You don't know where to start if you are asked to write a study plan.A study plan is a description of what you'll be studying.The China Scholarship Council is a common scholarship committee.Establish your main educational goals and talk about how you plan to achieve them.Spend time refining your writing after you finish your study plan.
Step 1: Discuss your educational goals.
Talk about what you want to study and why.Discuss the degree you want to achieve while you're in China or the program you hope to complete.For instance, if you want to get a bachelor's degree in business and learn Chinese, you should study in China."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 need to learn it.
Step 2: Why did you choose that school?
It's not enough to say that the school you want to study at is a good one.You need to give reasons why the school is a good fit for you.Personalize your response.What inspired you to study business?What was it?Discuss why you should study that one thing at the school you choose.You could say, "I was born in the United States, but my grandparents are Chinese."I chose this program because I want to connect with my heritage, improve my Chinese, and eventually help establish better relations between China and the U.S.
Step 3: Discuss your research if you're a postgraduate student.
If you're going to be working on a PhD, you need to think about what you want to do with your research, particularly if it requires test subjects.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."
Step 4: Show you're serious by narrowing your research.
PhD students take on too many variables in their research.You don't need to cover everything.Pick the ones that are important to your topic.It will show you how to research well and make you a better candidate.It is possible to draw a conceptual model.Start with the causes and the processes that change them.It's time to finish with the outcomes.To see which variables are more important to your problem, draw lines between them.Ask your peers or professors to look at your research proposal.They might be able to narrow you down.
Step 5: Discuss how your studies will help you.
Discuss how the program can help you with your future goals once you've established what your immediate goals are.The scholarship committee has a better idea of who you are and what you want to do.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."
Step 6: How will you meet each goal?
The scholarship committee wants to hear about your goals.They want to know that you have a plan in place so you don't get stuck over there with no way to achieve what you set out to do.To help the committee see you are ready, go through your goals one by one.Discuss how you'll find people for your study if you want to do a PhD.You could 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."
Step 7: Discuss how you plan to overcome obstacles.
Obstacles are part of any study plan.If you can anticipate some of the obstacles and offer a short solution to overcome them, the scholarship committee will be impressed.The language barrier will be an issue at first.I'm already taking intensive classes to learn the language, and I plan to work hard early on.
Step 8: Determine the methodology you will use.
If you're applying for a PhD, you need to be more specific about your research than with other levels of study.What methodology will you use for your research?The scholarship judges want to see that you have a plan and are serious about your project.To help you make a decision, do a literature review.Look at the research done in the area you plan to study.The research methods used and their pros and cons are listed.Pick a method that you think will work the best for your research.
Step 9: If you plan on using one, establish your sampling strategy.
The sample strategy is how you plan to represent the whole of the population in your research.The type of research you're doing determines the strategy you choose.To make sure you have a plan in place for your research, the scholarship committee will want to know about it.Simple random sampling or systematic sampling can be used if the whole population is similar.A random sample is often used when you have people who are different from each other.
Step 10: A short summary is all you need to finish your study plan.
At the end of the plan, reiterate why you want to study at your program, and repeat why it's important for meeting your goals.Adding a few words about how the scholarship can help you achieve your goals is a must.You could say, "Thank you for considering me for this scholarship."I can focus on my studies if I receive this award.Your trust in me will not be wasted, as I will work hard to achieve my goals of learning Chinese and gaining a business degree at a Chinese university.
Step 11: Write clearly and eliminate jargon.
Someone who isn't in your field should be able to understand your plan.You need to explain your research in a way that is easy to understand.It's not necessary to write as if you're talking to a child.Someone outside of your discipline should be able to understand your plan.
Step 12: It's important to be as detailed as possible.
You're not writing a thesis in your study plan.Provide as much information as you can about what you plan to study and how you will do it.The scholarship committee can help you stand out among the candidates by knowing who you are as a scholar.There is only a couple of lines for the study plan on the application.Attach more paper as needed according to the application.
Step 13: Someone will help you with the study plan.
Have someone else read your study plan after you've read it thoroughly.They are likely to catch things you don't.It's possible to have a professor or teacher look at it, as they've likely read similar plans before.