Understand What Is Already Defined
An advertised project may specify the question, methods and research team. A proposal-led application asks you to develop more of the intellectual direction yourself. Read the notice to see which parts are fixed and where the applicant is expected to contribute. Neither route guarantees funding: examine the award separately.
Prepare the Requested Evidence
A proposal is not universal. Bristol’s Practice-Oriented AI programme asks for an AI case study and does not require a nominated supervisor or conventional PhD proposal at initial application. Cardiff also distinguishes documents for specific funded psychology projects from other routes. Follow the requirements of the programme you actually choose.
Try a Route Comparison
Take one research interest, such as how people trust automated decisions. For an advertised project, write three sentences connecting your experience to its stated methods. For a proposal-led route, define a population, a question and the evidence you would collect. Compare which version you can support convincingly today.
Your Next-Step Checklist
- Identify whether the route is a project, programme or funding competition.
- List the documents the notice actually requests.
- Check supervisor contact and funding requirements separately.
Official Reading
Read the official school, university, funder or government sources below.
Bristol: Practice-Oriented AI ApplicationsCardiff: Psychology Research Routes