A PhD Exposé (research proposal) is the document in which you describe your research project before you start the dissertation. Many faculties in Germany require it when they admit you as a doctoral candidate, and it is the basis for agreeing on supervision with your advisor. This guide explains what an Exposé contains, how long it may be and what a sample outline can look like.
Short answer: A PhD Exposé describes the research question, goal, method and timetable of your dissertation. Whether it is mandatory and how long it may be is set by your faculty’s doctoral regulations. At the faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Hohenheim, 3 to 5 pages are expected, without sources, including a timetable (as of January 2025).
The most important points
- The Exposé describes the research background, goal and approach of your dissertation.
- It contains a research strategy with methods and the reasons for choosing them.
- A timetable belongs in it. At Hohenheim it counts toward the length.
- Length, signatures and mandatory parts are set by your doctoral regulations, not by this guide.
- A detailed table of contents does not replace the Exposé.
What belongs in an Exposé?
The guidance document for the dissertation Exposé from the University of Koblenz-Landau (Computer Science department) names three content areas: the research background with motivation and goals, the research strategy, and the structure of the planned work. These topics do not have to appear in this order, and the guidance sets no fixed outline. The table shows what goes into each part. Terms in brackets are the German originals.
| Part | What it should contain |
|---|---|
| Title page | Working title, your name, supervisors, and whether you aim for a monograph (Monografie) or a cumulative dissertation (kumulative Dissertation) |
| Research background | Starting point, research gap, motivation and the concrete goal |
| Research strategy | The approaches and methods you use and why |
| Structure and approach | Planned chapters and work steps up to submission |
| Timetable | Milestones in months, meant as guidance. A Gantt chart can be attached as an appendix. |
| Literature | Relevant sources, cited consistently. A citation style is recommended but not mandatory. |
The research question at the core
The research question is the part everything else is built around. It must be narrow enough to answer within a dissertation and open enough to connect to an academic debate. A good question can be tested with data, an experiment or an analysis, so it is more than a title.
Two versions of the invented residential-choice project show the difference. The first is too broad, the second is concrete enough to work with:
- Too broad: How does the shortage of housing affect students?
- More concrete: How has the rise in rents changed where students choose to live in university cities between 2020 and 2025?
The second question names a period, a target group and a comparison. These elements make the choice of method easier, because you know which data you need.
Common weak points
Reviewers of Exposés often notice the same points. Checking them before submission saves rounds of revision:
- Goal and research question are hard to tell apart.
- The method is described but not justified against the question.
- The timetable has no buffer for approvals, data collection or corrections.
- The literature is present but does not show a research gap the work responds to.
An Exposé is often revised several times. Mark each version clearly, especially when your supervisor has to sign it, so it stays traceable what changed since the first draft.
How long may an Exposé be?
The answer is in the doctoral regulations, and they differ a lot. The Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Hohenheim expects a substantial Exposé of 3 to 5 pages, without sources, with a timetable. The computer science faculty in Koblenz-Landau caps the content at 5,000 words, excluding the bibliography and appendices. Both figures apply only to these faculties, not automatically to yours.
What does a sample Exposé look like?
The following example is invented and serves only as orientation. It asks how students react to rising rents in university cities. The page counts are rough guidance for a version of about four pages.
- Introduction with research question and relevance, about half a page
- State of research and research gap, about one page
- Theoretical framework, for example models of residential choice, about half a page
- Research strategy with justification. Assumption: an online survey with 400 students and ten interviews, about one page
- Timetable over three years with milestones, about half a page
Frequently asked questions
Does the Exposé have to be signed?
Under the implementing rules at Hohenheim, you and your supervisor must both sign the Exposé. Changes are documented and filed in the doctoral file. Check your own faculty’s regulations to see whether the same applies there.
Can a detailed outline replace the Exposé?
Not at Hohenheim. There, a detailed outline explicitly does not replace the Exposé. The timetable is a guide, not a fixed schedule you must keep to the day.
Do I need a supervisor before writing the Exposé?
Usually yes. At Hohenheim the Exposé supplements the formal supervision agreement. The German guide Doktorvater finden explains how to find a supervisor and what goes into the agreement.
How should I cite in the Exposé?
The Koblenz guidance asks you to use and cite relevant literature. It does not prescribe a citation style but recommends Harvard or APA. Pick one style and use it consistently throughout the document.
What if my doctoral regulations do not state a length?
Then ask your faculty’s doctoral office or your supervisor. The examples above give you an order of magnitude. Keep the answer in writing, so it is traceable in your file if questions come up later.
Can I submit the Exposé without a supervisor?
That depends on your faculty. At Hohenheim the signature of the supervising person is provided for. Clarify early who supervises you, so you do not write the Exposé alone and then have no contact person.
How long should the Exposé be compared with the dissertation?
The Exposé is a plan, not a first chapter. In the examples above it runs to a few pages, while the dissertation is many times that length. Spend your time sharpening the research question and the method instead.
What to do next
- Look up length, mandatory parts and signatures in your faculty’s doctoral regulations.
- Discuss the research question with your supervisor before you fix the method.
- Write goal, research question and method in a few sentences each before you draft the full text.
- Plan the timetable with buffers, especially for data collection, and check it against the term of your position or scholarship.
Related guides
- PhD in Germany: routes, titles and requirements
- Doktorvater finden: Anfrage, Exposé und Betreuungsvereinbarung
- PhD Funding: Position, Scholarship or Own Savings
- Disputation und Rigorosum: Ablauf und Vorbereitung
Sources: Handreichung für das Exposé zur Dissertation (guidance document, in German), University of Koblenz-Landau, Computer Science department (no date in the document, file name 2021); Durchführungsbestimmungen 2023 of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences (in German), University of Hohenheim (as of 13 January 2025).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
