Banner

Thesis, major paper, and major project proposals

  • Definitions
  • Introductory section
  • Literature review
  • Methodology

Schedule/work plan

  • Other potential elements
  • Proposal references
  • Ask for help

thesis work schedule

If you're unsure if your research proposal requires a schedule or work plan, please consult your project handbook and/or speak with your instructor, advisor, or supervisor.

The information about schedules or work plans in proposals was gathered from RRU thesis and major project handbooks, current in 2020, from programs in the Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences, the Faculty of Management, and the College of Interdisciplinary Studies. If the details here differ from the information provided in the handbook for your project, please follow the handbook's directions.

Image credit: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

thesis work schedule

  • In RRU's Anxiety About Academic Writing guide, this resource is open to everyone.

How Do I Plan the Various Stages of My Research Project?

  • In SAGE Research Methods: Planning and Practicalities, look for How Do I Plan the Various Stages of My Research Project? drop down option. Access via this link requires a RRU username and password.

Learning Skills: Time Management

  • In RRU's Learning Skills guide, this resource is open to everyone.

What Do I Need to Know About Time and Timetabling?

  • In SAGE Research Methods: Planning and Practicalities, look for the What Do I Need to Know About Time and Timetabling? drop down option. Access via this link requires a RRU username and password.

Image credit: Image by Mohamed Assan from Pixabay

  • << Previous: Methodology
  • Next: Other potential elements >>
  • Last Updated: Jan 8, 2024 12:29 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.royalroads.ca/proposals
  • Link to facebook
  • Link to linkedin
  • Link to twitter
  • Link to youtube
  • Writing Tips

How to Create a Research Timeline for Your Thesis

How to Create a Research Timeline for Your Thesis

5-minute read

  • 21st May 2023

Beginning a dissertation can feel both thrilling and overwhelming. One of the best things you can do to prepare for the exciting journey of doing a dissertation is to design a comprehensive timeline as your guide. Here we will take you step by step through creating your thesis timeline and provide some example templates, so you’ll be well-prepared to begin your dissertation work.

Reasons for Creating a Timeline

There are many benefits to crafting a detailed dissertation timeline. In addition to helping with time management and meeting crucial deadlines, your timeline will also help you stay motivated by reviewing the tasks you have completed as you progress. A thorough timeline will be valuable during your dissertation proposal and useful if you are applying for grants or other additional funding.

Ste0ps for Creating a Timeline for Your Thesis:

  • Research and record all requirements and deadlines.

Before you write out your timeline, ensure you know all of your program’s requirements and deadlines. Academic institutions often require you to complete your dissertation within a specified timeframe.

There are likely several recommended or mandatory deadlines for approval of certain items by your adviser (and possibly the rest of your committee members). Gather all these dates beforehand so you can allot an appropriate amount of time to meet your deadlines.

It will be beneficial to meet with your adviser to understand when you are expected to complete the major phases of your dissertation work and to confirm that there aren’t any other requirements or deadlines that you may not be aware of.

  • List all of your tasks and bundle them into phases.

Now that you’ve assembled your dates, working backward from your deadlines is a good rule of thumb. List all of the required tasks that must be completed to meet each milestone, from coming up with your research questions to writing each chapter of your dissertation .

Even though your list will be unique to your research project, it can help to refer to a thesis checklist . It’s also helpful to assemble tasks into different phases (e.g., dissertation proposal, research recruitment). Grouping tasks into phases gives anyone looking at your timeline a quick overview of your research plan.

  • Organize your tasks into a schedule and assign task deadlines.

Now it’s time to build your timeline. There are many different free templates available online, from straightforward lists of deliverables to colorful options with room for notes and customization.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

A popular organizational approach for thesis timelines is a Gantt chart , which is a type of bar chart often used in project management in which the length of the bar corresponds to the time the task will take. The best choice for you will depend on the specifics of your research study and personal preferences. Whichever option you select, make sure you can easily edit and revise it as need be.

Sanity-Saving Tips:

●  Pay attention to your work style. Some people are more productive when writing in short bursts, while others write better after taking time to get into the zone. Some people choose to start writing parts of their thesis while still conducting research, while others prefer to focus on one phase at a time. Set yourself up for success by reflecting on what type of schedule will help you create the best quality work.

●  Schedule breaks. Almost everyone will work better after a well-deserved break. Make sure to schedule regular breaks into your timeline, as well as provide enough time to sleep, eat well, and do anything else you need to do to safeguard your well-being. 

●  Always have a plan B. Your dissertation is an extensive endeavor with many moving parts. It’s impossible to anticipate and plan for every conceivable event, but it’s helpful to expect something may occur that will cause a deviation from your original timeline. Perhaps study recruitment takes longer than you expected, or one of your committee members gets sick and you have to postpone your dissertation proposal. After you draft your timeline, check that it is not so strict that any disruption will cause a total derailment of your plan. Aim to strike a balance between goals that will inspire you to progress steadfastly and have some leeway in your timeline for the inevitable curveball that life will throw at you somewhere along the way.

Following these three steps will help you draft a timeline to steer the course of your dissertation work: research and record all requirements and deadlines; work backward from your dissertation deadline and assemble your task lists; and organize your tasks into a timeline.

Don’t forget to include ample time for editing and proofreading your dissertation . And if you are interested in any help from us, you can try a sample of our services for free . Best of luck in writing your dissertation!

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

Free email newsletter template (2024).

Promoting a brand means sharing valuable insights to connect more deeply with your audience, and...

6-minute read

How to Write a Nonprofit Grant Proposal

If you’re seeking funding to support your charitable endeavors as a nonprofit organization, you’ll need...

9-minute read

How to Use Infographics to Boost Your Presentation

Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...

8-minute read

Why Interactive PDFs Are Better for Engagement

Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...

7-minute read

Seven Key Strategies for Voice Search Optimization

Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...

4-minute read

Five Creative Ways to Showcase Your Digital Portfolio

Are you a creative freelancer looking to make a lasting impression on potential clients or...

Logo Harvard University

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

Want to Get your Dissertation Accepted?

Discover how we've helped doctoral students complete their dissertations and advance their academic careers!

Join 200+ Graduated Students

textbook-icon

Get Your Dissertation Accepted On Your Next Submission

Get customized coaching for:.

  • Crafting your proposal,
  • Collecting and analyzing your data, or
  • Preparing your defense.

Trapped in dissertation revisions?

My Dissertation Editor

  • Code of Ethics
  • Dissertation Editing
  • Dissertation Coaching
  • Free Consultation

How to Create a Dissertation Timeline (With Examples + Tempate)

When it’s time to start thinking about writing your dissertation, it is vital to put together a dissertation timeline. This will help you map out the months you will be spending on your dissertation, and ensure that you’re staying on track. A specific and detailed dissertation timeline will serve as an outline to guide you, step by step, through what can be a long and challenging process. 

While we often refer to a dissertation in a way that makes it sound like a monolith, in reality, a dissertation consists of many moving parts. A dissertation timeline includes a series of milestones that leads up to the dissertation defense , revisions, and final submission of your dissertation. Constructing an outline of every step in the dissertation process , including rough estimates of how long each will take, will give you a realistic picture of where you are in the process at any given time. 

Before embarking on your dissertation, it is a good idea to meet with your dissertation advisor and sketch out a dissertation timeline that is realistic for the size and scope of your project and includes deadlines. This will provide you with much-needed structure and a sense of what will happen next. To get an idea of what a completed dissertation looks like and the components your program requires, ask to see samples from recent graduates in your department. 

These are a few frequently asked questions about crafting a dissertation timeline: 

  • What does a dissertation timeline look like?
  • What goes in a dissertation timeline? 
  • How structured should a dissertation timeline be?
  • What do you do with a dissertation timeline? 

blonde woman writing dissertation prospectus in a cafe

What Does a Dissertation Timeline Look Like? 

One way to think about a dissertation timeline is as a kind of outline. While the outlining process is unique to each writer, there are commonalities shared by all of them. Likewise, when writing a dissertation timeline, you’ll want to include all of the basic elements of your dissertation as well as the amount of time you think you’ll need to execute them. 

The best dissertation timeline format is the one that works for you. Though I’ve reformed somewhat over the years, for a long time I wasn’t a fan of intensely detailed outlines. Many people don’t like outlines. And that’s okay! However, writing a dissertation is not the time to be flying by the seat of your pants. To get started, a simple, linear timeline that projects the amount of time you think you’ll need to write your dissertation will suffice. 

Example Dissertation Timeline

Below, you’ll find an example of a dissertation timeline, which you can view as an image in your browser or download as a spreadsheet. Feel free to use the spreadsheet as a template as you build your own dissertation timeline.

example of a dissertation timeline spreadsheet

Or download the spreadsheet below:

Inclusion in a Dissertation Timeline

When constructing your dissertation timeline, include every element of the dissertation from the abstract to the conclusion. Keep in mind that you may not be writing your chapters in chronological order. For instance, after completing their first round of research and writing their research question, most graduate students will tackle their literature review next, even though it comes after the abstract and introduction in the final document. 

Depending on the field being studied, most dissertations will also include sections for methodology, results, and discussion. Many programs also require a detailed conclusion that alludes to future research possibilities. Every dissertation also has an extensive list of references (pro tip: write this as you’re writing your dissertation), as well as appendices for charts, graphs, and other ephemera. And don’t forget your acknowledgments! 

Dissertation Timeline Structure

The structure of your dissertation timeline will take shape once you’re engaged in the research process. While a road map may seem like an apt metaphor for a dissertation, once you get started you may notice a lot of starts and stops and circling back. After you’ve begun researching, you may realize that you need to allot more time for digging through the databases, or you may discover that you need to reformulate your research question entirely. 

custom made calendar in a notebook with different color notes

I’ve seen many of my own graduate students use calendars to great effect, giving themselves hard and fast deadlines to meet. Many students also build out their dissertation timelines as they progress, attaching working drafts of their abstract, introduction, and literature review to their timeline within a giant spreadsheet that links to multiple documents and sources. All of these methods are valid. Devise one that works for you. 

Using a Dissertation Timeline

So once you have a thoughtful, soundly-constructed dissertation timeline, what do you do with it? First, and most importantly, try your best to adhere to it. Check in with your dissertation timeline regularly, and use it to keep yourself on track. Also, make adjustments to it as needed. If you find yourself breezing through your preliminary research but needing a bit more time for your literature review, consult your timeline and adjust accordingly. 

While meeting your deadlines is important, also construct your dissertation timeline with an understanding that many graduate students face delays once they start working on their dissertation. These can include hold-ups at the department or university level in the form of late IRB approval or limited lab space or grant funding that gets cut. Anything can happen, but having a dissertation timeline will help you get back on track as soon as the storm passes. 

In my own experience, I also found my dissertation timeline to be a great document to share and discuss with my dissertation chair and committee. Once I finished my comprehensive exams, I met with members of my dissertation committee and got feedback on my rough dissertation timeline to make sure my goals for submitting my dissertation and graduating were realistic. This also ensured that we were all on the same page. 

When writing a dissertation, timing is everything. Creating a dissertation timeline gives you definitive time limits for research and writing, and it also influences several other major decisions that you’ll need to make. These include preparation to go on the job market, which often coincides with writing your dissertation. There is no doubt that this will be a hectic time in your graduate school career, but having a well-organized dissertation timeline is a good way to keep everything in perspective. 

Related posts:

Dissertation Presentation

Courtney Watson, Ph.D.

Courtney Watson, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of English at Radford University Carilion, in Roanoke, Virginia. Her areas of expertise include undergraduate and graduate curriculum development for writing courses in the health sciences and American literature with a focus on literary travel, tourism, and heritage economies. Her writing and academic scholarship has been widely published in places that include  Studies in American Culture ,  Dialogue , and  The Virginia Quarterly Review . Her research on the integration of humanities into STEM education will be published by Routledge in an upcoming collection. Dr. Watson has also been nominated by the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia’s Outstanding Faculty Rising Star Award, and she is a past winner of the National Society of Arts & Letters Regional Short Story Prize, as well as institutional awards for scholarly research and excellence in teaching. Throughout her career in higher education, Dr. Watson has served in faculty governance and administration as a frequent committee chair and program chair. As a higher education consultant, she has served as a subject matter expert, an evaluator, and a contributor to white papers exploring program development, enrollment research, and educational mergers and acquisitions.

Comments are closed.

Dissertation Planner: Plan & Research

  • Getting Started
  • Prepare & Propose
  • Plan & Research
  • Write & Edit
  • Defense & Closure
  • Help & Resources

Create a Work Plan

  • Big Picture
  • Little Picture
  • Revise & Reward
  • To Recap...

Work plan

Researching and writing your dissertation is a huge, complex undertaking. Before beginning, check with your advisor and your department/college about specific dissertation research-and-writing conventions in your discipline. The instructions in this section are offered as general suggestions and not as definitive guidance for the University of Kentucky requirements.

In order to manage the dissertation writing process, you should CREATE A WORK PLAN . A work plan will help you:

  • Break down the large, overwhelming process of writing a dissertation into manageable steps;
  • Keep a "daily commitment" to your dissertation;
  • Discover and take advantage of your most productive work habits;
  • Set goals and reward yourself for achieving them; and
  • Balance dissertation writing with the other aspects of your life.

To start your work plan, you should assess your own goals and work habits as well as those of your advisor, committee, and department. Think about questions like:

  • When would you like to complete and defend your dissertation?
  • To meet this deadline, how much will you need to work every day/week/month?

Start your work plan by setting a completion goal, the date by which you would like to have your dissertation complete.

Then, think about the "big picture" issues. Talk to your advisor about all of the steps and associated deadlines for your specific program. Completing a dissertation involves many smaller deadlines along the way to the final deadline. You need to have a complete understanding of what is expected of you throughout this process. Once you know all the smaller deadlines and steps you will need to complete, map them out along the timeline set by your completion goal.

Once you know all of the deadlines and requirements, think about the "little picture" issues. Most importantly, how will you manage your time? You should map out all of your absolutely unbreakable time commitments to identify what remaining time is available for you to use on your dissertation. Additionally, you should:

  • Establish a regular work schedule;
  • Figure out when and how you work best and try to maximize these advantages;
  • Find productive and positive work spaces;
  • Eliminate distractions while you work;
  • Create "ready to write" rituals that help you get started every day;
  • Base your daily goals and requirements on output instead of time worked; and
  • Save your "mindless work" (such as formatting, transcribing, etc.) for when you are blocked so you can still make progress every day.

Check out this video for time management tips:

When you are first starting, set a specific amount of time (such as two weeks to a month) as a pilot test for your work plan. Stick to your plan during this pilot test, then evaluate and revise your plan. Additionally, make sure to evaluate and revise your plan each semester to account for changes in your schedule.

Dissertation writing is a long process and setbacks will happen. You should expect the unexpected and build in extra time to your schedule to account for unavoidable delays. Let missed deadlines and other lapses go, and remember to focus on what you can do today and tomorrow to reach your goals. Further, you need to make sure to reward yourself for completing work on or ahead of schedule.

The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has created a handout about planning for dissertation writing. Additionally, the video below offers an overview of the planning process. 

Research-Related Considerations

  • Human Subjects
  • Organize Your Research
  • Copyright Issues
  • Research Data Management
  • Professional Identity

Will your research require you to use human subjects in any capacity?  If so, you will need to get your research reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). At the University of Kentucky, all IRB matters are handled by the Office of Research Integrity .

Additionally, these 10 simple rules for protecting research integrity may be of help. 

thesis work schedule

Keeping your research organized is key because it will help ensure your dissertation writing process remains efficient. A wide variety of tools are available to help you keep your research organized. The following is some of the most popular options.

  • EndNote EndNote is a powerful software application used to manage personal databases of citations from sources such as journals, books, or websites. EndNote can input records from online bibliographic databases; organize references, images and PDFs; and be used to create bibliographies and figure lists.
  • Zotero Includes the ability to store author, title, and publication fields and to export that information as formatted references, and the ability to organize, tag, and search in advanced ways.
  • Mendeley Mendeley is a free reference manager and academic social network.
  • Research Log Handout Don't like any of these software options? Create your own research log! This handout from the University of Manitoba will show you how to keep track of your research.

Copyright issues are prevalent in activities related to teaching, learning, and research.  For instance, researchers may wonder who owns the copyright of their publications .  At the same time, they may run into questions about whether they can lawfully use copyrighted materials in their publications. 

You as the author are by default the copyright holder of your dissertation and thus have exclusive rights over it.  Registering your copyright is optional.  However, registration will provide you with more protection in case somebody infringes upon your rights in the future. 

When deciding whether you can use somebody's work in your dissertation, you need to find out if the work concerned is already out of copyright protection.  The Copyright Slider can help you with that.  If the work is out of copyright, you can reuse it in whatever way you want without seeking permission. 

For materials that are still under copyright protection, you should think about whether your use is fair.  There are many online resources that help people determine what constitutes a fair use.  For example, the University of Minnesota Libraries provides detailed information about using copyrightable materials , understanding fair use , and thinking through the four factors of fair use .  Other libraries provide a checklist to help researchers make a decision on the matter of fair use. 

If you have questions about copyright, feel free to contact the University of Kentucky Libraries or refer to this Copyright Resource Center . 

It is likely that your scholarly endeavors will generate research data in different formats.  It is common nowadays that researchers are expected to take care of the collected data and later provide access to the processed dataset, especially if the research project is publicly funded.  Managing research data can help researchers develop commendable work habits and thus enable them to do their work more efficiently.  If you need help with research data management, refer to this guide or feel free to contact your academic liaison for suggestions and assistance.  There are also these 10 simple rules to help you with a data management plan. 

Below is a short video that shows the importance of research data management.  The second video provides a quick Introduction to the basics of research data.  

There is an international initiative that addresses problems related to confirming the identity of researchers with similar or the same name. It is ORCID , which issues unique identifiers to distinguish individual researchers. Different stakeholders in the research community, including funding agencies, higher education institutions, and publishers, plan to adopt the ORCID ID as a means to disambiguate the identity of researchers and to track their scholarly activities and contributions. More information about ORCID is available from the video below. 

Click here to register for an ORCID ID. Once you have created the ID, take some time to add information about yourself and your research outputs.  This will help build your professional online presence and reputation.  Last but not least, remember to add the ORCID ID to your CV, scholarly publications, grant applications, and academic profiles such as a personal Web page. This will help clarify your identity as a scholar among others who have names similar to or same as yours.

In the video below, a professor explains how a professional online presence can supplement a CV.  She also points out what to consider before putting together an online profile.  Additionally, these 10 simple rules show you how to build and maintain a scientific reputation. 

  • << Previous: Prepare & Propose
  • Next: Write & Edit >>
  • Last Updated: Jan 23, 2024 10:01 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.uky.edu/dissertation-planner

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Thesis and Dissertation: Getting Started

OWL logo

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The resources in this section are designed to provide guidance for the first steps of the thesis or dissertation writing process. They offer tools to support the planning and managing of your project, including writing out your weekly schedule, outlining your goals, and organzing the various working elements of your project.

Weekly Goals Sheet (a.k.a. Life Map) [Word Doc]

This editable handout provides a place for you to fill in available time blocks on a weekly chart that will help you visualize the amount of time you have available to write. By using this chart, you will be able to work your writing goals into your schedule and put these goals into perspective with your day-to-day plans and responsibilities each week. This handout also contains a formula to help you determine the minimum number of pages you would need to write per day in order to complete your writing on time.

Setting a Production Schedule (Word Doc)

This editable handout can help you make sense of the various steps involved in the production of your thesis or dissertation and determine how long each step might take. A large part of this process involves (1) seeking out the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding specific document formatting requirements, (2) understanding research protocol limitations, (3) making note of deadlines, and (4) understanding your personal writing habits.

Creating a Roadmap (PDF)

Part of organizing your writing involves having a clear sense of how the different working parts relate to one another. Creating a roadmap for your dissertation early on can help you determine what the final document will include and how all the pieces are connected. This resource offers guidance on several approaches to creating a roadmap, including creating lists, maps, nut-shells, visuals, and different methods for outlining. It is important to remember that you can create more than one roadmap (or more than one type of roadmap) depending on how the different approaches discussed here meet your needs.

The Graduate College at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Developing a workplan.

  • What will be the primary focus of my work today?
  • Where do I plan on working?
  • When will I start working?
  • How long do I plan on working?
  • What strategies will I utilize to manage workplace distractions?
  • Who will I be collaborating with in order to meet these goals?
  • Why have I established these goals instead of other options?

Search templates

Property Management

Manufacturing

Media & Entertainment

Project Management

Team Collaboration

Human Resources

Work Planning

Event Planning

Action Plans

Goal Setting

Content Creation

Customer Success

Select category

Thesis Planning

Use template

Organize your thesis writing process with a comprehensive planner

Template screenshots

Thesis planning template

What is Thesis Planning Template?

Thesis writing can be a daunting task, with numerous ideas, research questions, and resources to manage. This thesis planning template is designed to help you stay organized from the very beginning, keeping track of all your notes, drafts, and resources. With an adjustable schedule and a centralized resource center, you can ensure that you stay on top of your thesis writing process and ace your final submission.

thesis work schedule

Try this template now

Who is this Thesis Planning Template for?

This template is perfect for graduate students, researchers, and academics who are in the process of writing a thesis or a major research paper. Whether you are just starting your research or already deep into the writing process, this template can help you stay organized, manage your time effectively, and ensure that you meet all your deadlines.

Why use this Thesis Planning Template?

Keep track of all your ideas, research questions, and potential topics in one place, making it easy to review and refine your thesis focus.

Create a realistic and adjustable schedule with start and end dates for key tasks and milestones, ensuring that you stay on track and meet your deadlines.

Develop a centralized resource center for all your sources, making it easy to reference and cite them later in your thesis.

Stay organized and reduce stress by having a clear overview of your entire thesis writing process, from brainstorming to final submission.

Easily collaborate with your thesis advisor or peers by sharing your progress and receiving feedback within the template.

💡 Helpful reads:

Read more on productivity and collaboration

Why Lark is the best work collaboration tool

How customers use Lark to empower their employees

What is Lark?

What is Lark used for?

How is Lark different from all the work collaboration tools?

Need help with this template?

Contact us to build a customized demo for you, for free!

Related templates

Return to Template Center

thesis work schedule

Web3 Project Tracker

Track and monitor your favorite web3 projects with ease.

thesis work schedule

Blockchain Event Manager

Create and manage your blockchain event calendar with ease.

thesis work schedule

DAO Voting Records

Track and analyze voting records for proposals in a decentralized autonomous organization (dao).

thesis work schedule

Web3 Influencer Tracker

Track and manage influencers in the web3 space with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Security Incident Tracker

Track and manage security incidents with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Governance Proposals

Track and manage governance proposals for web3 projects.

thesis work schedule

Tokenomics Analysis Tool

Analyze tokenomics of various cryptocurrencies.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Book Reading List

Organize and track your web3 book reading list with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Webinar Organizer

Organize and promote your upcoming webinars with ease.

thesis work schedule

Blockchain Hackathon Tracker

Track and manage your blockchain hackathon projects with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Job Board

Create a dynamic job board for web3 job listings, blockchain certification tracker, track and manage blockchain certification progress with ease, crypto meme collection, organize and showcase your crypto meme collection.

thesis work schedule

DeFi Lending Rate Comparison

Compare cryptocurrency lending rates and terms across top defi platforms.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Influencer Engagement Tracker

Track and manage engagements with top crypto influencers, blockchain patent tracker, track and manage blockchain patents with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Social Media Content Planner

Plan your social media posts with ease.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Hardware Wallet Comparison

Compare different crypto hardware wallets for secure storage of cryptocurrencies, basic crypto investment tracker, track your cryptocurrency investments with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Learning Resources

Discover the latest resources for learning about web3 technologies.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Exchange Account Setup

Streamline your crypto exchange account setup process, crypto security best practices, implement best practices for securing cryptocurrencies.

thesis work schedule

Intro to Smart Contracts

Learn about blockchain technology and smart contracts in a comprehensive course.

thesis work schedule

Beginner�s Guide to NFTs

Learn the basics of nfts and how to get started in the nft market, crypto airdrop participation tracker, participate in upcoming crypto airdrops with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 YouTube Channels

Discover top web3 youtube channels to follow for blockchain and cryptocurrency insights, crypto wallet backup guide, securely backup and manage your crypto wallet seed phrase.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Books for Beginners

Discover the best web3 books for beginners, crypto security checklist, ensure the security of your crypto assets with this comprehensive checklist, guide to crypto mining, optimize your cryptocurrency mining operations with this detailed guide.

thesis work schedule

Intro to DAOs

Explore the world of decentralized autonomous organizations (daos) with this comprehensive guide.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Beginner�s FAQ

Answer common questions about web3 for beginners, crypto regulatory compliance tracker, ensure compliance with global crypto regulations, guide to crypto trading signals, make informed decisions in cryptocurrency trading with expert signals.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Privacy Best Practices

Implement best practices for web3 privacy and security, crypto scam prevention tips, prevent crypto scams with these essential tips, web3 glossary, create a comprehensive glossary of web3 terms for easy reference.

thesis work schedule

Intro to Blockchain Technology

Learn the basics of blockchain technology with this comprehensive course, crypto asset diversification guide, diversify your crypto portfolio with top assets.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Career Opportunities

Explore career opportunities in the web3 industry, crypto transaction tracker, track your cryptocurrency transactions with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Beginner�s Investment Guide

Diversify your crypto investments with ease, guide to crypto governance, create a comprehensive guide to crypto governance.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Investment Tracker

Track your cryptocurrency investments and set investment goals.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Wallet Address Organizer

Organize and manage cryptocurrency wallet addresses with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Business Strategy

Create a comprehensive web3 business strategy with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Project Budget Tracker

Track your project budget and expenses with ease, dao proposal tracker, streamline your dao proposal process with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Marketing Plan

Create a comprehensive web3 marketing plan for your project, blockchain implementation plan, create a detailed plan for implementing blockchain projects.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Roadmap Tracker

Streamline your web3 project roadmap with ease.

thesis work schedule

Blockchain Patent Filing Tracker

Track your blockchain patent filings with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Event Planning

Plan your web3 events with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Governance Management

Streamline your governance proposals and decision-making process, crypto investment pitch deck, create a comprehensive crypto investment pitch deck.

thesis work schedule

Smart Contract Deployment Tracker

Track the deployment process of smart contracts with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Risk Management

Manage risks in your web3 project with ease.

thesis work schedule

Token Burn Automation

Automate token burns and rewards for your cryptocurrency project, crypto exchange listing tracker, track cryptocurrency exchange listings and market data.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Content Organizer

Organize your web3 content creation and distribution schedule, crypto asset manager, manage your crypto assets with ease.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Financial Projections

Track your cryptocurrency investments and projected values.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Regulatory News Tracker

Track global crypto regulatory updates with ease, web3 customer retention strategies, optimize customer retention strategies with personalized incentives.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Legal Agreement Tracker

Track and manage legal agreements with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Project Status Tracker

Track your web3 project milestones, budget, and issues with ease, blockchain technology roadmap, plan your blockchain technology roadmap with ease.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Tax Strategy Optimizer

Optimize your crypto tax strategy with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Innovation Project Tracker

Track and manage your web3 innovation projects with ease, crypto exchange integration, streamline your crypto exchange integration process.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Industry Trends

Stay ahead of the curve with the latest web3 industry trends, crypto user analytics, track and analyze cryptocurrency transactions and user data.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Intellectual Property Tracker

Track and manage intellectual property rights on the blockchain, web3 project milestone tracker, track your web3 project milestones with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Employee Training Tracker

Track employee training progress and assessment scores in one place.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Business Model Canvas

Create a comprehensive web3 business model canvas for your project, blockchain developer resources, discover essential resources for blockchain developers.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Product Roadmap Planner

Plan your web3 product roadmap with ease, web3 project funding proposal, create a funding proposal for your web3 project.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Asset Transaction Tracker

Web3 innovation strategy, craft your web3 innovation strategy with ease, web3 learning pathways, explore the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency with our comprehensive learning pathways.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Project Case Studies

Explore successful web3 projects and their impact on the blockchain ecosystem, blockchain implementation guide, implement blockchain technology seamlessly with this comprehensive guide, crypto legal compliance checklist, ensure legal compliance in the cryptocurrency industry.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Certification Program Tracker

Track participants' progress and certification status in a web3 certification program.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Job Application Tracker

Track your job applications in the web3 industry with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Online Course Progress Tracker

Track your progress in online blockchain courses with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Startup Incubator Tracker

Track and manage your web3 startup incubator projects with ease, web3 security incident response plan, streamline your incident response process with this web3 security incident response plan template, web3 product testing checklist, streamline your web3 product testing process.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Regulatory Filing Tracker

Track cryptocurrency regulatory filings and statuses across jurisdictions.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Academic Research Tracker

Track academic research projects in the web3 space.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Professional Certification Tracker

Track and manage your team's web3 professional certifications with ease, crypto asset management strategy, manage your crypto assets with precision and strategy.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Developer Community Tracker

Track your community of web3 developers with ease, crypto exchange api integration checklist, streamline your api integration checklist for a crypto exchange, web3 technology roadmap tracker, streamline your web3 technology roadmap with ease, web3 technology trends tracker, stay ahead of the curve with the latest web3 technology trends, crypto exchange trading volume tracker, track and analyze cryptocurrency exchange trading volumes.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Investment Portfolio Rebalancing

Optimize your cryptocurrency investment portfolio with strategic rebalancing, crypto wallet feature comparison, compare different cryptocurrency wallets for your digital assets, web3 security best practices, enhance your security with web3 best practices.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Wallet Security Audit

Enhance your crypto wallet security with this audit template, crypto asset due diligence guide, evaluate and compare different cryptocurrencies for investment purposes.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Professional Network Map

Create a professional network map for web3 projects.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Project Management Template

Efficiently manage your web3 project from initiation to launch, crypto investment valuation tracker, track your cryptocurrency investments and calculate profits/losses.

thesis work schedule

Web3 User Research Planner

Understand user preferences and behaviors in the web3 space, web3 research and development tracker, track your web3 research and development projects with ease, crypto investment scenario analyzer, analyze different crypto investment scenarios with ease, web3 community feedback tracker, track and manage user feedback and suggestions efficiently, crypto exchange liquidity provider tracker, track liquidity providers and volume on top crypto exchanges.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Knowledge Sharing Platform

Organize and promote your virtual events with ease, crypto investment portfolio tracker.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Market Penetration Strategy

Develop and deploy blockchain-based solutions for enterprises, web3 innovation ecosystem visualizer, visualize the web3 innovation ecosystem with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Developer Ecosystem Tracker

Track your web3 developer ecosystem with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 User Adoption Strategy

Create a comprehensive strategy for web3 user adoption, web3 technology standardization plan, standardize your technology projects with ease.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Community Building Strategy

Build a thriving web3 community with targeted engagement strategies, web3 innovation management, manage your web3 innovation projects with ease, crypto investment risk assessment, assess the risk of your cryptocurrency investments with ease, web3 market forecasting tool, analyze the projected growth and investment opportunities in various web3 market segments, web3 technology assessment tool, evaluate and compare web3 technologies for your project needs, web3 community feedback management, manage and prioritize community feedback effectively, crypto exchange risk assessment, assess the risk of different cryptocurrency exchanges, web3 developer community engagement plan, engage with the web3 developer community through events and workshops, web3 innovation, track your web3 innovation projects with ease.

thesis work schedule

Crypto Investment Performance

Track your cryptocurrency investments and performance metrics, web3 technology standardization, track your technology standardization plan progress with ease, crypto asset distribution, track and manage your crypto asset distribution plan efficiently, web3 talent development, track employee training progress and skills development, web3 research collaboration, collaborate on research projects with ease, crypto wallet development, plan your crypto wallet development strategy with ease, web3 technology readiness assessment, assess and plan the transition to web3 technology for your organization.

thesis work schedule

Web3 Knowledge Management

Organize your web3 knowledge management strategy with ease, crypto investment diversification, diversify your crypto investments with this comprehensive plan.

thesis work schedule

Achievement Hunting

Track and manage your personal achievements and goals, game acquisition strategy, plan your game acquisitions with precision.

thesis work schedule

Ad Monetization

Maximize your ad revenue with targeted placements.

thesis work schedule

Agile Methodology

Streamline your agile project management with ease.

thesis work schedule

AI Behavior Trees Configuration

Configure ai behavior trees for efficient decision-making.

thesis work schedule

AI-Driven Game Design

Create and manage ai-driven game design ideas.

thesis work schedule

Optimize your aim assist settings for better gaming performance

Aim bot detection, detect and investigate suspicious player behavior in gaming matches.

thesis work schedule

Alpha Build

Track your build progress and issues with ease, alpha release, track your project milestones and progress with ease, alternate reality game, plan your alternate reality game with ease.

thesis work schedule

Analytics Dashboard

Visualize and track key metrics with ease.

thesis work schedule

Animation Blending

Manage animation blending transitions with ease, animation rigging, streamline your animation rigging process with ease.

thesis work schedule

Anti-Cheat Systems

Ensure the integrity of your gaming platform with robust anti-cheat systems, ar experience, plan your ar experiences with ease, arpu analysis, analyze arpu trends and customer subscriptions.

thesis work schedule

Art Direction

Organize your art direction projects with ease, asynchronous multiplayer, coordinate asynchronous multiplayer tasks and objectives efficiently.

thesis work schedule

Augmented Reality Integration

Integrate augmented reality into your projects with ease, battle pass, plan your battle pass progression with ease.

thesis work schedule

Beta Testing

Improve your product testing process with detailed feedback analysis.

thesis work schedule

Master the boss fight mechanics with these detailed templates

thesis work schedule

Brand Ambassador

Manage your brand ambassadors with ease.

thesis work schedule

Buff And Debuff

Track and manage character buffs and debuffs in real-time, build automation, automate your build process and streamline project management.

thesis work schedule

Burst Damage

Track material testing results and failure modes, character animation, streamline your character animation workflow with ease.

thesis work schedule

Character Design

Create compelling characters for your story with ease.

thesis work schedule

Character Progression

Track your character's progression and skills, character rigging, efficiently manage character rigging tasks and assignments, track project milestones and progress with ease.

thesis work schedule

Track your clan's performance in battles with ease

thesis work schedule

Cloud Gaming Integration

Streamline your cloud gaming integration plan with ease, combat mechanics, plan your combat strategies with ease.

thesis work schedule

Community Management

Stay on top of your community management tasks with ease, competitive analysis, analyze your company's competitive landscape with ease.

thesis work schedule

Content Creator Partnerships

Manage your content creator partnerships with ease.

thesis work schedule

Content Licensing

Track and manage content licensing agreements with ease.

thesis work schedule

Cross-Platform Development

Streamline your cross-platform development plan with ease.

thesis work schedule

Custom Avatars

Create and manage custom avatars with ease.

thesis work schedule

Customer Feedback

Manage customer feedback effectively and improve customer satisfaction.

thesis work schedule

Daily Quest

Track your daily tasks, prioritize your activities, and optimize your time management, data-driven design, plan your data-driven design projects with ease.

thesis work schedule

Developer Conference

Organize your developer conference schedule with ease.

thesis work schedule

Development Milestones

Track your project milestones with ease.

thesis work schedule

Dialogue Tree

Create an interactive dialogue tree planner for storytelling adventures.

thesis work schedule

Digital Distribution

Optimize your digital distribution strategy for maximum reach and impact, digital rights management, manage digital rights for assets with ease, downloadable content, organize your downloadable content planning with ease.

thesis work schedule

Game Localization

Track the localization progress of your game titles in multiple languages, create a detailed lore document for your game world, game modding, track the progress of game mods with ease, game reviews, track and analyze game reviews from top gaming websites, ghosting issues, track and manage software issues with ease.

thesis work schedule

Glitch Fixing

Track and manage glitches reported by users, guild management, efficiently manage your guild members and their contributions, narrative arc, plan your narrative arcs with ease, non-playable characters, create interactive non-playable character behavior templates.

thesis work schedule

Online Gaming Community Management

Manage your online gaming community with ease, patch management, manage software patches efficiently and securely.

thesis work schedule

Production Pipeline

Track your production pipeline progress with ease.

thesis work schedule

Have new ideas for Lark Base template?

Submit here

Get Lark today

Download Lark

thesis work schedule

Users love us

thesis work schedule

Open Platform

Savings Calculator

Lark vs. Slack

Lark vs. Zoom

Lark vs. Whatsapp

Lark vs. Teams

Lark vs. ClickUp

Lark vs. monday.com

Lark vs. Airtable

Lark vs. Trello

Lark vs. Wrike

Lark vs. DingTalk

Lark vs. Base.vn

Become a Partner

Partner Directory

Alternatives

Slack alternatives

Zoom alternatives

Discord alternatives

Airtable alternatives

Notion alternatives

Lattice alternatives

Sales & Marketing

Students & Educators

IT Managers

Build with Us

Developers/Applications

Integrations/APIs

Lark for Startups

Global Collaboration

Food & Beverages

Professional Services

Customer Stories

Help Center

Lark Academy

Lark Topics

Security & Compliance

Privacy Policy

Customer Terms of Services

User Terms of Services

Acceptable Use Policy

Cookie Policy

Cookie Settings

© 2024 Lark Technologies Pte. Ltd. Headquartered in Singapore with offices worldwide.

VAMK

Instructions for the Thesis

  • Thesis Guidance and Allocation of Responsibilities
  • Research Ethics and Data Protection
  • Sources of Thesis Guidelines
  • Ideation, Selection, and Approval of Your Topic
  • Project Plan or Research Plan
  • Planning and Initiation of the Thesis
  • Formats of a Thesis
  • Writing the Theoretical Framework
  • Selection and Description of the Method
  • Guidelines for Reporting

Citations and Creating a Reference List

  • Language Guidance for the Thesis
  • Plagiarism Check
  • Guidelines for Theseus
  • Maturity Test
  • Instructions for the Final Stage of Master’s Thesis
  • Evaluation of the Thesis
  • Defining the search topic
  • Evaluating the search results
  • Choosing and using sources
  • Finna search services
  • Open access (OA)
  • Google Scholar
  • Evaluating online sources
  • Good to know about search engines
  • Databases and articles
  • Other resources

Project plan

Your thesis work begins with familiarizing yourself with the topic and creating a project plan. The plan is also referred to as a research plan and thesis work plan. You familiarize yourself with the topic by searching for information from previous research and literature related to the subject. This way, you gain an understanding of the significance, timeliness, novelty or added value of the work, and how the topic fits into the research field. Scientific research is characterized by the accumulation of knowledge. New research builds heavily on previous research. (Metsämuuronen 2006, p. 31.) If your work is purely a development task, you need to find out from the literature how similar targets have been developed in the past.

Before writing the plan, it is advisable to review the guidelines for information retrieval , sources , and referencing techniques.

What is the topic? Why is the research being conducted? What kind of client and project is the thesis work focused on?
What are the objectives of the thesis work? What are the desired outcomes for the client?

What are the key concepts, previous theories and technologies, literature, research, and other relevant materials for the thesis work?
What methods and tools will be used to gather data?
How will the data be handled during and after the thesis work? How will research ethics, data protection, and data security be taken into account? Instructions and a template for the plan can be found on the Arena website.
How will the work be divided into phases and how will the phases be scheduled on a monthly basis?
What potential problems or challenges may arise, and how will they be addressed?

You present the plan as agreed and/or submit it to your supervisor for review and approval. Your supervisor familiarizes themselves with the plan and grants permission to proceed to the implementation phase or may request you to make further revisions to the plan.

Typically, a kickoff meeting is held with the student, supervisor, and client. At this stage, you also need to determine whether you need to apply for research permits or establish confidentiality agreements, for example, with the client. These agreements are stored in Wihi.

Recommended structure for Research plan (Master’s thesis):

  • 1 INTRODUCTION
  • 2 PURPOSE, OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS/TASKS
  • 3 KNOWLEDGE BASE (titled by topic)
  • 4 RESEARCH METHODS AND MATERIAL
  • 5 ETHICS AND RELIABILITY
  • 6 SCHEDULE AND RESOURCE PLAN
  • 7 REPORTING, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
  • ATTACHMENTS

In the introduction, your goal is to introduce the topic and arouse the reader's interest.  The structure of the introduction is as follows:  •    Related national and/or international background  •    Justification why this particular thesis is important  •    Presentation of a potential partner  •    Description of the operating environment (if relevant).

This is an important chapter, these are the questions you are seeking to answer with your thesis. There is no need for sources in this chapter.   Purpose   Describe why this thesis topic was chosen and what is expected of this work.  For example:  •    The purpose of the thesis is to find out / describe / map / understand  Goal Describe the benefits of the thesis from the perspective of developing the field, who will benefit from the finished work/thesis results, and what can be done based on the results.  For example  •    The aim is to produce information that can be utilised in nursing... in the development of practices....  Research questions/assignments  Refine the purpose of the thesis with a few research questions or assignments (1-3).  For example:  •    How do employees assess their competence...  •    How does the immediate supervisor perceive...  •    What are the problems with nursing record-keeping? 

In this chapter you describe the theoretical background. Use an investigative and argumentative approach, not just a summary of literature.  •    Define the key concepts and their connection to your thesis  •    What is already known about the subject based on previous research

In this chapter, you present the chosen research and development strategy and the rationale for the choices  •    Introduction to the data collection method  •    Presentation of the data analysis method  •    Introduction to the development method  •    Each point is justified by reference to the research literature.

In this chapter, you demonstrate your familiarity with research integrity and reliability. How to ensure different perspectives related to research integrity in your work: such as the research permit process, processing of personal data and data protection, confidentiality, data management plan (attached).   You evaluate the reliability and validity of the thesis after the work has been completed, how do you ensure in the planning phase that the result is as reliable and valid as possible? 

Instructions and template for data management plan (Arene)

In this chapter, you will present the schedule plan step by step and how resource needs are considered (staff time, facilities or external funder requirements).  

This chapter sets out the following:   •    Documentation and publicity of the work  •    Planned publication: trade journal, Energy online magazine, presentation of results e.g. conference/commissioning organization.  •    Copyright of the thesis, responsibilities of the UAS, thesis author and supervisor. These can be copied from the agreement template. If an assignment agreement is done, this is not necessary.

The attachments shall contain:   •    Possible interview outline / set of questions  •    Cover letter  •    Informed consent form for participants  •    Data management plan (when deeded)  •    Any attachments required by the client

Instructions

Stages of information searching

Sources of information

Writing instructions

VAMK

  • << Previous: Wihi
  • Next: Planning and Initiation of the Thesis >>
  • Last Updated: Aug 21, 2024 1:26 PM
  • URL: https://vamk.libguides.com/instructions_thesis

Designing a Workable Plan for Your Thesis or Dissertation

You’re looking at the title of this document and thinking, “What does that mean –‘Designing a Workable Plan’?” And the answer is, “whatever it takes to help you write your magnum opus  with a positive attitude and on schedule.” This can include time management, financial planning, effective interaction with an advisor and committee, and management of dissertation activities. Under ideal conditions, you will facilitate your own progress if you can lay out a written plan for your work, much as a professor writes a course syllabus including specific dates and the work planned for those dates. This gives your work a structure that can serve as a guide. Even if unforeseen trouble arises – your own illness or a family member’s, a job change, etc. –you will still have a concrete, written plan to return to.

A plan for time management is an excellent starting point, something you can do even as you are refining your proposal. More often than not, students seriously underestimate the amount of time required to complete a thesis or dissertation. You’ll find it helpful, therefore, to make specific time estimates of various stages of your work, even if your estimates are subject to change. You may also find it helpful to discuss time management with other degree candidates to grasp more clearly how much time may be required.

First, the gross time estimate:

Page length225
Total effective work months from topic search
to acceptance
14
Breakdown by work months: 
– Topic search & proposal3
– Search prior research1
– Research & analysis5
– Writing, editing, proofing5
Elapsed time, allowing for delays, in full-time work 
– from topic search to acceptance16
– from approved proposal to acceptance12

Next, gross time, broken into component parts:

  • Refining of dissertation structure (This can include preparation of revised proposal and a detailed, chapter-by-chapter outline of your dissertation.)
  • Further search of the literature for prior research (broken down by journals, books, other dissertations, government documents, etc.)
  • Research activities (make a list as specific as “preparing instruments” and “testing instruments”)
  • Writing, editing, proofing (each chapter)

All of this will also help you to visualize the task that lies before you. But breaking the whole down into its parts allows you to see how you can approach it.

The final stage: scheduling activities and assigning dates:

 9/39/109/179/249/31
Activity     
1. Refining Dissertation structure     
A     
B     
C     
2. Literature Review     
A     
etc.   etc. 

Dates may change, but plan on some major review points that you can schedule ahead with your advisor. Meeting these deadlines will help keep you focused and on schedule.

(Thanks to Davis & Parker)

On to financial planning! Even if you’re on a grant, you’ll usually have to cover many costs on your own. These can include postage, telephone, copies, data conversion expenses, typing, and so on. Set up a pool of savings so that these costs (which can exceed $1000) will not represent an unpleasant surprise.

Working with an advisor and a committee can be a tricky business. Every student would like to think that all will go smoothly, and occasionally perhaps it does. But you are dealing with human beings who are usually exceptionally busy, whose time is constantly in demand, who have likes and dislikes – and lives – of their own. Much can happen, and you cannot realistically expect to control events. You can, however, attempt to behave in a professional manner and treat everyone concerned politely and pleasantly. Such behavior is usually beneficial to your ultimate success. What follows is a list of suggestions of aids that might encourage effective interaction with an advisor and a committee. Only you can judge whether one or more of these suggestions could be appropriate to your situation.

  • Take notes from your meetings with either your advisor or committee. Then summarize them, including any conclusions or decisions reached, type them, and send a copy to your advisor and if desired, to your committee members. This will ensure communication among all participants, even if it means a little extra work for you.  
  • a note that identifies your materials, along with a reminder (gentle) of the date by which your advisor/committee has agreed to return comments.  
  • a brief statement that tells the contents of your materials and earmarks any particular sections where you would especially welcome comments.  
  • an outline of major chapter headings; perhaps also an outline of all chapters to provide a context.  
  • Be certain you have a control copy for yourself (always double-spaced and typed).  
  • Try to get everyone to plan ahead and schedule necessary meetings in advance. An easy way is to schedule the next meeting at the end of the current meeting, so all involved can work out schedule conflicts on the spot (ideally). Send a separate reminder notice of each meeting (yes indeed, committee members have been known to forget!).  
  • Some people advise writing a short agenda for each meeting, stating the objectives, then having the advisor approve it and including it with your reminder notice.  
  • If there is any possibility that meetings may not occur for an extended time, sending periodic progress reports is highly recommended! Do not allow yourself to fall into the category of “out of sight, out of mind”!

Finally, to management of dissertation activities (used in the generic sense). The detailed specifics of how to organize your work is very much an individual matter, but a few important generalizations still apply.

Number One Rule: Never trust your memory when you’re doing research! Keep accurate and complete records of everything you read and do. An excellent tool is an “investigator’s journal” which over time will form a chronological diary and record of work you’ve done, along with ideas, suggestions and comments about your work. These entries will form the basis for the written communications you’ll be sending periodically to your advisor/ committee. They can also answer any questions that may arise.

Number Two Rule: Early on, establish an efficient, expandable coding and filing system for keeping all your work in order. At the minimum, keep materials divided according to chapter, then according to subtitles within the chapter. Use sturdy file folders. Clearly label all information as to source and date you obtained it, and note which file it belongs in. Sometimes color-coding is especially helpful.

Number Three Rule: Keep a back-up copy of all drafts of all chapters in a location separate from the rest of your records. Fires do happen!

Some additional tips:

  • Remember that schedule of proposed activities you constructed? Pin it up in an obvious place and use it! Structure your work schedule so that each day you have a sense of routine. Begin each week with a planning hour and establish goals for that week. Stick to them.   
  • From the beginning, know what bibliographic and reference style you’ll be expected to use. It’s a lot easier to set it up right the first time than it is to change it later! Also decide on an acceptable format for chapter headings, and various subdivisions. Follow your pattern consistently (or instruct your typist to do so).  
  • Outline each chapter before you write. It doesn’t have to be a formal outline; informal is just fine. You’ll find your writing will be more coherent and cohesive. Remember that a first or even second draft won’t be perfect, and that’s ok! Just get started, and edit later.  
  • Rest, eat well, relax periodically. It’s not a “waste of time”! Your work will progress as you thrive, and only then.

thesis work schedule

A Guide to Dissertation Planning: Tips, Tools and Templates

Dissertations are a defining piece of academic research and writing for all students. To complete such a large research project while maintaining a good work-life balance, planning and organisation is essential. In this article, we’ll outline three categories for dissertation planning including project management, note-taking and information management, alongside tools and templates for planning and researching effectively.

thesis work schedule

For both undergraduates and postgraduates, a dissertation is an important piece of academic research and writing. A large research project often has many moving parts from managing information, meetings, and data to completing a lengthy write-up with drafts and edits. Although this can feel daunting, getting ahead with effective planning and organisation will make this process easier. By implementing project management techniques and tools, you can define a research and writing workflow that allows you to work systematically. This will enable you to engage in critical thinking and deep work, rather than worrying about organisation and deadlines. 

To get prepared, you can do two things: First, start your preliminary readings and research to define a topic and methodology.  You can do this in summer or during the first few weeks of university but the sooner, the better. This gives you time to discuss things with your supervisor, and really choose a topic of interest. Second, begin preparing the tools and techniques you’ll be using for your research and writing workflow. You can use the preliminary research phase to test these out, and see what works for you. 

Below, we’ll cover three key aspects to consider when managing your dissertation, alongside some digital tools for planning, research and writing. 

The 3 Categories of Dissertation Planning

Project Management and Planning 

Your dissertation is a project that requires both long and short-term planning. For long-term planning, roadmaps are useful to break your work down into sections, chapters or stages. This will give you a clear outline of the steps you need to work through to complete your dissertation in a timely manner. 

Most likely, your roadmap will be a mixture of the stages in your research project and the sections of your write-up. For example, stage 1 might be defined as preliminary research and proposal writing. While stage 3 might be completing your literature review, while collecting data. 

This roadmap can be supplemented by a timeline of deadlines, this is when those stages or chapters need to be completed by. Your timeline will inform your short-term plans, and define the tasks that need completing on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. This approach, using a roadmap and timeline, allows you to capture all the moving parts of your dissertation, and focus on small sub-sections at a time. A clear plan can make it easy to manage setbacks, such as data collection issues, or needing more time for editing. 

Note-taking 

Whether you use a notebook, or digital tool, it’s ideal to have a dedicated research space for taking general notes. This might include meeting notes from supervision, important information from informational dissertation lectures, or key reminders, ideas and thoughts. It can be your go-to place for miscellaneous to-do lists, or to map out your thought processes. It’s good to have something on hand that is easy to access, and keeps your notes together in one place. 

Beyond this, you’ll also need a dedicated space or system for literature and research notes. These notes are important for avoiding plagiarism, communicating your ideas, and connecting key findings together. A proper system or space can make it easier to manage this information, and find the appropriate reference material when writing. Within this system, you might also include templates or checklists, for example, a list of critical reading questions to work through when assessing a paper. 

Information Management 

It’s important to consider how you plan to organise your literature, important documents, and written work. Note-taking is a part of this, however, this goes a step further to carefully organise all aspects of your dissertation. For example, it’s ideal to keep track of your literature searches, the papers you’ve read, and their citations but also, your reading progress. Being able to keep track of how many passes a paper has been through, how relevant it is, or where it fits within your themes, or ideas, will provide a good foundation for writing a well-thought out dissertation. 

Likewise, editing is an important part of the write-up process. You’ll have multiple drafts, revisions and feedback to consider. It’s good to have some way of keeping track of all this, to ensure all changes and edits have been completed. You might also have checklists or procedures to follow when collecting data, or working through your research. A good information management process can reduce stress, making everything easy to access and keep track of, which then allows you to focus on getting the actual work complete. 

Digital Project Management and Research Tools for Dissertation Planning 

Trello is a project management tool that uses boards, lists and cards to help you manage all your tasks. In a board, you can create lists, and place cards within these lists. Cards contain a range of information such as notes, checklists, and due dates. Cards and lists can be used to implement a digital kanban board system , allowing you to move cards into a ‘to-do’, ‘in progress’ or ‘complete’ list. This gives a visual representation of your progress.

This is a flexible, easy to use and versatile tool that can help with project management of your dissertation. For example, cards and lists can be used to track your literature, each card can represent a paper and lists could be 1st pass, 2nd pass, or be divided into themes. Likewise, you can use this approach to organise the various chapters or stages of your dissertation, and break down tasks in a visual way. Students have used Trello to manage academic literature reviews , daily life as an academic , and collaborate with their supervisors for feedback and revisions on their write-up. 

Notion is an all-in-one note-taking and project management tool that is highly customisable. Using content blocks, pages, and databases, this tool allows you to build a workspace tailored to your needs. Databases are a key feature of Notion, this function allows you to organise and define pages using a range of properties such as tags, dates, numbers, categories and more. This database can then be displayed in a multitude of ways using different views, and filters. 

For example, you can create a table with each entry being a page of meeting notes with your supervisor, you can assign a date, person, and tags to each page. You can then filter this information by date, or view it in a board format. Likewise, you can use the calendar to add deadlines, within these deadlines, you can expand the page to add information, and switch to ‘timeline’ view . This is perfect for implementing project management techniques when planning your dissertation. 

Although this may sound complicated, there are many templates and resources to get you started . Notion is an ideal tool for covering all three aspects of dissertation planning from project and information management to note-taking of all kinds. Students have used Notion for literature reviews , thesis writing , long-term PhD planning , thesis management , and academic writing . The best part, these students not only share their systems, but have also created free templates to help you build your own system for research. 

Asana is a project management and to-do list tool that uses boards, lists, timelines and calendars. If you’re someone who prefers using lists to organise your life and projects, Asana is ideal for you. You can use this tool to manage deadlines, reading progress, or break down your work into projects and sub-tasks. Asana can integrate with your calendar, which is perfect if you already use other calendar tools for organisation. If something like Notion is too overwhelming, using a mixture of tools with different purposes can be a more comfortable approach. 

Genei is an AI-powered research tool for note-taking and literature management. Your research and reading material can be imported, and organised using projects and folders. For each file, genei produces an AI-powered summary, document outline, keyword list and overview. This tool also extracts key information such as tables, figures, and all the references mentioned. You can read through documents 70% faster but also, collect related articles by clicking on the items in the reference list. Genei can generate citations, and be used alongside other popular reference management tools, such as Zotero and Mendeley . 

This tool is ideal for navigating information management and literature notes for your dissertation. You can compile notes across single documents or folders of documents using the AI-generated summaries. These notes remain linked to their original source, which removes the need for you to keep track of this information. If you find it hard to reword content, there’s also summarising and paraphrasing tools to help get you started. Genei is a great tool to use alongside project management solutions, such as Trello and Asana, and note-taking tools like Notion. You can define an efficient research and writing workflow using these range of tools, and make it easier to stay on top of your dissertation. 

thesis work schedule

Do you want to achieve more with your time?

98% of users say genei saves them time and helps them work more productively. Why don’t you join them?

About genei

genei is an AI-powered research tool built to help make the work and research process more efficient. Our studies show genei can help improve reading speeds by up to 70%! Revolutionise your research process.

Articles you may like:

thesis work schedule

Find out how genei can benefit you

thesis work schedule

Writing Your Dissertation: Setting a Daily Dissertation Schedule

Writing Your Dissertation: Setting a Daily Dissertation Schedule

Do not underestimate how much time it will take to write your dissertation. Many graduate students spend much of their valuable time researching and collecting data and put off the arduous task of writing about what they’ve done until the last minute. These students inevitably scramble to synthesize thoughts and ideas on paper, making (what is to most) the already stressful process of writing even more difficult than it has to be because of time constraints. You can avoid the last-minute pressures of writing your dissertation if you set realistic daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly deadlines for yourself in the form of a dissertation schedule. However, you will be the most prepared when it comes time to submit your dissertation to your committee if you commit to keep your dissertation plan in mind every day. The following are things to consider when setting a daily dissertation schedule:

Set a regular daily dissertation schedule for yourself, accounting for class time and personal time (i.e., going to dinner with friends, taking a nap, doing yoga, and relaxing in front of the TV), and stick to it. It may seem extreme to be so rigid with time, but every minute of the day counts when you are in graduate school and when you have so many responsibilities to balance. Amid all your responsibilities, choose a specific block of time for each day that you will dedicate specifically to writing your dissertation. When choosing your daily dissertation schedule, consider what time of day you are most productive (i.e., morning or evening). Also, remember to schedule occasional days off; this will help you recharge your writing battery and be better able to review what you have already written.

Choose a productive writing space. If you know that you cannot productively write from home because pets, children, other household members, or TV shows will distract you, then don’t work from home. Go anywhere—a coffee shop, a library, your dissertation buddy’s house—where you can find an electrical outlet, good internet connection, and anything else you deem is necessary to facilitate your daily writing. However, before you can definitively select a productive daily writing space, you must also consider how you like to write: Are you more productive when you sit and write for long continuous periods of time, or do you prefer to write a little and then move around and ponder? Do you like to work with background noise, or is absolute silence what you need to write your best? The ultimate goal is to select a location where you can consistently go to feel absolutely comfortable writing during your daily dissertation schedule.

Click here to cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Copyright © 2024 PhDStudent.com. All rights reserved. Designed by Divergent Web Solutions, LLC .

  • How it works

researchprospect post subheader

Gantt Chart for Dissertation – Important Ingredient for Dissertation Success

Published by Ellie Cross at January 26th, 2023 , Revised On October 9, 2023

A dissertation is an important part of academic life. You may have spent a lot of time thinking about it, researching it, and writing it. And because of that, you want to put your best foot forward.

You want to make sure that your dissertation is well-organized, easy to read, and compelling. One way you can do this is by using a Gantt chart for your dissertation.

Gantt Chart for Dissertation 

The Gantt chart is one of the most important and useful tools for dissertation writing or even in project management. It enables the planner to develop a detailed schedule showing all the planned work, activities, milestones, and deliverables. 

The Gantt chart is not just a simple table with dates, but it is a graphical representation of a project plan that can be used to show relationships between tasks. For example, the Gantt chart shows when something has to be done and how long it takes to finish this task. It also shows how long other tasks take before they can start or after they are completed. 

The basic concept behind the Gantt chart is that there must be sufficient time allocated for each task within a given time scale so that there is no interference between different tasks being carried out simultaneously by students. 

With the help of a research Gantt chart , you can create a visual roadmap that shows how your project will be completed. This is especially important when you have many tasks to complete.

When Using a Gantt Chart for a Dissertation?

Gantt charts are really helpful for project management. It is often used in business management, engineering and construction, software development, and other fields where projects must be managed.

Sometimes, it is possible to use these charts even if there are no deadlines set for your tasks. This can be useful if you want to understand how much time different types of activities take and how they affect each other.

We use them because they help us visualize our workload and plan our resources accordingly:

  • They help us see which activities depend on each other so we can better coordinate them.
  • They allow us to see what parts of our project are delayed easily.
  • They show whether or not we have enough resources at our disposal.
  • They help us decide when we should reschedule some activities if necessary.

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

ResearchProspect writers can send several custom topic ideas to your email address. Once you have chosen a topic that suits your needs and interests, you can order for our dissertation outline service which will include a brief introduction to the topic, research questions , literature review , methodology , expected results , and conclusion . The dissertation outline will enable you to review the quality of our work before placing the order for our full dissertation writing service!

How to Create a Gantt Chart

Creating a Gantt chart for a dissertation is simple. First, you need to enter your task names, durations, and start dates into an Excel spreadsheet and then use the built-in tools to insert a Gantt chart. There are the following steps:

  • Start with a blank Gantt chart and customize it according to your needs.
  • Add tasks in the form of boxes that represent activities in your project plan. If more than one person is involved in an activity, add lines between them for each step in the process.
  • Add resources (people or equipment) by clicking on the “Resources” tab at the top of the page, selecting from a drop-down menu, or typing in a name manually if you know it already. You can also search for specific names from here if needed and assign resources to tasks by clicking on them once they’ve been added.
  • Use different colours for each task or phase of your project. This makes it easy to see at a glance whether each phase is on track or behind schedule.

Dissertation Planning Template

You can plan your dissertation with the dissertation planning template. This is not a strict structure. It is just a guide. You can adapt it to suit your needs as long as you clearly understand what you want to achieve before you start writing.

The Dissertation Planning Template has Five Main Sections:

Introduction – and overview of the problem and why it is important.

Research question(s) – clearly defined research questions will be investigated during the project.

Objectives – specific objectives that need to be met to achieve the research goals. These may include several smaller objectives (e.g., data collection methods).

Literature review – an analysis of existing literature related to your topic and any gaps in understanding. This section should also include any relevant theory (e.g., theories from other disciplines) and methodologies used within those disciplines which could be applied to your project (if applicable).

Methodology – an outline of how you will address each research objective in relation to your chosen methodology.

Why Choose a Dissertation Gantt Chart Template?

There are many reasons why you would want to use a Gantt chart for a dissertation template rather than creating one yourself:

They Save Time  

Creating a dissertation Gantt chart takes time, effort, and knowledge using Microsoft Excel or PowerPoint software. Therefore, you may find it easier to use an existing template instead of creating one from scratch if you do not have much experience with these programs.

They Look Professional

Gantt chart templates will make your final presentation look more professional using the best dissertation.

Gantt Charts Help Prevent Problems from Arising.

By using a Gantt chart template, you can spot potential problems before they arise. Such as missing deadlines or conflicting tasks and taking action immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a gantt chart for a dissertation.

A Gantt Chart for a dissertation is a visual timeline that outlines the research tasks, milestones, and deadlines. It helps students plan and manage their dissertation projects efficiently.

You May Also Like

You should know how to review your own content. Learn all about how you can critically evaluate your dissertation in this article.

In this technologically advanced era, an enormous amount of summarizers are available on the internet to help students summarize their academic work.

Achieving a 95% on your dissertation? We reveal insider tips & discuss if it’s even possible. Aim for dissertation excellence!

USEFUL LINKS

LEARNING RESOURCES

researchprospect-reviews-trust-site

COMPANY DETAILS

Research-Prospect-Writing-Service

  • How It Works

Article type icon

How to Write a Master's Thesis: A Guide to Planning Your Thesis, Pursuing It, and Avoiding Pitfalls

#scribendiinc

Part 1: Initial Considerations

Who needs to write a master’s thesis.

Thesis writing is one of the more daunting challenges of higher education. That being said, not all master's students have to write a thesis. For example, fields that place a stronger emphasis on applied knowledge, such as nursing, business, and education, tend to have projects and exams to test students on the skills and abilities associated with those fields. Conversely, in disciplines that require in-depth research or highly polished creative abilities, students are usually expected to prove their understanding and independence with a thesis.

What's Your Goal?

Do you want to write a thesis? The process is a long one, often spanning years. It's best to know exactly what you want before you begin. Many people are motivated by career goals. For example, hiring managers may see a master's degree as proof that the candidate is an expert within their field and can lead, motivate, and demonstrate initiative for themselves and others. Others dream of earning their doctorate, and they see a master's degree as a stepping stone toward their Ph.D .

thesis work schedule

No matter what your desired goal is, you should have one before you start your thesis. With your goal in mind, your work will have a purpose, which will allow you to measure your progress more easily.

Major Types of Theses

Once you've carefully researched or even enrolled in a master's program—a feat that involves its own planning and resources —you should know if you are expected to produce a quantitative (which occurs in many math and science programs), qualitative (which occurs in many humanities programs), or creative (which occurs in many creative writing, music, or fine arts programs) thesis.

Time and Energy Considerations

Advanced degrees are notoriously time and energy consuming. If you have a job, thesis writing will become your second job. If you have a family, they will need to know that your thesis will take a great deal of your attention, energy, and focus.

thesis work schedule

Your studies should not consume you, but they also should not take a back seat to everything else. You will be expected to attend classes, conduct research, source relevant literature, and schedule meetings with various people as you pursue your master's, so it's important to let those you care about know what's going on.

As a general note, most master's programs expect students to finish within a two-year period but are willing to grant extra time if requested, especially if that time is needed to deal with unexpected life events (more on those later).

Part 2: Form an Initial Thesis Question, and Find a Supervisor

When to begin forming your initial thesis question.

Some fields, such as history, may require you to have already formed your thesis question and to have used it to create a statement of intent (outlining the nature of your research) prior to applying to a master’s program. Others may require this information only after you've been accepted. Most of the time, you will be expected to come up with your topic yourself. However, in some disciplines, your supervisor may assign a general research topic to you.

Overall, requirements vary immensely from program to program, so it's best to confirm the exact requirements of your specific program.

What to Say to Your Supervisor

You will have a supervisor during your master's studies. Have you identified who that person will be? If yes, have you introduced yourself via email or phone and obtained information on the processes and procedures that are in place for your master's program? Once you've established contact, request an in-person meeting with him or her, and take a page of questions along with you. Your questions might include:

  • Is there a research subject you can recommend in my field?
  • I would like to pursue [target research subject] for my thesis. Can you help me narrow my focus?
  • Can you give me an example of a properly formatted thesis proposal for my program?

Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help (to a Degree)

Procedures and expectations vary from program to program, and your supervisor is there to help remove doubt and provide encouragement so you can follow the right path when you embark on writing your thesis. Since your supervisor has almost certainly worked with other graduate students (and was one at some point), take advantage of their experience, and ask questions to put your mind at ease about how to write a master’s thesis.

That being said, do not rely too heavily on your supervisor. As a graduate student, you are also expected to be able to work independently. Proving your independent initiative and capacity is part of what will earn you your master's degree.

Part 3: Revise Your Thesis

Read everything you can get your hands on.

Whether you have a question or need to create one, your next step is simple and applies to all kinds of theses: read.

thesis work schedule

Seek Out Knowledge or Research Gaps

Read everything you can that relates to the question or the field you are studying. The only way you will be able to determine where you can go is to see where everyone else has been. After you have read some published material, you will start to spot gaps in current research or notice things that could be developed further with an alternative approach. Things that are known but not understood or understood but not explained clearly or consistently are great potential thesis subjects. Addressing something already known from a new perspective or with a different style could also be a potentially valuable project. Whichever way you choose to do it, keep in mind that your project should make a valuable contribution to your field.

thesis work schedule

Talk with Experts in Your Field (and Don't Be Afraid to Revise Your Thesis)

To help narrow down your thesis topic, talk to your supervisor. Your supervisor will have an idea of what is current in your field and what can be left alone because others are already working on it. Additionally, the school you are attending will have programs and faculty with particular areas of interest within your chosen field.

On a similar note, don't be surprised if your thesis question changes as you study. Other students and researchers are out there, and as they publish, what you are working on can change. You might also discover that your question is too vague, not substantial enough, or even no longer relevant. Do not lose heart! Take what you know and adjust the question to address these concerns as they arise. The freedom to adapt is part of the power you hold as a graduate student.

Part 4: Select a Proposal Committee

What proposal committees are and why they're useful.

When you have a solid question or set of questions, draft a proposal.

thesis work schedule

You'll need an original stance and a clear justification for asking, and answering, your thesis question. To ensure this, a committee will review your thesis proposal. Thankfully, that committee will consist of people assigned by your supervisor or department head or handpicked by you. These people will be experts who understand your field of study and will do everything in their power to ensure that you are pursuing something worthwhile. And yes, it is okay to put your supervisor on your committee. Some programs even require that your supervisor be on your committee.

Just remember that the committee will expect you to schedule meetings with them, present your proposal, respond to any questions they might have for you, and ultimately present your findings and thesis when all the work is done. Choose those who are willing to support you, give constructive feedback, and help address issues with your proposal. And don't forget to give your proposal a good, thorough edit and proofread before you present it.

How to Prepare for Committee Meetings

Be ready for committee meetings with synopses of your material for committee members, answers for expected questions, and a calm attitude. To prepare for those meetings, sit in on proposal and thesis defenses so you can watch how other graduate students handle them and see what your committee might ask of you. You can even hold rehearsals with friends and fellow students acting as your committee to help you build confidence for your presentation.

thesis work schedule

Part 5: Write Your Thesis

What to do once your proposal is approved.

After you have written your thesis proposal and received feedback from your committee, the fun part starts: doing the work. This is where you will take your proposal and carry it out. If you drafted a qualitative or quantitative proposal, your experimentation or will begin here. If you wrote a creative proposal, you will now start working on your material. Your proposal should be strong enough to give you direction when you perform your experiments, conduct interviews, or craft your work. Take note that you will have to check in with your supervisor from time to time to give progress updates.

thesis work schedule

Thesis Writing: It's Important to Pace Yourself and Take Breaks

Do not expect the work to go quickly. You will need to pace yourself and make sure you record your progress meticulously. You can always discard information you don't need, but you cannot go back and grab a crucial fact that you can't quite remember. When in doubt, write it down. When drawing from a source, always create a citation for the information to save your future self time and stress. In the same sense, you may also find journaling to be a helpful process.

Additionally, take breaks and allow yourself to step away from your thesis, even if you're having fun (and especially if you're not). Ideally, your proposal should have milestones in it— points where you can stop and assess what you've already completed and what's left to do. When you reach a milestone, celebrate. Take a day off and relax. Better yet, give yourself a week's vacation! The rest will help you regain your focus and ensure that you function at your best.

How to Become More Comfortable with Presenting Your Work

Once you start reaching your milestones, you should be able to start sharing what you have. Just about everyone in a graduate program has experience giving a presentation at the front of the class, attending a seminar, or watching an interview. If you haven't (or even if you have), look for conferences and clubs that will give you the opportunity to learn about presenting your work and become comfortable with the idea of public speaking. The more you practice talking about what you are studying, the more comfortable you'll be with the information, which will make your committee defenses and other official meetings easier.

Published authors can be called upon to present at conferences, and if your thesis is strong, you may receive an email or a phone call asking if you would share your findings onstage.

Presenting at conferences is also a great way to boost your CV and network within your field. Make presenting part of your education, and it will become something you look forward to instead of fear.

What to Do If Your Relationship with Your Supervisor Sours

A small aside: If it isn't already obvious, you will be communicating extensively with others as you pursue your thesis. That also means that others will need to communicate with you, and if you've been noticing things getting quiet, you will need to be the one to speak up. Your supervisor should speak to you at least once a term and preferably once a week in the more active parts of your research and writing. If you give written work to your supervisor, you should have feedback within three weeks.

If your supervisor does not provide feedback, frequently misses appointments, or is consistently discouraging of your work, contact your graduate program advisor and ask for a new supervisor. The relationship with your supervisor is crucial to your success, especially if she or he is on your committee, and while your supervisor does not have to be friendly, there should at least be professional respect between you.

What to Do If a Crisis Strikes

If something happens in your life that disrupts everything (e.g., emotional strain, the birth of a child, or the death of a family member), ask for help. You are a human being, and personal lives can and do change without warning. Do not wait until you are falling apart before asking for help, either. Learn what resources exist for crises before you have one, so you can head off trauma before it hits. That being said, if you get blindsided, don't refuse help. Seek it out, and take the time you need to recover. Your degree is supposed to help you become a stronger and smarter person, not break you.

Part 6: Polish and Defend Your Master's Thesis

How to write a master’s thesis: the final stages.

After your work is done and everything is written down, you will have to give your thesis a good, thorough polishing. This is where you will have to organize the information, draft it into a paper format with an abstract, and abbreviate things to help meet your word-count limit. This is also where your final editing and proofreading passes will occur, after which you will face your final hurdle: presenting your thesis defense to your committee. If they approve your thesis, then congratulations! You are now a master of your chosen field.

Conclusion and Parting Thoughts

Remember that you do not (and should not) have to learn how to write a master’s thesis on your own. Thesis writing is collaborative, as is practically any kind of research.

thesis work schedule

While you will be expected to develop your thesis using your own initiative, pursue it with your own ambition, and complete it with your own abilities, you will also be expected to use all available resources to do so. The purpose of a master's thesis is to help you develop your own independent abilities, ensuring that you can drive your own career forward without constantly looking to others to provide direction. Leaders get master's degrees. That's why many business professionals in leadership roles have graduate degree initials after their last names. If you already have the skills necessary to motivate yourself, lead others, and drive change, you may only need your master's as an acknowledgement of your abilities. If you do not, but you apply yourself carefully and thoroughly to the pursuit of your thesis, you should come away from your studies with those skills in place.

A final thought regarding collaboration: all theses have a section for acknowledgements. Be sure to say thank you to those who helped you become a master. One day, someone might be doing the same for you.

Image source: Falkenpost/Pixabay.com 

We’re Masters at Master’s Theses! Make Yours Shine.

Let our expert academic editors perfect your writing, or get a free sample, about the author.

Anthony Granziol

A Scribendi in-house editor, Anthony is happily putting his BA in English from Western University to good use with thoughtful feedback and incisive editing. An avid reader and gamer, he can be found during his off hours enjoying narrative-driven games and obscure and amusing texts, as well as cooking for his family.

Have You Read?

"The Complete Beginner's Guide to Academic Writing"

Related Posts

How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation

How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation

Selecting a Thesis Committee

Selecting a Thesis Committee

Thesis/Dissertation Writing Series: How to Write a Literature Review

Thesis/Dissertation Writing Series: How to Write a Literature Review

Upload your file(s) so we can calculate your word count, or enter your word count manually.

We will also recommend a service based on the file(s) you upload.

File Word Count  
Include in Price?  

English is not my first language. I need English editing and proofreading so that I sound like a native speaker.

I need to have my journal article, dissertation, or term paper edited and proofread, or I need help with an admissions essay or proposal.

I have a novel, manuscript, play, or ebook. I need editing, copy editing, proofreading, a critique of my work, or a query package.

I need editing and proofreading for my white papers, reports, manuals, press releases, marketing materials, and other business documents.

I need to have my essay, project, assignment, or term paper edited and proofread.

I want to sound professional and to get hired. I have a resume, letter, email, or personal document that I need to have edited and proofread.

 Prices include your personal % discount.

 Prices include % sales tax ( ).

thesis work schedule

  • Staff Directory
  • Library Policies
  • Hege Research Award
  • Quaker Archives
  • Art Gallery
  • Student Support
  • Teaching & Learning
  • Reserving spaces
  • Technology Lending
  • Interlibrary Loan
  • Course Reserves
  • Copyright & Fair Use
  • Poster Printing
  • Virtual Reference
  • Research Guides
  • Off-campus access
  • Digital Scholarship
  • Guilford Sources
  • Open Educational Resources
  • Quaker Collections
  • Digital Collections
  • College Archives
  • Underground Railroad
  • Universities Studying Slavery
  • Images & Exhibitions

Service Alert

logo

Hege Library & Learning Technologies

Guide for Thesis Research

  • Introduction to the Thesis Process
  • Project Planning
  • Literature Review
  • Theoretical Frameworks
  • Research Methodology
  • GC Honors Program Theses
  • Thesis Submission Instructions This link opens in a new window
  • Accessing Guilford Theses from 1898 to 2020 This link opens in a new window

Web Resources

  • Developing a Thesis - Harvard College Writing Center
  • How to Write Your Thesis - Columbia University
  • Navigating the Dissertation - University of Southern California

Mapping Out Your Thesis Project

Good project planning will help you make the most out of your thesis experience. Here are some pointers:

  • What are the specific requirements for theses in your department?
  • What type of sources will you need?
  • How much information will you need?
  • What kind of data will you need to collect?
  • Start your thesis project with enough time.
  • Establish a working schedule.
  • Establish benchmarks.
  • ​Anticipate difficulties in the research process.
  • Give yourself leeway to refine or alter your topic as needed.
  • Be willing to try different strategies as you conduct your research.
  • Databases you have consulted
  • Search queries you have used
  • Relevant sources you have located
  • Have you found sufficient quality information?
  • Have you answered your research questions?
  • Can you develop and support a coherent argument with the sources that you have?
  • Do you have enough to fulfill your thesis requirements?
  • Give yourself time to analyze your sources. Consider how they tie together and help support the points you wish to make.
  • Give yourself time to craft your written product. Make sure it effectively communicates the research you have done and the ideas you wish to express.
  • Show drafts of your written product to others. Ask for their honest feedback, and take it into account.
  • Be very clear about what you wish to say and how you will support it.
  • Anticipate possible questions you might get.
  • Rehearse as much as possible.
  • Enjoy the experience!  
  • << Previous: Introduction to the Thesis Process
  • Next: Literature Review >>
  • Last Updated: Jul 22, 2024 10:48 AM
  • URL: https://library.guilford.edu/thesis-guide

The Thesis Process

The thesis is an opportunity to work independently on a research project of your own design and contribute to the scholarly literature in your field. You emerge from the thesis process with a solid understanding of how original research is executed and how to best communicate research results. Many students have gone on to publish their research in academic or professional journals.

To ensure affordability, the per-credit tuition rate for the 8-credit thesis is the same as our regular course tuition. There are no additional fees (regular per-credit graduate tuition x 8 credits).

Below are the steps that you need to follow to fulfill the thesis requirement. Please know that through each step, you will receive guidance and mentorship.

1. Meet with Your Research Advisor

Upon admission to the program, set up an introductory meeting with your Research Advisor to discuss potential thesis topics as well as course selections that can support your thesis path. 

When you have completed between 24 and 32 credits, you work more intensively with your assigned Research Advisor to determine a specific thesis topic.

Log in to MyDCE , then ALB/ALM Community to schedule an appointment with your assigned Research Advisor via the Degree Candidate Portal.

Failure to work with your Research Advisor initially and then more intensively may result in your Crafting the Thesis Proposal (CTP) Application not being approved (see below) and/or the selection of a different thesis topic.  

Thesis Topic Selection Guidelines

Every effort is made to support research interests that are grounded in your ALM course work, but faculty guidance is not available for all possible projects. Therefore, revision or a change of thesis topic may be necessary.

  • The above point about topic selection is particularly pertinent to scientific research (e.g., biology) that is dependent upon laboratory space, project funding, and access to private databases.
  • This point is also critical for our candidates in ALM, liberal arts fields (i.e., anthropology, English, government, history, international relations, psychology, and religion) who are required to have Harvard faculty direct their thesis projects. Review Harvard’s course catalog online ( My.Harvard.edu ) to be sure that there are faculty teaching courses related to your thesis topic. If faculty are not available, you will need to choose an alternative topic.
  • Your topic choice must be a new area of research for you. You cannot re-purpose prior research. If you want to draw or expand upon your own previously written scholarship for a small portion of your thesis, you need to obtain the explicit permission of your research advisor and cite the work in both the proposal and thesis. Violations of this policy will be referred to the Administrative Board.

We’ve put together this guide  to help frame your thinking about thesis topic selection.

While it is natural to follow your interests in selecting a thesis topic, it is important to avoid choosing a topic where your own passions might produce insurmountable biases and assumptions. A thesis is not a piece of advocacy work where you are out to prove something that you already believe. Thesis projects must take a fair and balanced stance by bringing in differing points of view from respected scholars in the field. 

2. Prepare Your Crafting the Thesis Proposal Application

Once you and your Research Advisor have confirmed your thesis topic, the next step in the process is to prepare and submit the CTP Application in order to gain registration approval for the Crafting the Thesis Proposal (CTP) tutorial or course.

The CTP Application process confirms that you have done enough prior reading and thinking about your thesis topic to generate a pertinent and answerable research question. Pre-CTP preparation is critical as it helps to ensure that you will benefit from and succeed in the CTP.

Application Approvals and Denials. Your Research Advisor will provide feedback on your CTP Application.  If your application is not approved after 3 submissions, your Research Advisor cannot approve your CTP registration. 

If not approved, you’ll need to take additional time for further revisions and submit a new CTP Application during the next CTP submission cycle (if your five-year degree completion date allows).

Application Eligibility Requirements. To be eligible to submit a CTP Application, you need to (1) be in good standing and (2) have completed a minimum of 32 degree-applicable credits, including the research methods/statistics and Engaging in Scholarly Conversation requirement, if required for your field.

Advising Note for Psychology Candidates View More

Students in psychology sometimes face difficulty securing necessary IRB approvals for certain projects. For this reason, Research Advisors will not approve proposals that raise significant concerns about feasibility. Such concerns include cases where projects would require the researcher to possess a level of expertise or experience exceeding documented capabilities, as well as instances where the researcher is unlikely to be able to obtain appropriate faculty supervision for a proposed topic, question, method, or procedure. You must schedule an appointment with your Research Advisor at least three months in advance of the CTP Application deadlines to discuss potential research projects to ensure adequate time for assistance in developing a viable project idea.

Advising Note for Biology and former Biotechnology and Bioengineering and Nanotechnology Candidates View More

Thesis projects in these fields are designed to support ongoing scientific research happening in Harvard University, other academic institutions, or life science industry labs and usually these are done under the direction of a principal investigator (PI). Hence, you need to have a thesis director approved by your research advisor  prior  to submitting CTP Application. Your CTP Application is then framed by the lab’s research. Schedule an appointment with your research advisor a few months in advance of the CTP Application deadlines in order to discuss potential research projects and thesis director assignment.

The CTP Application is sent to our central email box:  [email protected] by the following firm deadlines:

  • June 1 for fall CTP
  • November 1 for spring CTP.  
  • September 1 for the three-week January session (ALM sustainability candidates only)
  • International sustainability students who need a student visa to attend Harvard Summer School must be officially admitted to the degree program before February 1, must submit the CTP Application on February 1, and must register for the CTP course on March 1 in order to submit timely I-20 paperwork. See international students guidelines for more information.

3. Register and Successfully Complete Crafting the Thesis Proposal

Once your CTP Application is approved, you register for the Crafting the Thesis Proposal (CTP) tutorial or course as you would any other degree requirement.

The goal of the CTP is to produce a complete, well-written draft of a proposal containing all of the sections required by your Research Advisor. Creating an academically strong thesis proposal sets the foundation for a high-quality thesis and helps garner the attention of a well-respected thesis director.

Thesis proposals typically include approximately 15 to 20 pages of text, in addition to any required reference sections, such as bibliographies and glossary/definition of terms.

Tutorial experience. The fall and spring CTP  tutorials are not courses in the traditional sense. Although there will be assignments for you to complete during the CTP, with due dates, and there will be times when you and your classmates meet as a group with your Research Advisor, there won’t be a regularly scheduled class meeting time for the CTP. 

The main work for the CTP will consist of your working independently on your proposal with your Research Advisor by submitting multiple drafts and scheduling individual appointments.

Grading. You need to make self-directed progress on the proposal without special prompting from the research advisor. You receive a final grade of SAT or UNSAT (failing grade).

You are expected to incorporate all of your Research Advisor’s feedback and be fully committed to producing an academically strong proposal leading to a thesis worthy of a Harvard degree. If you are unable to take advice from your Research Advisor, follow directions, or produce an acceptable proposal, you will not pass the CTP.

The CTP for sustainability is a three-week course in the traditional sense and you receive a letter grade, and it must be B- or higher to receive degree credit for the course.

Academic Integrity. Successful CTP completion also includes a check on the proper use of sources according to our academic integrity guidelines. Violations of our academic integrity policy will be referred to the Administrative Board.

Maximum of two attempts . If you don’t pass the CTP, you’ll have — if your five-year, degree-completion date allows — just one more attempt to complete the CTP before being required to withdraw from the program. If you fail the CTP just once and have no more time to complete the degree, your candidacy will automatically expire. Please note that a WD grade counts as an attempt.

If by not passing the CTP you fall into poor academic standing, you will need to take additional degree-applicable courses to return to good standing before enrolling in the CTP for your second and final time, but only if your five-year, degree-completion date allows. If you have no more time on your five-year clock, you will be required to withdraw from the program.

Human Subjects

If your thesis, regardless of field, will involve the use of human subjects (e.g., interviews, surveys, observations), you will need to have your research vetted by the  Committee on the Use of Human Subjects  (CUHS) of Harvard University. Please review the IRB Lifecycle Guide located on the CUHS website. Your research advisor will help you prepare a draft copy of the project protocol form that you will then finalize with your thesis director to send to the CUHS. 

Given the amount of time that can be required for IRB review, drafting of the required CUHS project protocol forms need to be started with your Research Advisor during the CTP tutorial, before a thesis director has been assigned.

4. Post-CTP Proposal Approval, Thesis Director Assignment, and Registration

Successfully completion of the CTP means you have completed a well-written full draft proposal. Ordinarily, this full draft is not a final accepted proposal. Most students reach the final accepted proposal stage by submitting additional changes and edits to their RA post-CTP.

Post-CTP Changes and Edits Deadline. We expect you to work diligently and quickly with your RA post-CTP to move from full draft to final proposal stage. Indeed, you should have an approved final proposal and be registered in the thesis soon after CTP completion, within weeks, but no later than 3 months. You cannot delay. If you take longer than 3 months after the CTP to register for the thesis, you may be required to retake the CTP.

Thesis Director Assignment. Once your RA has determined that your draft has reached the final proposal stage, you move to the thesis director assignment stage. The Research Advisor places you with a thesis director by sending out your final proposal to prospective Thesis Directors.

Do not approach faculty to ask about directing your thesis.  You may suggest names of any potential Thesis Directors to your Research Advisor, but it must be the Research Advisor who makes contact with them. (If they are eligible/available to direct your thesis, after you have an approved thesis proposal.) You are not permitted to approach faculty to ask them about directing your thesis.

Registration. When a Thesis Director has been identified or the thesis proposal has been fully vetted by the preassigned life science Thesis Director, you will receive a letter of authorization from the Assistant Dean of Academic Programs officially approving your thesis work and providing you with instructions on how to register for the eight-credit master’s thesis. The letter will also have a tentative graduation date as well as four mandatory thesis submission dates (see Thesis Timetable below).

When registering for the thesis, you will have two weeks to pay in full.  This is an eight-credit course, so be sure to have the necessary funds available when you register.

You must be good academic standing to register for the thesis. If not, you’ll need to complete additional courses to bring your GPA up to the 3.0 minimum prior to registration.

Thesis Submission Deadlines and Graduation Timetable

The thesis is a 9-to-12-month project that begins after the Crafting the Thesis Proposal (CTP); when your Research Advisor has approved your proposal and identified a Thesis Director.

The date for the appointment of your Thesis Director determines the graduation cycle that will be automatically assigned to you:

Thesis MilestoneFor May GraduationFor November GraduationFor February Graduation
March 1 – June 30August 15 – October 15November 1 – February 15

.
February 1July 15October 1
.

March 1August 15November 1

April 1September 15December 1
April 15October 1December 15
(see step 7 below).May 1October 7January 3

As you can see above, you do not submit your thesis all at once at the end, but in four phases: (1) complete draft to TD, (2) final draft to RA for format review and academic integrity check, (3) format approved draft submitted to TD for grading, and (4) upload your 100% complete graded thesis to ETDs.

Due dates for all phases for your assigned graduation cycle cannot be missed.  You must submit materials by the date indicated by 5 PM EST (even if the date falls on a weekend). If you are late, you will not be able to graduate during your assigned cycle.

If you need additional time to complete your thesis, you need to formally request an extension by emailing that petition to:  [email protected] .  Regardless of when you started, the maximum allotted time to complete your thesis, including any granted extensions of time is 12 months.

Advising Tip to Meet Your Five-Year Deadline: The last possible time you can register for the CTP to meet your five-year deadline date is the fall term two years prior or, if a sustainability student, in the January session one year prior. It is not, however, recommended to wait this long. Indeed, it is vigorously discouraged.

For example, if your five-year deadline is May 2026:

  • Complete the CTP in fall 2024 (or in January 2025, if a sustainability student)
  • Be assigned a Thesis Director (TD) in March/April 2025
  • Begin the 9–12-month thesis project with TD
  • Submit a complete draft of your thesis to your TD by February 1, 2026
  • Follow through with all other submission deadlines (April 1, April 15 and May 1 — see table above)
  • Graduate in May 2026

5. Working with Your Thesis Director

You must work diligently and independently, following the advice of your Thesis Director in a consistent, regular manner equivalent to full-time academic work to complete both the research and the writing phases of your thesis by your required timeline.

You are expected to incorporate all of your Thesis Director’s feedback and be fully committed to producing an academically strong thesis worthy of a Harvard degree. If you are unable to take advice from your Thesis Director, follow directions, or produce an acceptable scholarly thesis product, you will not receive a passing grade.

You are required to produce at least 50 pages of text (not including front matter and appendices). Chapter topics (e.g., introduction, background, methods, findings, conclusion) vary by field.

Once registered in the thesis, we will do a 3-month check-in with you and your Thesis Director to ensure progress is being made. If your Thesis Director reports little to no progress, the Dean of Academic Programs reserves the right to issue a thesis not complete (TNC) grade (see Thesis Grading below).

6. Thesis Template, Format Review, and Academic Integrity Check

All ALM thesis projects must written in Microsoft Word and follow a specific Harvard Extension School format. A properly formatted thesis is an explicit degree requirement; you cannot graduate without it.

You are required to use the Extension School  ALM Thesis Template  or the Extension School ALM Thesis Template for Creative Writing  (specifically designed for creative writing degree candidates). The template has all the mandatory thesis formatting built in.

Besides saving you a considerable amount of time as you write your thesis, the template ensures that your submitted thesis meets the mandatory style guidelines for margins, font, title page, table of contents, and chapter headings. If you use the template, format review should go smoothly, if not, a delayed graduation is highly likely.

Your Research Advisor will complete the format review  prior  to submitting your thesis to your Thesis Director for final grading according to the Thesis Timetable (see above).

Academic Integrity. Format review also includes a check on the proper use of sources according to our  academic integrity  guidelines. Violations of our academic integrity policy will be referred to the Administrative Board.

7. Mandatory Thesis Archiving

Once your thesis is finalized, meaning that the required grade has been earned and all edits have been completed, you must upload your thesis to Harvard University’s electronic thesis and dissertation submission system (ETDs).

Uploading your thesis ETDs is an explicit degree requirement; you cannot graduate without completing this step. Furthermore, no changes to the thesis are allowed once it has been graded and archived in ETDs.

The thesis project will be sent to several downstream systems:

  • Your work will be preserved using Harvard’s digital repository DASH (Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard).
  • Metadata about your work will be sent to HOLLIS (the Harvard Library catalog).
  • Your work will be preserved in Harvard Library’s DRS2 (digital preservation repository).

By submitting work through ETDs @ Harvard you will be signing the Harvard Author Agreement. This license does not constrain your rights to publish your work subsequently. You retain all intellectual property rights.

For more information on Harvard’s open access initiatives, we recommend you view the Director of the Office of Scholarly Communication (OSC), Peter Suber’s brief introduction .

Thesis Grading

You need to earn a grade of B- or higher in the thesis. If you fail to complete substantial work on the thesis, you will earn a grade of TNC (thesis not complete). If you have already earned two withdrawal grades, the TNC grade will count as a zero in your cumulative GPA.

If you earn a grade below B-, you will need to petition the Administrative Board for permission to attempt the thesis for a second and final time. The petition process is only available if you are in good academic standing and your five-year, degree-completion date allows for more time. Your candidacy will automatically expire if you do not successfully complete the thesis by your required date.

If approved for a second attempt, you may be required to develop a new proposal on a different topic by re-enrolling in the CTP and being assigned a different thesis director. Tuition for the second attempt is calculated at the current year’s rate.

If by not passing the thesis you fall into poor academic standing, you’ll need to take additional degree-applicable courses to return to good standing before re-engaging with the thesis process for the second and final time. This is only an option if your five-year, degree-completion date allows for more time.

The Board only reviews cases in which extenuating circumstances prevented the successful completion of the thesis.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education Logo

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

  • Harvard Library
  • Research Guides
  • Harvard Graduate School of Design - Frances Loeb Library

Write and Cite

  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Academic Integrity
  • Using Sources and AI
  • Academic Writing
  • From Research to Writing
  • GSD Writing Services
  • Grants and Fellowships
  • Reading, Notetaking, and Time Management

What is a thesis?

What is a dissertation, getting started, staying on track.

A thesis is a long-term project that you work on over the course of a semester or a year. Theses have a very wide variety of styles and content, so we encourage you to look at prior examples and work closely with faculty to develop yours. 

Before you begin, make sure that you are familiar with the dissertation genre—what it is for and what it looks like.

Generally speaking, a dissertation’s purpose is to prove that you have the expertise necessary to fulfill your doctoral-degree requirements by showing depth of knowledge and independent thinking.

The form of a dissertation may vary by discipline. Be sure to follow the specific guidelines of your department.

  • PhD This site directs candidates to the GSAS website about dissertations , with links to checklists,  planning, formatting, acknowledgments, submission, and publishing options. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus . Consult with your committee chair about specific requirements and standards for your dissertation.
  • DDES This document covers planning, patent filing, submission guidelines, publishing options, formatting guidelines, sample pages, citation guidelines, and a list of common errors to avoid. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus .
  • Scholarly Pursuits (GSAS) This searchable booklet from Harvard GSAS is a comprehensive guide to writing dissertations, dissertation-fellowship applications, academic journal articles, and academic job documents.

Finding an original topic can be a daunting and overwhelming task. These key concepts can help you focus and save time.

Finding a topic for your thesis or dissertation should start with a research question that excites or at least interests you. A rigorous, engaging, and original project will require continuous curiosity about your topic, about your own thoughts on the topic, and about what other scholars have said on your topic. Avoid getting boxed in by thinking you know what you want to say from the beginning; let your research and your writing evolve as you explore and fine-tune your focus through constant questioning and exploration.

Get a sense of the broader picture before you narrow your focus and attempt to frame an argument. Read, skim, and otherwise familiarize yourself with what other scholars have done in areas related to your proposed topic. Briefly explore topics tangentially related to yours to broaden your perspective and increase your chance of finding a unique angle to pursue.

Critical Reading

Critical reading is the opposite of passive reading. Instead of merely reading for information to absorb, critical reading also involves careful, sustained thinking about what you are reading. This process may include analyzing the author’s motives and assumptions, asking what might be left out of the discussion, considering what you agree with or disagree with in the author’s statements and why you agree or disagree, and exploring connections or contradictions between scholarly arguments. Here is a resource to help hone your critical-reading skills:

http://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/criticalread.pdf

Conversation

Your thesis or dissertation will incorporate some ideas from other scholars whose work you researched. By reading critically and following your curiosity, you will develop your own ideas and claims, and these contributions are the core of your project. You will also acknowledge the work of scholars who came before you, and you must accurately and fairly attribute this work and define your place within the larger discussion. Make sure that you know how to quote, summarize, paraphrase ,  integrate , and cite secondary sources to avoid plagiarism and to show the depth and breadth of your knowledge.

A thesis is a long-term, large project that involves both research and writing; it is easy to lose focus, motivation, and momentum. Here are suggestions for achieving the result you want in the time you have.

The dissertation is probably the largest project you have undertaken, and a lot of the work is self-directed. The project can feel daunting or even overwhelming unless you break it down into manageable pieces and create a timeline for completing each smaller task. Be realistic but also challenge yourself, and be forgiving of yourself if you miss a self-imposed deadline here and there.

Your program will also have specific deadlines for different requirements, including establishing a committee, submitting a prospectus, completing the dissertation, defending the dissertation, and submitting your work. Consult your department’s website for these dates and incorporate them into the timeline for your work.

Accountability

Sometimes self-imposed deadlines do not feel urgent unless there is accountability to someone beyond yourself. To increase your motivation to complete tasks on schedule, set dates with your committee chair to submit pre-determined pieces of a chapter. You can also arrange with a fellow doctoral student to check on each other’s progress. Research and writing can be lonely, so it is also nice to share that journey with someone and support each other through the process.

Common Pitfalls

The most common challenges for students writing a dissertation are writer’s block, information-overload, and the compulsion to keep researching forever.

There are many strategies for avoiding writer’s block, such as freewriting, outlining, taking a walk, starting in the middle, and creating an ideal work environment for your particular learning style. Pay attention to what helps you and try different things until you find what works.

Efficient researching techniques are essential to avoiding information-overload. Here are a couple of resources about strategies for finding sources and quickly obtaining essential information from them.

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_in_literature_detailed_discussion/reading_criticism.html

https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies/reading-techniques

Finally, remember that there is always more to learn and your dissertation cannot incorporate everything. Follow your curiosity but also set limits on the scope of your work. It helps to create a folder entitled “future projects” for topics and sources that interest you but that do not fit neatly into the dissertation. Also remember that future scholars will build off of your work, so leave something for them to do.

Browsing through theses and dissertations of the past can help to get a sense of your options and gain inspiration but be careful to use current guidelines and refer to your committee instead of relying on these examples for form or formatting.

DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard.

HOLLIS Harvard Library’s catalog provides access to ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global .

MIT Architecture has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Rhode Island School of Design has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

University of South Florida has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Harvard GSD has a list of projects, including theses and professors’ research.

  • << Previous: Reading, Notetaking, and Time Management
  • Next: Publishing >>
  • Last Updated: Sep 5, 2024 7:21 PM
  • URL: https://guides.library.harvard.edu/gsd/write

Harvard University Digital Accessibility Policy

Enago Academy

How to Plan a Research Thesis

' src=

A very important element of research, particularly for students, is the thesis which constitutes a report of the work performed. A thesis allows the organization of thoughts and results, and also serves to fulfill institutional requirements. Judgments about how good is the work are based on the quality of the thesis, among other things. It is therefore essential to plan the thesis writing well in advance. Some of the essential steps in this process are summarized below.

  • The first phase of the process involves locating a suitable research advisor and institution, determining overlap of interest, and then formulating the research plan.
  • Attempt to anticipate all the tasks which will be involved and potential problems that you may encounter in consultation with your research advisor .
  • Devise a thesis proposal, which is a short description of why and how the research is expected to be completed, and define the eventual goal.
  • Before you embark on the actual work, perform a thorough search of existing literature, which will help you put the proposed research in better perspective.
  • Construct or learn to use suitable apparatus and acquire a working knowledge of experimental and/or theoretical frameworks before you attack the research problem.
  • Once you begin the research, maintain detailed and clear notes at every stage so that these can be consulted when you begin writing the thesis.
  • On completion of the work, appropriate conclusions should be drawn from the work which can be put in the discussions section of the thesis.
  • The layout and format of the thesis should be decided before commencing writing. An outline of the front matter, body, and concluding portions should be first prepared.
  • Once the details are written, the thesis should be reviewed by not just the research advisor but also peers and other experts in the field. The quality of the writing can be improved using professional help .
  • The final and critical part is the thesis defense-thoroughly revise every detail in the thesis and be prepared to field queries related to any aspect.

A well-planned and -written thesis can be crucial to recognition by peers and also career advancement.

Rate this article Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published.

thesis work schedule

Enago Academy's Most Popular Articles

Writing a Literature Review

  • Manuscripts & Grants
  • Reporting Research

Writing a Research Literature Review? — Here are tips to guide you through!

Literature review is both a process and a product. It involves searching within a defined…

Research Hypothesis

How to Develop a Good Research Hypothesis

The story of a research study begins by asking a question. Researchers all around the…

: dissertation defense

  • Publishing Research
  • Submitting Manuscripts

13 Tips to Prepare for Your PhD Dissertation Defense

How well do you know your project? Years of experiments, analysis of results, and tons…

publishing thesis as a book

  • Manuscript Preparation

9 Effective Tips for Publishing Thesis As a Book

While they may look alike, a thesis is not a book! The process of publishing…

PhD Timeline

  • Career Corner
  • PhDs & Postdocs

How to Manage Your PhD Timeline for Smoother Research Completion

It’s finally happening! The university has sent you an acceptance letter for the PhD program you had applied to. Getting into a…

From Thesis to Journal Articles: Expert Tips on Publishing in PubMed

Know the Journey Behind an Editorial Decision in the Digital Age

thesis work schedule

Sign-up to read more

Subscribe for free to get unrestricted access to all our resources on research writing and academic publishing including:

  • 2000+ blog articles
  • 50+ Webinars
  • 10+ Expert podcasts
  • 50+ Infographics
  • 10+ Checklists
  • Research Guides

We hate spam too. We promise to protect your privacy and never spam you.

  • Industry News
  • AI in Academia
  • Promoting Research
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Infographics
  • Expert Video Library
  • Other Resources
  • Enago Learn
  • Upcoming & On-Demand Webinars
  • Peer Review Week 2024
  • Open Access Week 2023
  • Conference Videos
  • Enago Report
  • Journal Finder
  • Enago Plagiarism & AI Grammar Check
  • Editing Services
  • Publication Support Services
  • Research Impact
  • Translation Services
  • Publication solutions
  • AI-Based Solutions
  • Thought Leadership
  • Call for Articles
  • Call for Speakers
  • Author Training
  • Edit Profile

I am looking for Editing/ Proofreading services for my manuscript Tentative date of next journal submission:

thesis work schedule

In your opinion, what is the most effective way to improve integrity in the peer review process?

COMMENTS

  1. Schedule/work plan

    The information about schedules or work plans in proposals was gathered from RRU thesis and major project handbooks, current in 2020, from programs in the Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences, the Faculty of Management, and the College of Interdisciplinary Studies. If the details here differ from the information provided in the handbook for your project, please follow the handbook's directions.

  2. How to Create a Research Timeline for Your Thesis

    Following these three steps will help you draft a timeline to steer the course of your dissertation work: research and record all requirements and deadlines; work backward from your dissertation deadline and assemble your task lists; and organize your tasks into a timeline. Don't forget to include ample time for editing and proofreading your ...

  3. How to Create a Dissertation Timeline (With Examples + Tempate)

    A dissertation timeline can make the difference between finishing your dissertation or dropping out. Here's how to create one.

  4. Dissertation Planner: Plan & Research

    A work plan will help you: Break down the large, overwhelming process of writing a dissertation into manageable steps; Keep a "daily commitment" to your dissertation; Discover and take advantage of your most productive work habits; Set goals and reward yourself for achieving them; and. Balance dissertation writing with the other aspects of your ...

  5. Thesis and Dissertation: Getting Started

    Thesis and Dissertation: Getting Started The resources in this section are designed to provide guidance for the first steps of the thesis or dissertation writing process. They offer tools to support the planning and managing of your project, including writing out your weekly schedule, outlining your goals, and organzing the various working elements of your project.

  6. Developing a Workplan

    Developing a Workplan A workplan typically includes several important elements, including a task list, short-term goals, expected outcomes, and system for evaluating progress toward the goals. A workplan can be highly detailed and specific, or it can be fairly general. Ideally, it provides guidance on what tasks need to be completed, goals for a particular interval of time, and how to assess ...

  7. Thesis Planning Template

    This thesis planning template is designed to help you stay organized from the very beginning, keeping track of all your notes, drafts, and resources. With an adjustable schedule and a centralized resource center, you can ensure that you stay on top of your thesis writing process and ace your final submission. Try this template now.

  8. Project Plan or Research Plan

    Project plan Your thesis work begins with familiarizing yourself with the topic and creating a project plan. The plan is also referred to as a research plan and thesis work plan. You familiarize yourself with the topic by searching for information from previous research and literature related to the subject.

  9. Designing a Workable Plan for Your Thesis or Dissertation

    Designing a Workable Plan for Your Thesis or Dissertation You're looking at the title of this document and thinking, "What does that mean -'Designing a Workable Plan'?" And the answer is, "whatever it takes to help you write your magnum opus with a positive attitude and on schedule." This can include time management, financial planning, effective interaction with an advisor and ...

  10. A Guide to Dissertation Planning: Tips, Tools and Templates

    Dissertations are a defining piece of academic research and writing for all students. To complete such a large research project while maintaining a good work-life balance, planning and organisation is essential. In this article, we'll outline three categories for dissertation planning including project management, note-taking and information management, alongside tools and templates for ...

  11. PDF Below are some suggestions for how to use this calendar to plan and

    Consider allocating "thesis days" in your schedule periodically (e.g. once per week) in which you primarily focus on your thesis so that you ensure you are working on your project on a regular basis, you can tackle big issues that arise, and feel like you are making progress. Look for McGraw, Writing Center and Residential College writing spaces, bootcamps, etc.

  12. PDF Sample Formatting Timeline for Your Thesis

    The approximate workload is 5-10 hours per week. This estimates come from an experienced formatter's educated guesses about the time it would take an average word-processing user to research and perform the above-listed tasks for a thesis or dissertation with 150 pages, 10 block quotes, 10 tables, 5 figures, 2 landscaped pages, 3 appendices, 50 footnotes, and 100 references. Keep these ...

  13. Writing Your Dissertation: Setting a Daily Dissertation Schedule

    Do you like to work with background noise, or is absolute silence what you need to write your best? The ultimate goal is to select a location where you can consistently go to feel absolutely comfortable writing during your daily dissertation schedule.

  14. Gantt Chart for Dissertation

    Gantt Chart for Dissertation The Gantt chart is one of the most important and useful tools for dissertation writing or even in project management. It enables the planner to develop a detailed schedule showing all the planned work, activities, milestones, and deliverables.

  15. How to Write a Master's Thesis: A Guide to Planning Your Thesis

    Are you curious about how to write a master's thesis? Our guide is packed with practical advice to help you master each stage of the process.

  16. PDF Working Thesis Planning Guide Generic

    Working Thesis Planning Guide. Purpose: Although your paper may in its early stages, you can begin planning your thesis statement now. The first draft of your thesis statement is known as a "working thesis"—it works for now to get your paper started, and you can revise it as your paper develops. For later assignments, you can follow the ...

  17. Project Planning

    Start your thesis project with enough time. Establish a working schedule. Establish benchmarks. Be ready to work with obstacles. Anticipate difficulties in the research process. Give yourself leeway to refine or alter your topic as needed. Be willing to try different strategies as you conduct your research. Document your research process.

  18. Building a thesis schedule forward from today

    Building a thesis schedule forward from today Here's how to build a schedule forward from today. You don't need scheduling or project-management software to manage your thesis schedule, though you can of course use it if it helps.

  19. The Thesis Process

    The Thesis Process The thesis is an opportunity to work independently on a research project of your own design and contribute to the scholarly literature in your field. You emerge from the thesis process with a solid understanding of how original research is executed and how to best communicate research results. Many students have gone on to publish their research in academic or professional ...

  20. Research Guides: Write and Cite: Theses and Dissertations

    What is a thesis? A thesis is a long-term project that you work on over the course of a semester or a year. Theses have a very wide variety of styles and content, so we encourage you to look at prior examples and work closely with faculty to develop yours.

  21. PDF Microsoft Word

    Sample Thesis Work Plan Tammy S. Gordon Department of History University of North Carolina Wilmington The following is a sample work plan for fulfilling the thesis requirements in public history. This plan is intended to help students manage their projects after they have passed both comprehensive exams and language exam. Information on departmental and graduate school guidelines should be ...

  22. How to Plan a Research Thesis

    A very important element of research, particularly for students, is the thesis which constitutes a report of the work performed. A thesis allows the organization of thoughts and results, and also serves to fulfill institutional requirements. Judgments about how good is the work are based on the quality of the thesis, among other things. It is therefore essential to plan the thesis writing well ...

  23. PDF Sample Dissertation Timetable (2-year plan)

    Sample Dissertation Timetable (2-year plan) Sample Dissertation Timetable (2-year plan)This schedule is for a candidate who will submit each chapter initially to the chair and wait until all (or nearly all) of the chapters are complete and approved to. submit them to the other committee members.NOTE: This timeline is for informational purposes ...