To receive funds for research or study in the United States, you must often submit a carefully designed plan for your proposed research. As a rule, your proposal will be competing with those of other excellent scholars. It is not enough to state your qualifications by simply citing your diploma, your position or your experience.

When a department committee or review board looks at research proposals, they compare competing proposals with respect to several criteria:

1. Is the proposed institution appropriate? Does the institution have reseachers who will be interested in the project and able to supervise the work? If equipment is necessary, is the right equipment available, or are funds available for buying it? Are library or research collection facilities adequate?
2. Does the applicant clearly show the necessary background in education and experience to be able to do the research successfully? Has s/he demonstrated reseach aptitude? Supporting documents or past papers are helpful.
3. Is the proposal carefully written and neatly presented? The proposal should begin with a clear statement of goals of theintended research project. It should include a summary of background information rgarding the need fo rthe research, highlights of related reseach (with a bibliography), a step-by-step description of the research plan with expected results or major theses and a conclusion. It should be typed.
4. Is the proposed research significant, timely and original? Although creativity, originality and substance are usually the most important criteria inc hoosing among proposals, disciplines differ. In some fields, such as medicine, proposals that have great promise of practical application may have an advantage.
5. If you are applying for agrant or program that supports develpment in your country it may be helpful in your application if you choose a subject for research that can be applied in your work after you return to your home country.