive institutions. After all, we all have to demonstrate “broader impacts” to our funding agencies!
• Include where you will pursue funding, as well as publication, if you can smoothly work it in. This is especially true if there is doubt about how you plan to target or "market" your research. Otherwise, it is appropriate to hold off until the interview to discuss this strategy.

So, How Long Should Your Research Plan Be?

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Here is where the answers diverged the most and without a unifying trend across institutions. Bottom line, you need space to make your case, but even more, you need people to read what you write.

A single page abstract or executive summary of all your projects together provides you an opportunity to make the case for unifying themes yet distinct projects. It may also provide space to articulate a timeline. Indeed, many readers will only read this single page in each application, at least until winnowing down to a more manageable list of potential candidates. At the most elite institutions, there may be literally hundreds of applicants, scores of them entirely well-suited to the job.

While three to five pages per proposal was a common response (single spaced, in 11-point Arial or 12-point Times with one inch margins), including references (which should be accurate, appropriate, and current!), some of my busiest colleagues have said they will not read more than about three pages total. Only a few actually indicated they would read up to 12-15 pages for three projects. In my opinion, ten pages total for your research plans should be a fairly firm upper limit unless you are specifically told otherwise by a search committee, and then only if you have two to three distinct proposals.

Why Start Now?

Hopefully, this question has answered itself already! Your research plan needs to be a well thought out document that is an integrated part of applications tailored to each institution to which you apply. It must represent mature ideas that you have had time to refine through multiple revisions and a great deal of critical review from everyone you can get to read them. Moreover, you may need a few different sets of these, especially if you will be applying to a broad range of institutions. So add “write research plans” to this week’s to do list (and every week’s for the next few months) and start writing up the ideas in that manila folder into some genuine research plans. See which ones survive the process and rise to the top and you should be well prepared when the job ads begin to appear in C&EN in August!

Jason G. Gillmore , Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Hope College in Holland, MI. A native of New Jersey, he earned his B.S. (’96) and M.S. (’98) degrees in chemistry from Virginia Tech, and his Ph.D. (’03) in organic chemistry from the University of Rochester. After a short postdoctoral traineeship at Vanderbilt University, he joined the faculty at Hope in 2004. He has received the Dreyfus Start-up Award, Research Corporation Cottrell College Science Award, and NSF CAREER Award, and is currently on sabbatical as a Visiting Research Professor at Arizona State University. Professor Gillmore is the organizer of the Biennial Midwest Postdoc to PUI Professor (P3) Workshop co-sponsored by ACS, and a frequent panelist at the annual ACS Postdoc to Faculty (P2F) Workshops.

Other tips to help engage (or at least not turn off) your readers include:

• Avoid two-column formats.
• Avoid too-small fonts that hinder readability, especially as many will view the documents online rather than in print!
• Use good figures that are readable and broadly understandable!
• Use color as necessary but not gratuitously.

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Study Plan for Scholarship Application

The process of preparing the necessary documents needed in applying for a scholarship is arduous. There is also that unending worry of whether you can pass or not. Despite that, you are here because you know that this effort is nothing compared to the opportunities it can offer you in return. In addition to filling in scholarship applications and writing career essays , learn how to devise a study plan for scholarship application and secure the scholarship that you want.

What is a Study Plan for Scholarship Application?

A study plan for a scholarship application is a detailed document that outlines an applicant’s strategies and scheduling commitments for achieving academic success during their course of study. It is often a required component of scholarship applications to demonstrate the applicant’s dedication, foresight, and readiness to handle the academic workload efficiently if granted the scholarship. Here’s a deeper look into the elements of a study plan and its importance:

Study Plan for Scholarship Application Format

John Deo 123 Scholarship Lane Education City, IN 12345 Email: [email protected] Phone: (123) 456-7890 Date: April 11, 2024

Admissions Committee The Scholarship Foundation 123 Learning Ave, Suite 456 Academic Town, IN 12345

Dear Scholarship Committee,

I am writing to express my enthusiasm and qualifications for the [Name of Scholarship] as part of my application to [University/College Name]. I am currently a senior at [Your High School’s Name], and I am planning to pursue a degree in [Your Intended Major] this coming fall. I believe that a well-structured study plan is essential for achieving academic success and making the most of the scholarship opportunity. Below, I outline my comprehensive study plan designed to enhance my educational journey.

1. Understanding the Scholarship Requirements

Objective: To thoroughly understand the criteria and expectations of the scholarship.

Action Plan: Review the scholarship guidelines weekly to ensure all requirements are met and align activities to the scholarship’s objectives.

2. Setting Academic Goals

Objective: To achieve a GPA of 3.8 or higher each semester.

Action Plan: Allocate specific hours for study sessions, utilize campus academic resources, and meet with an academic advisor bi-monthly to track progress.

3. Time Management Plan

Objective: To effectively balance academic, extracurricular, and personal activities.

Action Plan: Create a weekly schedule that includes classes, study times, extracurricular involvement, and personal downtime to ensure holistic development.

4. Daily Study Routine

Objective: To consolidate learning and maximize retention of study material.

Action Plan: Dedicate at least three hours daily to studying core subjects, using active recall and spaced repetition techniques to enhance memory.

5. Resource Utilization

Objective: To leverage available resources for maximizing academic success.

Action Plan: Regularly use the university library, online databases, and academic journals. Participate in study groups to enhance learning and understand complex topics.

6. Extracurricular Involvement

Objective: To develop skills and interests outside of the academic curriculum.

Action Plan: Join two relevant clubs or organizations within the university to build leadership skills and professional connections.

7. Health and Wellness Management

Objective: To maintain optimal physical and mental health.

Action Plan: Engage in weekly physical activities and use university wellness resources, including counseling and fitness centers.

8. Regular Progress Evaluation

Objective: To continuously assess academic performance and make necessary adjustments to the study plan.

Action Plan: Self-assess academic standing through regular quizzes and exams, and adjust study methods and schedules based on results.

9. Networking and Mentorship

Objective: To build relationships with faculty and peers that support academic and career goals.

Action Plan: Attend networking events, participate in seminars, and meet with a mentor for career advice monthly.

10. Preparation for Future Endeavors

I am committed to adhering to this study plan as I believe it will help me to not only meet but exceed the expectations that come with the [Name of Scholarship]. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to bring my dedication and passion for my studies to [University/College Name].

Purpose of a Study Plan

Strategic Academic Roadmap : The study plan serves as a roadmap that guides the applicant through their academic journey, laying out a clear path of what they intend to study, how they plan to manage their time, and the resources they will utilize.

Demonstration of Commitment : It shows the scholarship committee that the applicant has a thoughtful approach and is serious about making the most of the educational opportunity.

Resource Management : It helps applicants plan how they will utilize the available resources (like libraries, labs, and tutoring services) to maximize their academic potential.

Balance and Wellbeing : A comprehensive study plan also considers personal well-being and extracurricular activities, balancing them with academic responsibilities to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

How to Write a Study Plan for a Scholarship

Introduction.

Begin your study plan with a brief introduction about yourself, including your current educational status and the degree program you are applying for. Mention how this scholarship will assist you in achieving your educational and career goals.

Example: “I am an aspiring Environmental Science major currently completing my senior year at Springfield High School, eager to advance my education at the University of Wellbeing. This scholarship will play a pivotal role in achieving my goals of contributing to sustainable environmental practices.”

Educational Background

Briefly outline your academic history focusing on achievements relevant to the scholarship. Include information about your current course of study and how it aligns with your career goals.

Example: “My academic journey has been rigorously curated towards environmental conservation, marked by my active participation in science fairs and internships at local conservation organizations, achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.9.”

Academic Goals

Clearly state your academic objectives for the future, including the milestones you plan to achieve during your scholarship period.

Example: “Upon securing this scholarship, my immediate objective is to maintain a GPA of 3.8 or above, while my long-term goal is to publish independent research on renewable energy sources.”

Study Plan Details

This is the core section where you break down your study schedule:

• Weekly Study Schedule: Detail your weekly commitments, including class times, study sessions, group discussions, and lab work.
• Exam Preparation: Outline strategies for preparing for exams, such as review sessions or practice tests.
• Resource Utilization: Describe how you plan to use university resources like libraries, labs, and tutoring centers.

Example: “My weekly study plan is structured around 15 hours of class time, supplemented by 20 hours of dedicated study. This includes group study sessions to enhance collaborative learning and individual sessions focused on research for my thesis on solar power efficiency.”

Skills and Extracurricular Activities

Integrate your extracurricular activities that are pertinent to your academic success. This could include clubs, sports, volunteer work, or other projects that contribute to your personal and professional growth.

Example: “I will continue to engage in the Green Planet club, which aligns with my academic focus and provides practical experience through community-based projects and initiatives.”

Personal Management Strategies

Discuss how you will balance your academic responsibilities with personal well-being to maintain high performance.

Example: “To ensure sustained mental and physical health, I will adhere to a balanced routine that includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, and mindfulness practices, alongside my academic commitments.”

Monitoring and Adjusting the Plan

Explain how you will track your academic progress and the steps you will take to adapt your study plan if needed.

Example: “I plan to evaluate my academic performance bi-monthly, utilizing feedback from professors and peers to refine study techniques and strategies. This adaptive approach will help address any academic challenges promptly.”

Reaffirm your commitment to your educational goals and the scholarship program. Summarize how the scholarship will impact your education and career prospects.

Example: “This scholarship will not only alleviate financial burdens but also enhance my academic endeavors by providing access to premier resources and networks. I am committed to upholding the standards of excellence expected of scholarship recipients.”

Keypoints for Study Plan for Scholarship Application

1. personal introduction.

• Full Name and contact information.
• Educational Background : Brief summary of current and past education.
• Academic Achievements : Highlight relevant awards and recognitions.

2. Objective of the Study Plan

• Purpose : Clarify the purpose of the scholarship and how it aligns with your academic and career goals.
• Outcome Expectations : Define what you intend to achieve by utilizing the scholarship.

3. Academic Goals

• Short-term Goals : List goals to be achieved during your scholarship period (e.g., GPA targets, specific project completions).
• Long-term Goals : Outline what you aim to achieve post-graduation and how the scholarship facilitates these ambitions.

4. Study Schedule

• Weekly and Daily Plans : Detail your class schedule, study hours, and any part-time job or extracurricular activities.
• Exam and Assignment Prep : Strategies for preparing for exams and completing assignments.
• Institutional Resources : Plan to use libraries, labs, tutoring centers, and any other academic resources offered by the educational institution.
• Personal Resources : Books, software, and other materials you will use independently.

6. Extracurricular Activities

• Clubs and Societies : Which groups you will join that are relevant to your studies and how they will help you achieve your goals.
• Volunteering : Any community service or volunteering plans that enhance your resume and personal growth.

7. Skills Development

• Academic Skills : Specific skills you intend to develop or improve, such as research techniques, writing skills, or analytical abilities.
• Professional Skills : Relevant skills to your field that you aim to acquire or enhance, such as programming, statistical analysis, or foreign languages.

8. Health and Well-being Plan

• Physical Health : Activities and routines to maintain physical health, like gym schedules, sports, or fitness classes.
• Mental Health : Strategies for stress management and mental well-being, including meditation, counseling, and healthy social interactions.

9. Progress Monitoring and Adjustments

• Review Intervals : Regular intervals at which you will review your progress towards your academic goals.
• Feedback Mechanisms : How you will gather and use feedback from professors, peers, and personal reflection to adjust your study plan.

10. Conclusion

• Reiteration of Commitment : Affirm your commitment to your educational goals and the effective use of the scholarship.
• Summary of Impact : Briefly summarize how the scholarship will help you meet your outlined academic and professional goals.

4+ Study Plan for Scholarship Application Examples

1. sample study plan for scholarship application.

2. Sample Study Plan for Scholarship Application

3. Bachelors Study Plan for Scholarship Application

4. Masters Study Plan for Scholarship Application

5. Study Plan for Abroad Scholarship Application

Importance of a Study Plan in Scholarship Applications

Evidence of Proactivity : It provides proof that the applicant is proactive about their education and not just academically competent but also well-organized and thoughtful.

Confidence Booster for Committees : Scholarship committees feel more confident about investing in students who show clear intent and preparedness towards their educational endeavors.

Framework for Success : The study plan acts as a framework that can significantly enhance the applicant’s ability to achieve their educational targets efficiently.

How to Devise an Impressive Study Plan for Scholarship Application?

There are probably hundreds of other hopeful students like you who are also aiming to get the scholarship. If you are one of many, rousing the committee will be a difficult task. One weakness or mistake, and your application documents might end up in the paper shredding machine. Ensure to avoid this unfortunate fate by showing off your essay writing skills with your study plan.

1. Highlight Your Achievements

The first thing you should consider in composing your study plan is to outline your academic achievements and academic background. Yes, you are writing this to impress, but you should also remember to include only honest facts of yourself. If you have received any award certificates for particular programs, you should detail them in your essay. Don’t forget to discuss how these attainments contributed to your decision in choosing their school, the scholarship, and the program/degree.

2. Set Your Academic Goals

The next step in your essay writing process is to talk about your long-term and short term academic goals . The committees will give extra attention to this segment. They will evaluate this as a determining factor to determine whether you are deserving of the scholarship or not. You should also align your academic goals to the degree or program you chose to take.

3. Provide a Timeline

Now that you have presented your goals, you should set aside a schedule or a timeline for each item you listed in your objectives. It is important to stay realistic and to know your limits. Do not set a career timeline you cannot follow. It will put you at a disadvantage in the long run. 

4. Detail Your Strategic Study Methods

After discussing what you want to achieve and the period to accomplish it, you should answer the how question. That said, you should enumerate a detailed list of the fruitful study strategies and habits you are willing to implement to achieve what you have written in your study plan. If your applying for an overseas scholarship, you should also include how you plan to learn their language.

What Should I Write in My Study Plan?

Outline your educational background, academic goals, detailed schedule, resource utilization, extracurricular activities, and strategies for maintaining physical and mental health. Emphasize how these elements help achieve your academic objectives.

How Do You Write a Future Study Plan for a Scholarship?

Include long-term academic targets, describe the preparation for major exams, detail intended use of institutional resources, and explain how you will engage with campus life and external opportunities to enhance your career prospects.

How Do I Create a Study Plan?

Start by setting clear, measurable academic goals. Break down your daily and weekly commitments, allocate time for revisions and breaks, utilize academic resources effectively, and incorporate time for extracurriculars to maintain a balanced schedule.

How Can I Focus 100% on Studying?

Create a distraction-free study environment, set specific goals for each study session, use techniques like the Pomodoro Technique for maintaining focus, and incorporate short breaks to prevent burnout and keep your mind fresh.

What is the 9 8 7 Study Method?

This method involves studying for 9 hours a day using a mix of 3 hours for new topics, 3 hours for review, and 3 hours for practice problems, followed by 8 hours of sleep, and 7 hours of relaxation, meals, and personal tasks.

What is the Study Plan for Student?

A student’s study plan should include a realistic schedule that balances study hours with classes, assignments, and exams. It should also outline strategies for effective learning, such as active recall and spaced repetition, and integrate time for rest and extracurricular activities.

How is a study plan essay from a study timetable?

The glaring difference between a study plan essay and a study timetable lies in their formatting. A study plan follows an essay structure, while a study timetable is a visual presentation of your daily or weekly study schedule . In addition to that, a study plan is a scholarship essay that presents your academic goals for the whole duration of your studying in a particular school, while the latter aims to achieve a daily or weekly goal.

What are examples of academic goals for a study plan?

Setting your academic goals in your study plan can be considerably influenced by the type of scholarship you want. If you are applying for a scholarship for a post graduate school program, you can include publishing a educational research in your goals. On the other hand, if you want to apply for an undergraduate scholarship, you can enhance your leadership and communication skills by joining extracurricular clubs and activities. You can also aim to achieve a certain GPA that you think is reachable for you

What are some productive study methods?

The first tip that you should consider is to look for a study-friendly place. If you have not discovered what type of learner you are, then you should conduct a self-assessment. Doing this will help you know what kind of methods are appropriate for you. In addition, based on the results of your assessment, you should prepare learning materials accordingly. If you learn better when you write, you can prepare notebooks for your notes. On the other hand, if you are an auditory learner, you should opt to prepare abooks. To make studying a routine, you can also construct a five day study plan .

It’s a no-brainer that underprivileged students do not have the same chances of getting a quality education as students from a well-off family. Despite that, there are sponsors, organizations, and universities willing to help open the doors of opportunities to these students. That said, once you come across this situation, exhaust all your efforts by composing an outstanding study plan for scholarship application. 

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Create a study plan for final exams in high school

Develop a project timeline for a middle school science fair.

Write Your Research Plan

In this part, we give you detailed information about writing an effective Research Plan. We start with the importance and parameters of significance and innovation.

We then discuss how to focus the Research Plan, relying on the iterative process described in the Iterative Approach to Application Planning Checklist shown at Draft Specific Aims  and give you advice for filling out the forms.

You'll also learn the importance of having a well-organized, visually appealing application that avoids common missteps and the importance of preparing your just-in-time information early.

While this document is geared toward the basic research project grant, the R01, much of it is useful for other grant types.

Table of Contents

Research plan overview and your approach, craft a title, explain your aims, research strategy instructions, advice for a successful research strategy, graphics and video, significance, innovation, and approach, tracking for your budget, preliminary studies or progress report, referencing publications, review and finalize your research plan, abstract and narrative.

Your application's Research Plan has two sections:

• Specific Aims —a one-page statement of your objectives for the project.
• Research Strategy —a description of the rationale for your research and your experiments in 12 pages for an R01.

In your Specific Aims, you note the significance and innovation of your research; then list your two to three concrete objectives, your aims.

Your Research Strategy is the nuts and bolts of your application, where you describe your research rationale and the experiments you will conduct to accomplish each aim. Though how you organize it is largely up to you, NIH expects you to follow these guidelines.

• Organize using bold headers or an outline or numbering system—or both—that you use consistently throughout.
• Start each section with the appropriate header: Significance, Innovation, or Approach.
• Organize the Approach section around your Specific Aims.

Format of Your Research Plan

To write the Research Plan, you don't need the application forms. Write the text in your word processor, turn it into a PDF file, and upload it into the application form when it's final.

Because NIH may return your application if it doesn't meet all requirements, be sure to follow the rules for font, page limits, and more. Read the instructions at NIH’s Format Attachments .

For an R01, the Research Strategy can be up to 12 pages, plus one page for Specific Aims. Don't pad other sections with information that belongs in the Research Plan. NIH is on the lookout and may return your application to you if you try to evade page limits.

Follow Examples

As you read this page, look at our Sample Applications and More  to see some of the different strategies successful PIs use to create an outstanding Research Plan.

Keeping It All In Sync

Writing in a logical sequence will save you time.

Information you put in the Research Plan affects just about every other application part. You'll need to keep everything in sync as your plans evolve during the writing phase.

It's best to consider your writing as an iterative process. As you develop and finalize your experiments, you will go back and check other parts of the application to make sure everything is in sync: the "who, what, when, where, and how (much money)" as well as look again at the scope of your plans.

In that vein, writing in a logical sequence is a good approach that will save you time. We suggest proceeding in the following order:

• Create a provisional title.
• Write a draft of your Specific Aims.
• Start with your Significance and Innovation sections.
• Then draft the Approach section considering the personnel and skills you'll need for each step.
• Evaluate your Specific Aims and methods in light of your expected budget (for a new PI, it should be modest, probably under the $250,000 for NIH's modular budget).
• As you design experiments, reevaluate your hypothesis, aims, and title to make sure they still reflect your plans.
• Prepare your Abstract (a summary of your Specific Aims).
• Complete the other forms.

Even the smaller sections of your application need to be well-organized and readable so reviewers can readily grasp the information. If writing is not your forte, get help.

To view writing strategies for successful applications, see our Sample Applications and More . There are many ways to create a great application, so explore your options.

Within the character limit, include the important information to distinguish your project within the research area, your project's goals, and the research problem.

Giving your project a title at the outset can help you stay focused and avoid a meandering Research Plan. So you may want to launch your writing by creating a well-defined title.

NIH gives you a 200 character limit, but don’t feel obliged to use all of that allotment. Instead, we advise you to keep the title as succinct as possible while including the important information to distinguish your project within the research area. Make your title reflect your project's goals, the problem your project addresses, and possibly your approach to studying it. Make your title specific: saying you are studying lymphocyte trafficking is not informative enough.

For examples of strong titles, see our Sample Applications and More .

After you write a preliminary title, check that

• My title is specific, indicating at least the research area and the goals of my project.
• It is 200 characters or less.
• I use as simple language as possible.
• I state the research problem and, possibly, my approach to studying it.
• I use a different title for each of my applications. (Note: there are exceptions, for example, for a renewal—see Apply for Renewal  for details.)
• My title has appropriate keywords.

Later you may want to change your initial title. That's fine—at this point, it's just an aid to keep your plans focused.

Since all your reviewers read your Specific Aims, you want to excite them about your project.

If testing your hypothesis is the destination for your research, your Research Plan is the map that takes you there.

You'll start by writing the smaller part, the Specific Aims. Think of the one-page Specific Aims as a capsule of your Research Plan. Since all your reviewers read your Specific Aims, you want to excite them about your project.

For more on crafting your Specific Aims, see Draft Specific Aims .

Write a Narrative

Use at least half the page to provide the rationale and significance of your planned research. A good way to start is with a sentence that states your project's goals.

For the rest of the narrative, you will describe the significance of your research, and give your rationale for choosing the project. In some cases, you may want to explain why you did not take an alternative route.

Then, briefly describe your aims, and show how they build on your preliminary studies and your previous research. State your hypothesis.

If it is likely your application will be reviewed by a study section with broad expertise, summarize the status of research in your field and explain how your project fits in.

In the narrative part of the Specific Aims of many outstanding applications, people also used their aims to

• State the technologies they plan to use.
• Note their expertise to do a specific task or that of collaborators.
• Describe past accomplishments related to the project.
• Describe preliminary studies and new and highly relevant findings in the field.
• Explain their area's biology.
• Show how the aims relate to one another.
• Describe expected outcomes for each aim.
• Explain how they plan to interpret data from the aim’s efforts.
• Describe how to address potential pitfalls with contingency plans.

Depending on your situation, decide which items are important for you. For example, a new investigator would likely want to highlight preliminary data and qualifications to do the work.

Many people use bold or italics to emphasize items they want to bring to the reviewers' attention, such as the hypothesis or rationale.

Detail Your Aims

After the narrative, enter your aims as bold bullets, or stand-alone or run-on headers.

• State your plans using strong verbs like identify, define, quantify, establish, determine.
• Describe each aim in one to three sentences.
• Consider adding bullets under each aim to refine your objectives.

How focused should your aims be? Look at the example below.

Spot the Sample

Read the Specific Aims of the Application from Drs. Li and Samulski , "Enhance AAV Liver Transduction with Capsid Immune Evasion."

• Aim 1. Study the effect of adeno-associated virus (AAV) empty particles on AAV capsid antigen cross-presentation in vivo .
• Aim 2. Investigate AAV capsid antigen presentation following administration of AAV mutants and/or proteasome inhibitors for enhanced liver transduction in vivo .
• Aim 3. Isolate AAV chimeric capsids with human hepatocyte tropism and the capacity for cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) evasion.

After finishing the draft Specific Aims, check that

• I keep to the one-page limit.
• Each of my two or three aims is a narrowly focused, concrete objective I can achieve during the grant.
• They give a clear picture of how my project can generate knowledge that may improve human health.
• They show my project's importance to science, how it addresses a critical research opportunity that can move my field forward.
• My text states how my work is innovative.
• I describe the biology to the extent needed for my reviewers.
• I give a rationale for choosing the topic and approach.
• I tie the project to my preliminary data and other new findings in the field.
• I explicitly state my hypothesis and why testing it is important.
• My aims can test my hypothesis and are logical.
• I can design and lead the execution of two or three sets of experiments that will strive to accomplish each aim.
• As much as possible, I use language that an educated person without expertise can understand.
• My text has bullets, bolding, or headers so reviewers can easily spot my aims (and other key items).

For each element listed above, analyze your text and revise it until your Specific Aims hit all the key points you'd like to make.

After the list of aims, some people add a closing paragraph, emphasizing the significance of the work, their collaborators, or whatever else they want to focus reviewers' attention on.

Your Research Strategy is the bigger part of your application's Research Plan (the other part is the Specific Aims—discussed above.)

The Research Strategy is the nuts and bolts of your application, describing the rationale for your research and the experiments you will do to accomplish each aim. It is structured as follows:

• Significance
• You can either include this information as a subsection of Approach or integrate it into any or all of the three main sections.
• If you do the latter, be sure to mark the information clearly, for example, with a bold subhead.
• Possible other sections, for example, human subjects, vertebrate animals, select agents, and others (these do not count toward the page limit).

Though how you organize your application is largely up to you, NIH does want you to follow these guidelines:

• Add bold headers or an outlining or numbering system—or both—that you use consistently throughout.
• Start each of the Research Strategy's sections with a header: Significance, Innovation, and Approach.

For an R01, the Research Strategy is limited to 12 pages for the three main sections and the preliminary studies only. Other items are not included in the page limit.

Find instructions for R01s in the SF 424 Application Guide—go to NIH's SF 424 (R&R) Application and Electronic Submission Information for the generic SF 424 Application Guide or find it in your notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).

For most applications, you need to address Rigor and Reproducibility by describing the experimental design and methods you propose and how they will achieve robust and unbiased results. The requirement applies to research grant, career development, fellowship, and training applications.

If you're responding to an institute-specific program announcement (PA) (not a parent program announcement) or a request for applications (RFA), check the NIH Guide notice, which has additional information you need. Should it differ from the NOFO, go with the NIH Guide .

Also note that your application must meet the initiative's objectives and special requirements. NIAID program staff will check your application, and if it is not responsive to the announcement, your application will be returned to you without a review.

When writing your Research Strategy, your goal is to present a well-organized, visually appealing, and readable description of your proposed project. That means your writing should be streamlined and organized so your reviewers can readily grasp the information. If writing is not your forte, get help.

There are many ways to create an outstanding Research Plan, so explore your options.

What Success Looks Like

Your application's Research Plan is the map that shows your reviewers how you plan to test your hypothesis.

It not only lays out your experiments and expected outcomes, but must also convince your reviewers of your likely success by allaying any doubts that may cross their minds that you will be able to conduct the research.

Notice in the sample applications how the writing keeps reviewers' eyes on the ball by bringing them back to the main points the PIs want to make. Write yourself an insurance policy against human fallibility: if it's a key point, repeat it, then repeat it again.

The Big Three

So as you write, put the big picture squarely in your sights. When reviewers read your application, they'll look for the answers to three basic questions:

• Can your research move your field forward?
• Is the field important—will progress make a difference to human health?
• Can you and your team carry out the work?

Add Emphasis

Savvy PIs create opportunities to drive their main points home. They don't stop at the Significance section to emphasize their project's importance, and they look beyond their biosketches to highlight their team's expertise.

Don't take a chance your reviewer will gloss over that one critical sentence buried somewhere in your Research Strategy or elsewhere. Write yourself an insurance policy against human fallibility: if it's a key point, repeat it, then repeat it again.

Add more emphasis by putting the text in bold, or bold italics (in the modern age, we skip underlining—it's for typewriters).

Here are more strategies from our successful PIs:

• While describing a method in the Approach section, they state their or collaborators' experience with it.
• They point out that they have access to a necessary piece of equipment.
• When explaining their field and the status of current research, they weave in their own work and their preliminary data.
• They delve into the biology of the area to make sure reviewers will grasp the importance of their research and understand their field and how their work fits into it.

You can see many of these principles at work in the Approach section of the Application from Dr. William Faubion , "Inflammatory cascades disrupt Treg function through epigenetic mechanisms."

• Reviewers felt that the experiments described for Aim 1 will yield clear results.
• The plans to translate those findings to gene targets of relevance are well outlined and focused.
• He ties his proposed experiments to the larger picture, including past research and strong preliminary data for the current application. 

Anticipate Reviewer Questions

Our applicants not only wrote with their reviewers in mind they seemed to anticipate their questions. You may think: how can I anticipate all the questions people may have? Of course you can't, but there are some basic items (in addition to the "big three" listed above) that will surely be on your reviewers' minds:

• Will the investigators be able to get the work done within the project period, or is the proposed work over ambitious?
• Did the PI describe potential pitfalls and possible alternatives?
• Will the experiments generate meaningful data?
• Could the resulting data prove the hypothesis?
• Are others already doing the work, or has it been already completed?

Address these questions; then spend time thinking about more potential issues specific to you and your research—and address those too.

For applications, a picture can truly be worth a thousand words. Graphics can illustrate complex information in a small space and add visual interest to your application.

Look at our sample applications to see how the investigators included schematics, tables, illustrations, graphs, and other types of graphics to enhance their applications.

Consider adding a timetable or flowchart to illustrate your experimental plan, including decision trees with alternative experimental pathways to help your reviewers understand your plans.

Plan Ahead for Video

If you plan to send one or more videos, you'll need to meet certain standards and include key information in your Research Strategy now.

To present some concepts or demonstrations, video may enhance your application beyond what graphics alone can achieve. However, you can't count on all reviewers being able to see or hear video, so you'll want to be strategic in how you incorporate it into your application.

Be reviewer-friendly. Help your cause by taking the following steps:

• Caption any narration in the video.
• Choose evocative still images from your video to accompany your summary.
• Write your summary of the video carefully so the text would make sense even without the video.

In addition to those considerations, create your videos to fit NIH’s technical requirements. Learn more in the SF 424 Form Instructions .

Next, as you write your Research Strategy, include key images from the video and a brief description.

Then, state in your cover letter that you plan to send video later. (Don't attach your files to the application.)

After you apply and get assignment information from the Commons, ask your assigned scientific review officer (SRO) how your business official should send the files. Your video files are due at least one month before the peer review meeting.

Know Your Audience's Perspective

The primary audience for your application is your peer review group. Learn how to write for the reviewers who are experts in your field and those who are experts in other fields by reading Know Your Audience .

Be Organized: A B C or 1 2 3?

In the top-notch applications we reviewed, organization ruled but followed few rules. While you want to be organized, how you go about it is up to you.

Nevertheless, here are some principles to follow:

• Start each of the Research Strategy's sections with a header: Significance, Innovation, and Approach—this you must do.

The Research Strategy's page limit—12 for R01s—is for the three main parts: Significance, Innovation, and Approach and your preliminary studies (or a progress report if you're renewing your grant). Other sections, for example, research animals or select agents, do not have a page limit.

Although you will emphasize your project's significance throughout the application, the Significance section should give the most details. Don't skimp—the farther removed your reviewers are from your field, the more information you'll need to provide on basic biology, importance of the area, research opportunities, and new findings.

When you describe your project's significance, put it in the context of 1) the state of your field, 2) your long-term research plans, and 3) your preliminary data.

In our Sample Applications , you can see that both investigators and reviewers made a case for the importance of the research to improving human health as well as to the scientific field.

Look at the Significance section of the Application from Dr. Mengxi Jiang , "Intersection of polyomavirus infection and host cellular responses," to see how these elements combine to make a strong case for significance.

• Dr. Jiang starts with a summary of the field of polyomavirus research, identifying critical knowledge gaps in the field.
• The application ties the lab's previous discoveries and new research plans to filling those gaps, establishing the significance with context.
• Note the use of formatting, whitespace, and sectioning to highlight key points and make it easier for reviewers to read the text.

After conveying the significance of the research in several parts of the application, check that

• In the Significance section, I describe the importance of my hypothesis to the field (especially if my reviewers are not in it) and human disease.
• I also point out the project's significance throughout the application.
• The application shows that I am aware of opportunities, gaps, roadblocks, and research underway in my field.
• I state how my research will advance my field, highlighting knowledge gaps and showing how my project fills one or more of them.
• Based on my scan of the review committee roster, I determine whether I cannot assume my reviewers will know my field and provide some information on basic biology, the importance of the area, knowledge gaps, and new findings.

If you are either a new PI or entering a new area: be cautious about seeming too innovative. Not only is innovation just one of five review criteria, but there might be a paradigm shift in your area of science. A reviewer may take a challenge to the status quo as a challenge to his or her world view.

When you look at our sample applications, you see that both the new and experienced investigators are not generally shifting paradigms. They are using new approaches or models, working in new areas, or testing innovative ideas.

After finishing the draft innovation section, check that

• I show how my proposed research is new and unique, e.g., explores new scientific avenues, has a novel hypothesis, will create new knowledge.
• Most likely, I explain how my project's research can refine, improve, or propose a new application of an existing concept or method.
• Make a very strong case for challenging the existing paradigm.
• Have data to support the innovative approach.
• Have strong evidence that I can do the work.

In your Approach, you spell out a few sets of experiments to address each aim. As we noted above, it's a good idea to restate the key points you've made about your project's significance, its place in your field, and your long-term goals.

You're probably wondering how much detail to include.

If you look at our sample applications as a guide, you can see very different approaches. Though people generally used less detail than you'd see in a scientific paper, they do include some experimental detail.

Expect your assigned reviewers to scrutinize your approach: they will want to know what you plan to do and how you plan to do it.

NIH data show that of the peer review criteria, approach has the highest correlation with the overall impact score.

Look at the Application from Dr. Mengxi Jiang , "Intersection of polyomavirus infection and host cellular responses," to see how a new investigator handled the Approach section.

For an example of an experienced investigator's well-received Approach section, see the Application from Dr. William Faubion , "Inflammatory cascades disrupt Treg function through epigenetic mechanisms."

Especially if you are a new investigator, you need enough detail to convince reviewers that you understand what you are undertaking and can handle the method.

• Cite a publication that shows you can handle the method where you can, but give more details if you and your team don't have a proven record using the method—and state explicitly why you think you will succeed.
• If space is short, you could also focus on experiments that highlight your expertise or are especially interesting. For experiments that are pedestrian or contracted out, just list the method.

Be sure to lay out a plan for alternative experiments and approaches in case you get negative or surprising results. Show reviewers you have a plan for spending the four or five years you will be funded no matter where the experiments lead.

See the Application from Drs. Li and Samulski , "Enhance AAV Liver Transduction with Capsid Immune Evasion," for a strong Approach section covering potential. As an example, see section C.1.3.'s alternative approaches.

Here are some pointers for organizing your Approach:

• Enter a bold header for each Specific Aim.
• Under each aim, describe the first set of experiments.
• If you get result X, you will follow pathway X; if you get result Y, you will follow pathway Y.
• Consider illustrating this with a flowchart.

Trim the fat—omit all information not needed to make your case. If you try to wow reviewers with your knowledge, they'll find flaws and penalize you heavily. Don't give them ammunition by including anything you don't need.

As you design your experiments, keep a running tab of the following essential data on a separate piece of paper:

• Who. A list of people who will help you for your Key Personnel section later.
• What. A list of equipment and supplies for the experiments you plan.
• Time. Notes on how long each step takes. Timing directly affects your budget as well as how many Specific Aims you can realistically achieve.

Jotting this information down will help you Create a Budget and complete other sections later.

After finishing a draft Approach section, check that

• I include enough background and preliminary data to give reviewers the context and significance of my plans.
• They can test the hypothesis (or hypotheses).
• I show alternative experiments and approaches in case I get negative or surprising results.
• My experiments can yield meaningful data to test my hypothesis (or hypotheses).
• As a new investigator, I include enough detail to convince reviewers I understand and can handle a method. I reviewed the sample applications to see how much detail to use.
• If I or my team has experience with a method, I cite it; otherwise I include enough details to convince reviewers we can handle it.
• I describe the results I anticipate and their implications.
• I omit all information not needed to state my case.
• I keep track of and explain who will do what, what they will do, when and where they will do it, how long it will take, and how much money it will cost.
• My timeline shows when I expect to complete my aims.

If you are applying for a new application, include preliminary studies; for a renewal or a revision (a competing supplement to an existing grant), prepare a progress report instead.

Describing Preliminary Studies

Your preliminary studies show that you can handle the methods and interpret results. Here's where you build reviewer confidence that you are headed in the right direction by pursuing research that builds on your accomplishments.

Reviewers use your preliminary studies together with the biosketches to assess the investigator review criterion, which reflects the competence of the research team.

Give alternative interpretations to your data to show reviewers you've thought through problems in-depth and are prepared to meet future challenges. If you don't do this, the reviewers will!

Though you may include other people's publications, focus on your preliminary data or unpublished data from your lab and the labs of your team members as much as you can.

As we noted above, you can put your preliminary data anywhere in the Research Strategy that you feel is appropriate, but just make sure your reviewers will be able to distinguish it. Alternatively, you can create a separate section with its own header.

Including a Progress Report

If you are applying for a renewal or a revision (a competing supplement to an existing grant), prepare a progress report instead of preliminary studies.

Create a header so your program officer can easily find it and include the following information:

• Project period beginning and end dates.
• Summary of the importance of your findings in relation to your Specific Aims.
• Account of published and unpublished results, highlighting your progress toward achieving your Specific Aims.

Note: if you submit a renewal application before the due date of your progress report, you do not need to submit a separate progress report for your grant. However, you will need to submit it, if your renewal is not funded.

After finishing the draft, check that

• I interpret my preliminary results critically.
• There is enough information to show I know what I'm talking about.
• If my project is complex, I give more preliminary studies.
• I show how my previous experience prepared me for the new project.
• It's clear which data are mine and which are not.

References show your breadth of knowledge of the field. If you leave out an important work, reviewers may assume you're not aware of it.

Throughout your application, you will reference all relevant publications for the concepts underlying your research and your methods.

Read more about your Bibliography and References Cited at Add a Bibliography and Appendix .

• Throughout my application I cite the literature thoroughly but not excessively, adding citations for all references important to my work.
• I cite all papers important to my field, including those from potential reviewers.
• I include fewer than 100 citations (if possible).
• My Bibliography and References Cited form lists all my references.
• I refer to unpublished work, including information I learned through personal contacts.
• If I do not describe a method, I add a reference to the literature.

Look over what you've written with a critical eye of a reviewer to identify potential questions or weak spots.

Enlist others to do that too—they can look at your application with a fresh eye. Include people who aren't familiar with your research to make sure you can get your point across to someone outside your field.

As you finalize the details of your Research Strategy, you will also need to return to your Specific Aims to see if you must revise. See Draft Specific Aims .

After you finish your Research Plan, you are ready to write your Abstract (called Project Summary/Abstract) and Project Narrative, which are attachments to the Other Project Information form.

These sections may be small, but they're important.

• All your peer reviewers read your Abstract and narrative.
• Staff and automated systems in NIH's Center for Scientific Review use them to decide where to assign your application, even if you requested an institute and study section.
• They show the importance and health relevance of your research to members of the public and Congress who are interested in what NIH is funding with taxpayer dollars.

Be sure to omit confidential or proprietary information in these sections! When your application is funded, NIH enters your title and Abstract in the public RePORTER database.

Think brief and simple: to the extent that you can, write these sections in lay language, and include appropriate keywords, e.g., immunotherapy, genetic risk factors.

As NIH referral officers use these parts to direct your application to an institute for possible funding, your description can influence the choice they make.

Write a succinct summary of your project that both a scientist and a lay person can understand (to the extent that you can).

• Use your Specific Aims as a template—shorten it and simplify the language.
• In the first sentence, state the significance of your research to your field and relevance to NIAID's mission: to better understand, treat, and prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.
• Next state your hypothesis and the innovative potential of your research.
• Then list and briefly describe your Specific Aims and long-term objectives.

In your Project Narrative, you have only a few sentences to drive home your project's potential to improve public health.

Check out these effective Abstracts and Narratives from our R01  Sample Applications :

• Application from Dr. Mengxi Jiang , "Intersection of polyomavirus infection and host cellular responses"
• Application from Dr. William Faubion , "Inflammatory cascades disrupt Treg function through epigenetic mechanisms"
• My Project Summary/Abstract and Project Narrative (and title) are accessible to a broad audience.
• They describe the significance of my research to my field and state my hypothesis, my aims, and the innovative potential of my research.
• My narrative describes my project's potential to improve public health.
• I do not include any confidential or proprietary information.
• I do not use graphs or images.
• My Abstract has keywords that are appropriate and distinct enough to avoid confusion with other terms.
• My title is specific and informative.

Previous Step

Have questions.

A program officer in your area of science can give you application advice, NIAID's perspective on your research, and confirmation that your proposed research fits within NIAID’s mission.

Find contacts and instructions at When to Contact an NIAID Program Officer .

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Subreddit dedicated to the MEXT Scholarship and studying in Japan in general

[GUIDE] Writing a Research Plan

Hello! I have been noticing many people seem to be lost when it comes to their research plans. Moreover, some people seem to be having some... Difficulties... In searching the subreddit for advice before they post.

I was an applicant last year and am soon moving to Japan to be a research scholar. I've also previously written a comment about the research plan, but I wanted to put it in a formal post for ease of access. I hope somebody finds this useful.

Disclaimer: I am one scholar with one set of perspectives. There are many others who will likely disagree with some of the things I say here. I could also potentially be giving advice that does not maximize your chances of earning the scholarship. Other resources are out there if you just spend a little bit of time to look for them. Do not use just one post to completely guide your writing.

Goals of the MEXT Research Proposal

Before you can write a good research proposal, you should probably be aware of what exactly the aim of this document is. Yes, in some way, you are telling MEXT what your plans are for research. In others though, this is a largely academic exercise. Your research plans will likely drastically change if you are accepted, and MEXT is aware of this. The research proposal is thus a document that shows to your admissions panel and potential advisors that you are a serious researcher and can come up with a solid plan on your own. Thus, my first piece of advice is:

Always keep in mind this is an aspirational document, not a statement of exactly what you will do in Japan. So, make your plan specific, but not too specific in that your plan is inflexible. This way, it will not only have a good chance to impress the interview panel, but it will also be able to gain the interest of many potential advisors, if you are to pass the first screening.

Picking a Topic

Are you lost on where to start? Well, this part is largely on you, but there are some tips I can give.

Your field cannot deviate too far from your undergraduate major, unless there are other factors such as work experience that could allow you to reasonably enter a new field. For instance, if your field is biochemistry, making a swap to gender studies would likely not be possible.

Your topics have already been quite narrowed down! For the next part you have to really look inward and find a specific topic you are interested in. My secret here is to read research papers from Japanese professors. Shocking, right? Actually reading papers is something you are going to have to do a lot as a researcher, and why not get started now? You will get ideas of what your field is actually like in Japan. See if any topics interest you, and take particular note of those topics that seem specific to Japan.

The Requirements

Before I talk about writing the proposal's main body, I must talk about the document's requirements. You are to complete your research proposal on just two pages. This includes the front sheet, with all the instructions and the short research theme section. You may attach a references page separately, but the main body of your proposal may not exceed the contents of those two pages.

The research theme section is pretty simple. You should just summarize your plan and field in one or two sentences, using whichever words are necessary to describe it succinctly.

Writing the Bare Minimum

So, you've picked a topic and maybe even found some potential advisors that work with that topic! Now, you're ready to begin writing, but you've run into a problem. The document is super vague and doesn't tell you what it wants! No worries. I'm going to provide here an outline including just the very bare minimum that your research proposal must include, and what it should accomplish.

An Introduction

In this first part, you need to explain to a panel of people who are not experts in your field what exactly your field is. Start very broadly and work your way into gradually higher levels of specificity.

A Research Problem

After describing what your field is, you need to identify and explain a specific problem within it that could be solved by research. Ideally, this problem is one specific to Japan.

The Thesis Statement

All good pieces of academic writing contain one or a few sentences that basically reveal the research plan. Give a brief summary in a sentence or two of how you are going to solve the research problem you just described before going any further into details.

Your Methodology

Here you will explain how you will carry out your research plan. What tools you are going to use, what data you are going to draw from and how you will collect it, how you will process your data, among other things. Be as thorough and detailed with this section as you can be.

The Desired Outcomes

After you've gone through your methods, the panel should have a very good idea of what your research is and how you will carry it out. Now, you should tell them what good it actually does! Again, make this part related to Japan. Explain the potential benefits of your research, demonstrate what burning questions it could answer, etc.

If you include just these elements, you have a pretty good basic research plan.

Going Above and Beyond

There are other things you can include to impress those reading your proposal and to show them you've really done your homework. These items are all optional, but I believe them to be helpful if done properly.

A Literature Review

Instead of matter-of-factly stating your research problem in your own words, why not provide background on what the current state of your field is by citing research? Include embedded, properly-cited text to show your panel what current experts are saying about the field. Attach a separate citations sheet to the end of your proposal.

If you are particularly aware of how long your research could take or can provide a quantitatively-defined estimate of how long it could take, then make sure to include that around the end of the methodology section. Be sure to appropriately assess what could be reasonably accomplished within that time. Do not include one if you are not sure about this or would just be making a number up.

A Cost Estimate

If your research tools are pricey or there are some obvious expected costs that you can estimate, this is something you could include. In general, I would say this item is very unnecessary, especially for such a preliminary document. Again, do not just make something up; if you have no reason to include it, just don't.

Some Research Questions

Around the final desired outcomes section, starting it off with specific questions that your research aims to answer is a very good way of explicitly stating what you want your research to do. Which burning questions in your field do you think need to be solved and WILL be solved by your research? List them off before going into some of the other benefits your research will provide.

Refining and Consulting

When you are finished writing, try your best to make sure everything you are stating is accurate to your field. Remember, this is the most important document for PG applicants. Do not cut corners. You need to accurately represent extant research, your plans, and what they can accomplish. Proofread many many many times.

It is okay to seek consultations on your research plan, but DO NOT DO SO WITH OTHER MEXT APPLICANTS. Additionally, DO NOT SEEK OUT CURRENT OR PAST MEXT SCHOLARS AND ASK THEM TO PROOFREAD YOUR PLAN. Your plan is not something you can share with anybody involved in MEXT. There are other resources you can use, such as a writing center or an alumni center for your undergraduate institution. Consulting with past professors too can be a good option.

Further Questions

If you have any further questions regarding the research plan, please please please search the subreddit, on Google, or even ask your embassy before coming here to ask. Many questions have been asked dozens if not hundreds of times already. Being a good researcher is what this scholarship is all about, so get started early by being a good researcher regarding the guidelines. I will not answer generic questions here.

If you have any questions about this post in particular and you can't find it elsewhere, or if you want me to elaborate on something I've said here, leave a comment and I will try my best to get back to you whenever I can.

Happy writing, everyone.

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MEXT Graduate Scholarship: Research Project (3/3)

Finally, here’s the post about the most important part of the application: the research project. There is multiple difficulties to writing it, one pertaining to the format, the other one to the content.

Format of the proposal

The first issue is to understand how the proposal is physically structured. Two documents are required: one named « Field of Study and Research Program Plan » (FSRPP) and another you have to write yourself on a blank sheet (let’s call it BSRP). The FSRPP contains three questions and it doesn’t help that the last two of them are quite similar. Compare Your research topic in Japan: Describe articulately the research you wish to carry out in Japan vs Study program in Japan: (Describe in detail and with specifics — particularly concerning the ultimate goal(s) of your research in Japan) . Because they are so similar I treated them a one question, but put emphasis on details in the second one. However, I would recommend you not to start with this sheet, actually. The fact is, you can fill it quite easily after you write a sound research project. And this is exactly what is asked for the BSRP.

What is a research proposal?

Research proposal is a short description of the subject you intent to tackle, the methodology to carry it and the expected results. It should include context and explain why it matters. After all, you’re asking for money and people/organizations want to spend their money wisely. Moreover, it should be understandable by non technical people (most reviewers of your proposal won’t be scientists) but still shows you know your shit.

Let’s look at some example. It found this proposal on the web and anonymized it. Its author asked for feedback, so here is my feedback.

Study Field Example

Do you understand what its author want to do?

I don’t. And it is the third or fourth time I read it. What is clear is that the author doesn’t really know more than us. There isn’t even the embryo of a research project in there. It is an example of what would lead to direct rejection. Indeed, he was rejected after tests and interview.

What not to do

Biggest errors here (no particular order): A) He doesn’t seem to master anything in his field. Even if he applied for a master level scholarship and thus couldn’t really know how to do research, it’s clear his proposal was not readed by any academics for correction.

B) He doesn’t say which problem he wants to solve . «  The continued research into metallurgy is of grave importance for any country that wants to be one of the leading countries in the field as it is a field that grows with an exponential speed right now with all from making alloys that we didn’t thought was possible before to ways of production we couldn’t imagine before, I want to be part of this journey and do all I can to help it along.  » It doesn’t inform the reader about anything nor what he wants to do. Every field is progressing fast these days. Also the sentence is too long.

C) Next sentence «  The reason why I want to do this in Japan is to accumulate the knowledge of two of the leading countries, Sweden and Japan, when it comes to metallurgy to be able to drive the development forward and bring both countries research communities closer together be the dominant forces in the industry.  » Yeah, ok, you’re supposed to say that you will bridge a gap between two countries, but you aren’t supposed to say it that directly. Moreover with no concrete way to achieve it in the slightest fashion, it just seems like empty talk.

D) Me, me, me . Look at how many « I » and « I want » there is. This is a one stone two birds mistake: first the scholarship is not only about you. It is in the end how Japan earn something by supporting you through funding. Secondly, Japanese culture tend to lower the individual vs the group. So try not to be too self-centered in your proposal; put the accent on your project instead.

E) Citing professors in Sweden. Hey, Japanese not only doesn’t know them but they don’t care either . If you want to interest them, speak about Japanese professors . They will know them and/or research about them. In addition, it demonstrates (1) you did your homework of finding professors in Japan and (2) your project is related to Japan. If Dr Foreigner, PhD is the worldwide expert on something, why not studying under him instead of Japan?

I cannot emphasise this point more. Japanese professors are the key to your application. I didn’t speak of them directly in my written application but mentioned them during the interview. One jury member told me something around this line: it is good you speak about the prof in your presentation, because it was missing in your application. So it is a very important point.

F) Timetable. This is internet bullshit advise. In addition the jury don’t want to know the class you will take (you’ll go for research, earning a degree is more like a side effect). In that document, putting everything related to the field in a big list showed more that he doesn’t master anything about his domain. Of course, you can show that you’re willing to learn things that you don’t know yet, but it should not sounds like you don’t know anything either.

Not writing a timetable was advised to me by a Japanese professor. If you can find one, whatever his field is, ask him to have a look to your proposal. He will read it with his Japanese-eyes, process it with his Japanese-brain and give you a Japanese-advice. It can’t hurt you because you’re applying to do Japanese-research in the Japanese-country.

E) References not found! Hey dude, you’re applying for a research scholarship . What make something immediately research y ? References, you named it. Your proposal must include some bibliographic items, not only to make it looks serious but also to ground it in the current research landscape.

Don’t do it alone; ask for feedback

Let’s speak frankly, your project need to be reviewed otherwise you’ll likely make big mistakes. The more the better. Find an English native speaker or a friend better than you in English and make him check the language of your final proposal. Ask your current professors about the soundness of your project. Make them read your proposal. Make your friend majoring in History of Art read it. If he don’t understand it, rewrite it so he could get the gist of it. A random people should be able to understand basically what you want to do and be enthusiastic about it.

You don’t need the proposal to be written yet. Speak about your ideas. If you can’t express your project in two/three sentences, it’s a red fag. Then put more thought on it. It is an iterative process.

Thanks to feedback I ditched an entire project . It was not easy. I spend months on that idea, it was the following of one of my master thesis, but it wasn’t good enough. So I thought about why I wanted to do that project, extracted the motivation behind it and wrote a brand new proposal from scratch. I read a lot of papers to valid my intuition and find something that haven’t been done before. This was a lot of stress in particular because I started running out of time. But I did it and I’m glad I changed project because the other one would have failed. So, it leads us to the next point.

Start early and take your time

This scholarship is hugely time consuming and to some extend sanity crushing. So, start really early, like a year before the year you want to apply. It mean if your project is to got in Japan in 2020, start working on it in 2018 so you can apply on the 2019 recruiting session. You’ll need a lot of time to fill the paperwork and 10 times more to write a good project. Especially the paperwork is really annoying so get them as soon as possible to avoid last minute problems with printers or the administration.

Actually, I made it this as far as to take a year off and live on social welfare (btw, I don’t advice you to do that, high level autism skill is required to live without speaking with people for weeks and without a structured schedule). That wasn’t totally easy especially because some people didn’t understood that choice and were against it. But I known that I needed my full attention and the liberty to travel at anytime, which was not compatible with having a job. And indeed this liberty was used more than once because I traveled two times within France to meet professors (the second meetings led to my project rewrite), once to Japan again were I spoke with multiple professors and attended an international conference and multiples times to Paris for documents, languages tests (the embassy one and the JLPT) and the final interview. It also cost some money, so I advice you to take that in account and save accordingly if this is a problem for you.

Of course, you probably don’t need to take a year off especially if you have academic support in your current institution. But be prepared to work a lot on your application if you want to but successful.

A good proposal example

Let’s now have a look to a good proposal. It’s mine and I got embassy recommendation with it.

My Research Proposal

First, notice the formatting of the document. Each subsection has its own header. Every section is at most two paragraphs long. The document starts with the research problem to solve and ends by a list of references.

Now, look at the Context section. It serves multiples purposes: (1) demonstrating my knowledge of the field, (2) exposing technical words and concepts that will be used later on, (3) explaining what the field is about.

The intended approach section explains how I plan to achieve to solve the stated problems. It is an important part because you should demonstrate that your research is achievable and that you can pursue it.

The details section could have been named buzzword instead. Contrary to the other parts of the document, this one is more targeted at specialists. It is here to show some technical expertise by using key words from the field (client-server, algorithm, shell) with some trendy words added (clustering, which is a machine learning technic) for good mesure. Of course, they are used in a way that it make sense, I wasn’t writing some parody of a GAFA newest press release.

Finally the impact section details in layman terms what is the expected, concrete and long-term effect of the research. This is the only part were I allowed myself to write trivia (e.g. In a world globalizing more quickly than ever ) and some far-fetched implication ( smoother international business and relationships ). This is the sell dream section. Everybody should be able to understand it, and moreover to find something attractive to it. Here people, governments and businesses have one of their concern addressed.

Of course, don’t copy my proposal . This is not a 100% pass method so don’t copy every section, the whole structure or anything literally. You should take some inspiration but write your proposal in your own way. The main point is to write something appealing and understandable by a wide audience that is properly structured.

Back to the Field of Study and Research Program Plan

One you wrote a proposal that way reviewed by multiple people, you can wrote the document 5 of the application. Here is mine .

The present field of study question is the easiest to answer. Just put down the best keyword(s) to describe your field. I choose to a do it in a hierarchical fashion so people could understand the relation to my degrees. I advice to do so if your speciality is not well known. For instance: Mathematics, Algebra, Group Theory instead of just Group Theory . If you wrote your bachelor/master thesis or papers related to this field, write them below to show some expertise.

Question 2: Your research topic in Japan

Once you wrote your full proposal, answering this question should be easy. Just take your main ideas and rewrite them as paragraphs of two/three sentences. Notice how I make use of headers again and how the first sections (Context, Issue, Research Questions) are actually the same as in the proposal (Research Questions, Context, Problems) in a different order. Of course, you don’t have to proceed in the same exact way, but at this point your application must show congruence: don’t raise questions that won’t be in the full proposal.

Question 3: Study program in Japan

It looks like the same, but the parenthesis in English and the Japanese instruction speak about details. The Japanese mention another important word: 具体 (gutai) which mean concrete. So this is the section where so should give details on how your project will be done, were and with who. In this part I gave information that are not in the research proposal per se .

Writing the proposal is hard because it must be short. Everyone can write a ten pages proposal, but writing a compelling one in two pages is way harder. It is an iterative process, you can’t write something meeting the passing bar on your first try without any review. Produce intermediate documents if it helps (personally, I wrote a one page draft in French to send it to some prof to gauge the water). And start early.

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1 réflexion au sujet de “MEXT Graduate Scholarship: Research Project (3/3)”

Merci, Louis! I plan to apply for a master’s program for 2022 and I have been reading a lot about how to approach the field of study and research plan part of the MEXT scholarship application. Your blog was quite easy to follow and clear. It also helped me greatly that your field of study is similar to mine, so I could better understand how to structure it.

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TranSenz: MEXT Scholarship and Visa Information for Moving to Japan

Mext scholarship: field of study and research program plan.

The goal of your Field of Study is to condense all of this down to a page or two of comprehensible research plan.

Important Update!

In June 2017, I published an updated template for the Field of Study and Research Program Plan (for either Embassy-recommended or University-recommended application). Click the previous link for that article!

The Field of Study and Research Program Plan is both the most important and most confusing form in your Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship application. By the end of this article, you’re going to know what it is, why it matters, and how to write it- from what to include to how to approach revisions and outside editing.

Before you start, know that you’re going to need to spend time researching, writing, and revising this form. It is the single-most important tool you have at this point in your application to earn a scholarship that could be worth millions of yen. Other forms in your application will determine if you’re eligible to apply or not, but once you apply, this will decide your success.

Field of Study and Research Program Plan: What it Is

Need help with your Field of Study and Research Program Plan? How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan will walk you through choosing a field, developing a research question, and completing the final report to give you the best chance of success!

Proposed study program in Japan (State the outline of your major field of study on this side and the details of your study program on the backside of this sheet in concreteness. This section will be used as one of the most important references for selection. Statement must be typewritten or written in block letters. Additional sheets of paper may be attached if necessary.) If you have Japanese language ability, write in Japanese.

I said it was innocent. I didn’t say it was clear.

• Language: Write in the language of the program you are applying for. If you’re applying for an English-taught degree, write in English, even if you have Japanese ability. Be consistent throughout your application.  

Your field of study is not just the general field, this is the specific topic that you want to research for your graduation thesis. You don’t necessarily need your thesis statement at this point, but you at least need to have a specific problem in mind.

So, rather than “economics” you’re looking for “comparative impact of large infrastructure economic projects and microfinance on rural community rehabilitation in Indonesia.”

We’ll get into some of the specific elements to cover farther down.  

• For Embassy-Recommended Scholars : There is an extra section on your application to write about your current field of study, as well.  
• Research Program Plan: What you’re looking for here is a detailed timeline of the exact actions you’re going to take during your research. You won’t be covering your research topic so much as the practical process.  

I would recommend adding no more than 1 sheet to each section. You could go more if your field of study absolutely requires graphs or images, but the rule of thumb is use the minimum length required to get your message across.

Why this Form Matters

If you look at the whole set of application materials, this is the only form that you have control over at this time.

Your grades and GPA are set. Your thesis all-but done. The contents of your letter of recommendation aren’t really significant (more on that in another article).

When universities get in all their applications, the first thing they are going to do is rank applicants by field according to their GPA. After that, your Field of Study and Research Program Plan is your best way to move up that ranking.

Like it or not, the Monbukagakusho Scholarship is a zero-sum game. If you want the scholarship, you have to beat out everyone else that wants it. So, you need to be as high on the applicant ranking as you can before the interviews start.

Field of Study: Page 1

According to an MEXT application FAQ that you can find on several Japanese embassy websites, your Field of Study needs to cover (Question 10):

• “A specific amount of your research topic”
• Methodology (this is page 2)
• How your research fits in to the current research being done in the field
• Why your research must be done at a Japanese university

The FAQ also says that your research plan should be something that you would feel comfortable submitting as a research proposal to a graduate school in [your home country]. This is a huge hint!

You may not have experience in submitting a research proposal, but I guarantee your academic advisor does. You can and absolutely should get advise from academic professionals!

By the way, if you’re reading these articles out of order, go back to the Choosing Your University article. I talk there about narrowing down your search to a specific professor at a specific university. As you write your Field of Study, remember you are writing to this professor.

When you give a “specific amount” of your research topic, you should know where your target professor sits in the field of research and pitch your research relative to the professor.  

• Methodology You will go into the practical methodology on page two. For here, it should suffice to explain what approach you will take to the topic: quantitative analysis, experimentation, historical analysis, comparison, field studies, etc. Note that the intent to conduct field studies outside of Japan can be a disqualifying factor.  

As I mentioned in the Eligibility Criteria article , your Field of Study needs to be the same field that you majored in in your previous degree, or a related field. So, at this point, you should have a good grasp of the state of the field. It wouldn’t hurt to check with your current advisor, either.

Know where your target professor sits in the field, as well. You should know the professor’s current research interests and make sure you position your research relative to that professor.  

Yes, non-specialists will read your proposal. Both faculty members from other departments in your graduate school and admin staff from the university and MEXT. When you cover your research field, you can target that section at people who understand your field, but when you get to the “must be done in Japan” and the impact statement, below, you are addressing everyone outside your field as well.

The best thing you can do here is to talk about practical examples of success in Japan that you want to study and apply to your home country. Flattery doesn’t hurt, either- talk about unique research advances in Japan or the state of the field in Japan as opposed to other countries. Talk about how you want to use your research to strengthen connections between Japan and your home country (this is the purpose of the Monbukagakusho scholarship, after all).

Obviously, “Because I can get a scholarship” is not a good reason.  

If you’re concerned that your description of your research topic is too technical and inaccessible for non-experts, this is another area where you can appeal to that crowd.  

• Other Requirements Some universities may require that you specify your advisor by name in the Field of Study, or at least your graduate school and department. If you’re preparing your Field of Study in advance, as you should be, then make sure you check the university’s website when the guidelines are (finally) released to make sure you’re meeting all the requirements.

Tips for Writing Your Study Plan

This is not something you’re going to want to leave until the last minute. Even though it’s only two pages long, take it as seriously as you would a graduate thesis. After all, this single document is going to go a long way toward whether or not you spend the next two-to-five years getting paid to be a grad student in Japan.

One guy who earned the scholarship in the past in art recommended starting 6 months in advance . That’s a great idea, especially combined with networking, if you’re reading this early enough. But if you don’t have that kind of time, you can still help yourself out by moving faster.

I recommend you go through at least two drafts on your own, then take your product around for outside opinions:

• Have your current advisor review it and give feedback. You want the perspective of a career academic and an expert in the field.  
• Have a non-expert review it. Ask a professor in an unrelated field or an adult friend with professional working experience. Your goal here is not so much the research as it is the flow of the document and whether it makes any sense at all to a person who doesn’t know what you’re talking about.  
• If you’re not a native English speaker, have a native speaker review it. Even if you’re confident in your English communication ability, remember, you’re not writing for a native speaker- you’re writing for Japanese speakers of English. Speaking from experience, they have a very different take on the language, so you want to make sure you have nothing in your Field of Study that could be misinterpreted.  
• Have a writing advisor review it, even if you are a native speaker. Your university might have an academic tutorial system that you can ask, or you can ask someone in your department who is known for being a hard-nosed paper grader. You want to make sure that you don’t have any writing idiosyncrasies or mistakes that you’re not aware of.  
• Have your target advisor review it. If you’ve successfully connected with your target advisor, you obviously want that professor’s opinion. Make sure to go through the other steps first, though, so you know the document you send the professor is top quality already! You don’t want to make them think less of you.  

That’s brainstorming, research, two drafts on your own, as many as five reviews, and edits after each one, so don’t procrastinate. In fact, if you haven’t started yet, don’t read the rest of this blog. Go start your Field of Study now!

Even if you’re reading this after the application period has already started, you do still have time. Make sure that you make this your top priority for the next month or so until it’s complete!

Further Ideas

For further, field-specific guidelines, talk to your advisor about structure or google “research plan” and your field. Louisiana Tech, in the US, has a pretty good set of research plan guidelines , but be aware that these are designed for science field graduates seeking an academic job , so they’re more thorough than you need to be.

The most important thing is to avoid “paralysis by analysis.” Don’t overthink and double-question what elements you should have in your proposal. Start writing it and then seek advice. You can always add or cut later.

Research Program Plan

Once you’ve finished the Field of Study, perhaps while you’re waiting for the review, you’ll want to get started on the Research Program Plan. Fortunately, this page should be relatively straightforward.

In terms of length, the one page you’re given on the worksheet should be plenty for this section. I’ve seen many successful plans that were shorter than that. As with the Field of Study, this section should only be as long as it needs to be to get your point across.

And your point here is to show the reviewers that you know what you’re doing. One thing a professor is going to think about it how much trouble it’s going to be to supervise your research. They want to see that you have the basics of research down so that their guidance can focus more on your content, rather than fundamentals.

What to Cover

Your Research Program Plan should take the reviewers step-by-step through everything you intend to do on your way to your thesis or dissertation. Of course this is going to change once you get in to the research, but you want to have a framework to return to.

Your research plan should cover two years for a Master’s Degree and three for a Ph.D. You should definitely check your university’s website to find their academic calendar and structure your research along the lines of their semesters (you’ll be working through any breaks as well, of course).

For a little extra, check when they normally schedule their thesis submission and defense in the calendar and make sure the timeline in your Research Program Plan fits their schedule. If this information isn’t available on their website, it’s not worth going out of the way for, but if you can find it, it makes a nice additional touch.

Now that you have your basic calendar down, it’s time to make a timeline of how you will approach your research. The blogger I mentioned above (who earned the scholarship) wrote his as a month-by-month table, and that is certainly a workable solution. Again, the professors reviewing your application are not native English speakers and a table is easier to read.

You will, of course, want to elaborate a little on the contents of the table.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to research plans. If you’re applying in a humanities field, you’re going to need to take different steps than an applicant in engineering would. This is a good place to seek your current academic advisor’s advice, but here are a few of the common characteristics I’ve seen in successful applications in the past:

• Literature review  
• Thesis development and review  
• Experiment design  
• Experimentation  
• Analysis of results  
• Writing, editing, and defense  
• Any interim publications you plan to submit or conferences in your field that you plan to present at. (Some degrees require a certain number of publications or conference presentations, but even if it isn’t required, it’s a good thing to have)  
• Any other opportunities to present or share your research – basically, ways to work toward the impact of your research that you mentioned in the Field of Study  
• Add some community involvement, too. Cultural exchange and creating connections between Japan and your home country is part of the purpose of this scholarship. If there are particular events you plan to participate in (e.g. doing school visits during a particular stage of your research), mentioning that could be helpful to your application, as well!  

Formatting, Presentation, and Things to Avoid

Now that you have your content down, make sure that you present it in a way that’s easy to read and scan. Make sure it’s broken up into paragraphs with topic sentences and that the order is logical. Consider tiling your sections in bold, if possible.

Remember your target audience: They are not native English speakers, they have up to dozens of applications to read through in a short amount of time, and frankly many of them are not that interested in your subject material. Your sentences should be concise and not open to grammatical confusion.

Engineers, I say this with only the best intentions: Get a history or English major to review your writing.

Aplication Killers

• Submit a one-word Field of Study  
• Contact the university or professor and tell them you don’t know what a research plan is.  
• Ask your target professor to write your research plan. You should at least have a solid idea of your research topic and an outline of your Field of Study.  
• Write an overly technical or detailed plan. You should know the details, of course, but they don’t all need to be in this document (you’ll have interviews to follow up)- just enough to let the reviewers know that you know what you’re doing.  
• Submit a Field of Study related to military or dual-use technology.  

Yes, I’ve seen all of those things.

Wrapping Up

We’ve covered why this form is important, the elements to include in both questions, and length and content depth guidelines. Hopefully that’s everything you need to start going.

I’ll leave you with a few important reminders:

Don’t Panic: Most people who apply for the Monbukagakusho Scholarship have never written a Field of Study and Research Program Plan before. You’re not at a disadvantage. (I would hope that, having read this article, you have an advantage over much of the field, if you put these ideas into action.)

Get Feedback: There is absolutely no rule saying that you have to do this all on your own. The best ideas and research come from collaboration. Start with your advisor and his or her connections.

Start Early and Revise Often: Right now, as soon as you finish reading this blog, start brainstorming and working on your outline. The more drafts you go through and the more time you have to seek outside opinions, the more polished of a product you’ll have at the end.

Focus on Your Target: Your Field of Study, especially, should be designed to appeal directly to your target advisor. Connect your interest to theirs, your research to theirs.

Now, go get started! Good luck!

Before asking any questions in the comments below, please read through the MEXT Scholarship Application FAQ top page and specific FAQ pages to see what I’ve answered already and to find tips about how to get your questions answered faster.

You can ask your questions in the comments here, on the FAQ page, or by email and I will answer them by updating the FAQ and letting you know when the answers are available.

I’d also recommend signing up for my mailing list to get notified whenever I have updates to any of the FAQs or new articles about the MEXT scholarship!

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Hello Travis, Thank You for the insights on writing a research plan. I need clarity. Can a present field of study topic be the same as a Research theme? The 2024 form has two questions: 1. Past and Present Field of Study . 2. Research theme Research plan.

This is a really old article, from before the form changed. Please refer to the newest article about how to write the Field of Study and Research Program Plan for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship . That article explains what is expected in each section, including the difference between the Past/Present Field of Study and your (future) research theme.

Good Luck! – Travis from TranSenz

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