The thesis proposal should be developed with the guidance of the appointed supervisor and submitted within one semester, for full-time candidates, and no longer than two semesters, for part-time candidates. MPhil, PhD and ThD candidates submit the proposal to the Research Committee within one semester of admission, for full-time candidates, and two semesters, for part-time candidates. DMin candidates submit their proposal to the Research Committee within one semester of completion of coursework, for full-time candidates, and two semesters, for part-time candidates. In both cases the proposal is submitted through the Research Director.
The Research Committee readers will review the proposal closely to ensure that your topic is something that can be completed within the parameters of the particular degree program. Not all proposals are accepted outright when first submitted. The Committee concerned may find a number of minor problems and require the proposal be adjusted. This is quite common. If the Committee has serious reservations then it is signalling to you that the topic as presented will be very difficult both to complete and to be passed by your examiners. While this is a setback at one level, it allows you to rethink and re-submit a proposal that has a greater likelihood of success.
Your research topic cannot be altered significantly except with the permission of the Research Committee.
The proposal should be about 1000 words including the bibliography. It should be tightly written, not a minor essay but a compact, technically competent and compelling presentation.
Your proposal will be assessed on the basis of information under the headings indicated below.