Hi everyone!

I'm new here and very excited to be part of this helpful community. My partner is finishing up his PhD, and it's finally time to delve into mine...

I hope you can help me out with an issue.
I've written a research proposal in poli sci. and have sent it off to four UK Russell Group universities. I got feedback within a week, saying they think the proposal is very interesting and they've all encouraged me to apply. None of the professors suggested any edits or changes.

However, I also sent it at the same time to my MA supervisor, who is an experienced professor, but in a different field (sociolinguistics, not poli. sci.) . He pretty much ripped into it, wants major changes and doesn't understand my research questions. Basically is floored that I would think it's acceptable.

I don't agree with my MA supervisor's direction and now I'm quite confused. I want to trust the potential supervisors.
It's not normal for them (potential supervisors) to say 'great' with no changes to a proposal and then not accept the application, is it?

Anyone with experience on this? Is it normal to get a positive reply from potential supervisors with no changes needed?

Thanks!

Hi Nad75

Iit would seem to me that the difference in opinion about your proposal may be stemming from the fact that your MA supervisor is from a different field. I think that the feedback from the potential supervisors in the field is more important. It is normal to not have to make changes if the proposal is to a high standard. I can't see what they would have to gain by saying great if it is poor. Also to get that response across the board (4 or more individuals?) would suggest that it can be trusted. Did you directly request feedback?

Best
Tudor

Ps. If you are putting in a separate application with the MA supervisor then why not make the changes anyway (if they at all make sense)? You would still be submitting the other version to the other four institutions.

Are you funding yourself? If so, your proposal will probably be accepted regardless and changed later if need be.

Also, potential supervisors probably won't waste their time reading proposals in detail until you actually become their student.

Good point - I had assumed this was an application for funding.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

I just received two more positive responses from two more places, who are interested and offer very minor critique for the proposal, so that puts me at ease. I'm not going to apply for the institution of my MA supervisor, and I think this issue definitely made the decision.

It's not for a funded project, but I'm hoping for a faculty studentship/scholarship. Saving up the $ just in case, though!

(I'm in an Asian institution, and the Brits that I know are quite pessimistic about UK acceptance, which led to my concern with the proposal feedback issue...so it's nice to hear your advice!)