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Top 5 Research Timeline Samples with Templates and Examples

Ashima Monga

When it comes to doing a thesis, project report, or dissertation, you spend lots of time doing research through case studies. It, however, always works best if you planned everything in a given timeline. Thus, a research timeline template is beneficial for writing a research report or project presentation for sponsors or investors.

To address this pain point of business, SlideTech offers you invaluable help in building innovative research timeline templates that give you the outline to create perfect project reports, add or remove new tasks and milestones, and change the deliverable dates of your project with a few clicks. Our templates provide an overview of the project plan’s events, highlight important points in time, break down the project’s agenda and distill important information about your products or services, etc.

In this blog, we are introducing our top-notch research timeline templates that are perfect for telling stories and visualizing the processes of your project. 

Template 1: Projected Research Timeline Milestone PPT PowerPoint Presentation Ideas Backgrounds

If you need to learn how to make a research document and set schedule activities for each step, then use this fantastic research template that encompasses the content of a well-maintained research paper. Organize your activities and map meetings according to project milestones with this expert-curated template. For instance, use this template to mark out when your ‘reading and research starts and mark it as task 1, with the color-coded legend. Then task 2 could be topic presenting that starts, as soon as task 1 ends. Then, topic interpreting can be task 3 with the same start as the work on the topic started. This editable template lets you change font styles and color themes with a few clicks.

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Template 2: Projected Research Timeline Elements PPT Presentation Infographic Template Skills

When you introduce your new products and services to the customers, get this template where steps are needed to analyze, plan, design, implement, and evaluate a specific product. Adapt this PPT Template to give a comprehensive overview of your products to target audience that you value. This handy template design guides your project from inception to completion dividing your project research tasks into Elements, Tasks and Actions. 

Template 3: Projected Research Timeline Planning PowerPoint Presentation Icon Backgrounds

Manage your planning with this PPT Template design to complete your project research, enlist tasks or activities with its deadline. You can measure the activities you planned through it by going to the timetable you set and evaluating the work progress. Business owners can easily visualize data with customizable maps, widgets, graphs, and charts. The phases are also listed out in detail in this template.

Template 4: Dissertation Projected Research Timeline Analysis PPT PowerPoint Presentation Professional

Fashionably present your research project through this ready-made Presentation Template and keep track of project deadlines. This goal- oriented template breaks down your project’s events or tasks in chronological order, giving a high-level view of the project's planning and reflecting your business plan. Use color hues for each task that differentiate each task from others on the timeline, schedule prioritize tasks, and make information more visual.

Template 5: Dissertation Projected Research Timeline Research PPT PowerPoint Presentation Topics

Grab this research timeline to illustrate and represent roadmaps for your project and highlight the planning process’s goals and tasks over a specific period. Color-coding of this template makes your design more readable, differentiating tasks, defining specific daily, weekly, or monthly activities, etc. The project manager can visualize processes and their status quo and also create natural flow of information among team members. 

The Final Word

Running a business smoothly is a very tricky job and sometimes may be hard to manage. Our beautifully crafted research timeline templates provide the most solid foundation that builds something genuinely remarkable for your business that will captivate your audience, stakeholders, investors, etc. Our research timeline templates communicate the business’s core message clearly and emphasizes timely project delivery to your potential customers. You can always modify our templates to fit your business’s needs. 

FAQs on Research Timeline

What is a research timeline.

A research timeline is an essential part of any project proposal. It defines the chronological order of events of your project plan that includes aspects such as reading & research, analysis results, milestones, preliminary data results, literature review results, etc. It gives a broad overview of your project’s planned activities at a glance.

How do you write a research timeline?

Writing a research document for any project comes with levels of complexity. You must follow some guidelines while writing a research timeline to keep yourself on track. Write the research timeline of the project in stages and give enough time to complete every step of your work.

• Define research ideas, objectives, and resources and then prepare the research proposal.
• Develop a research design for it
• Capture relevant information to create a sampling plan
• Carry out data collection to write it up 
• Prepare data for analysis and draw conclusions or recommendations
• Write the final draft of the application.
• Again, review it and edit it if required and submit the final research proposal.

How long should a research timeline be?

A research timeline project can be eight weeks, six months, one year, two years, three years, or more, depending on the requirement of the project proposal. But it would help if you remembered to complete it timely while planning these periods.

How do you write a  PhD research timeline?

A PhD Research Timeline is a challenging process that spans across years. Sometimes, researchers can feel quite overwhelmed. Some tips for writing a perfect PhD research timeline are:

• Decide what elements like data collection, fieldwork, experiments, data analysis, writing plan, conferences, publications, coursework, etc., you must include in your PhD research timeline.
• Share or discuss your ideas and thoughts with your guide or PhD supervisor and get their views. Note the discussion points during the meeting and edit your provisional PhD research timeline, accordingly. 
• Think about the design of your PhD research timeline and prepare it across tasks and milestones.
• Track your tasks and update your PhD research timeline to prioritize tasks and set achievable and concrete goals when needed.

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• How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

Published on October 12, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on November 21, 2023.

A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important, and how you will conduct your research.

The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements:

Introduction

Literature review.

• Research design

Reference list

While the sections may vary, the overall objective is always the same. A research proposal serves as a blueprint and guide for your research plan, helping you get organized and feel confident in the path forward you choose to take.

Table of contents

Research proposal purpose, research proposal examples, research design and methods, contribution to knowledge, research schedule, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research proposals.

Academics often have to write research proposals to get funding for their projects. As a student, you might have to write a research proposal as part of a grad school application , or prior to starting your thesis or dissertation .

In addition to helping you figure out what your research can look like, a proposal can also serve to demonstrate why your project is worth pursuing to a funder, educational institution, or supervisor.

Research proposal length

The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.

One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.

Download our research proposal template

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Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.

• Example research proposal #1: “A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management”
• Example research proposal #2: “Medical Students as Mediators of Change in Tobacco Use”

Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:

• The proposed title of your project
• Your supervisor’s name
• Your institution and department

The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.

Your introduction should:

• Introduce your topic
• Give necessary background and context
• Outline your  problem statement  and research questions

To guide your introduction , include information about:

• Who could have an interest in the topic (e.g., scientists, policymakers)
• How much is already known about the topic
• What is missing from this current knowledge
• What new insights your research will contribute
• Why you believe this research is worth doing

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As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review  shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.

In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:

• Comparing and contrasting the main theories, methods, and debates
• Examining the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
• Explaining how will you build on, challenge, or synthesize prior scholarship

Following the literature review, restate your main  objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.

To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasize again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.

For example, your results might have implications for:

• Improving best practices
• Informing policymaking decisions
• Strengthening a theory or model
• Challenging popular or scientific beliefs
• Creating a basis for future research

Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .

Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.

Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.

Download our research schedule template

If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.

Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:

• Cost : exactly how much money do you need?
• Justification : why is this cost necessary to complete the research?
• Source : how did you calculate the amount?

To determine your budget, think about:

• Travel costs : do you need to go somewhere to collect your data? How will you get there, and how much time will you need? What will you do there (e.g., interviews, archival research)?
• Materials : do you need access to any tools or technologies?
• Help : do you need to hire any research assistants for the project? What will they do, and how much will you pay them?

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .

Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.

I will compare …

A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.

Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.

A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.

A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.

A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.

All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.

Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.

Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

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McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 21). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-proposal/

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• Writing Tips

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.

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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!

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How to Develop a Research Paper Timeline

• Writing Research Papers
• Writing Essays
• English Grammar
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

Research papers come in many sizes and levels of complexity. There is no single set of rules that fits every project, but there are guidelines you should follow to keep yourself on track throughout the weeks as you prepare, research, and write. You will complete your project in stages, so you must plan ahead and give yourself enough time to complete every stage of your work.

Your first step is to write down the due date for your paper on a big wall calendar , in your planner , and in an electronic calendar.

Plan backward from that due date to determine when you should have your library work completed. A good rule of thumb is to spend:

• Fifty percent of your time researching and reading
• Ten percent of your time sorting and marking your research
• Forty percent of your time writing and formatting

Timeline for Researching and Reading Stage

• 1 week for short papers with one or two sources
• 2-3 weeks for papers up to ten pages
• 2-3 months for a thesis

It’s important to get started right away on the first stage. In a perfect world, we would find all of the sources we need to write our paper in our nearby library. In the real world, however, we conduct internet queries and discover a few perfect books and articles that are absolutely essential to our topic—only to find that they are not available at the local library.

The good news is that you can still get the resources through an interlibrary loan. But that will take time. This is one good reason to do a thorough search early on with the help of a reference librarian .

Give yourself time to collect many possible resources for your project. You will soon find that some of the books and articles you choose don’t actually offer any useful information for your particular topic. You’ll need to make a few trips to the library. You won’t finish in one trip.

You’ll also discover that you will find additional potential sources in the bibliographies of your first selections. Sometimes the most time-consuming task is eliminating potential sources.

Timeline for Sorting and Marking Your Research

• 1 day for a short paper
• 3-5 days for papers up to ten pages
• 2-3 weeks for a thesis

You should read each of your sources at least twice. Read your sources the first time to soak in some information and to make notes on research cards.

Read your sources a second time more quickly, skimming through the chapters and putting sticky note flags on pages that contain important points or pages that contain passages that you want to cite. Write keywords on the sticky note flags.

Timeline for Writing and Formatting

• Four days for a short paper with one or two sources
• 1-2 weeks for papers up to ten pages
• 1-3 months for a thesis

You don’t really expect to write a good paper on your first attempt, do you?

You can expect to pre-write, write, and rewrite several drafts of your paper. You’ll also have to rewrite your thesis statement a few times, as your paper takes shape.

Don’t get held up writing any section of your paper—especially the introductory paragraph. It is perfectly normal for writers to go back and complete the introduction once the rest of the paper is completed.

The first few drafts don’t have to have perfect citations. Once you begin to sharpen your work and you’re heading toward a final draft, you should tighten your citations. Use a sample essay if you need to, just to get the formatting down.

Make sure your bibliography contains every source you’ve used in your research.

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Proposal Timelines

Two kinds of time lines need to be considered in a proposal: Internal and External.

INTERNAL TIME LINE

The Internal time line describes the schedule of events/activities that will be conducted if the project or program that the proposal is funded (presented as a “calendar” with “milestones”). This should be linked to the funding requested, which is presented in the proposal budget, to demonstrate how funds will used at the various stages of the project/program  and  linked to the personnel who will be responsible for each step or activity in the proposed project/program.

EXTERNAL TIME LINE

The External time line relates to  when funding is needed  to conduct the project/program. It is important to know submission deadlines, review cycles, and funding calendars of corporations and foundations to which a Letter of Inquiry or a Proposal will be sent – and understand how this will affect the development or implementation of a project or program.

You are likely to be disappointed if do not begin the funding request process until May when you need funding for September.

Suggested Timeline for Submitting Grant Proposals 

Plan your timeline by working backwards from the submission due date. For example, if your grant or fellowship proposal is due September 15, plan to get started by no later than June. Remember that the first step in grantseeking is not to sit down and write, but simply to read carefully through the grant guidelines. Below are a series of small steps that can help you more easily fit grantseeking into your busy schedule.

3-6 months before deadline

• Read guidelines; contact your Grant Coordinator for assistance.
• If proposal involves cost-sharing, contact your department chair and the Dean.
• If your project will involve human subjects, vertebrate animals, or the other compliance issues, get in touch with Research Integrity .

2 months before deadline

• Start your proposal in the Cloud Express system.
• Draft concept paper and develop timeline for your grant-funded project.
• Begin preparing your budget with the assistance of your Grant Coordinator .
• Contact organizations or colleagues for letters of support.

1 month before

• Draft proposal and share it with colleagues for feedback.
• Send the Grant Coordinator your budget draft.

Two weeks before

• Incorporate draft and budget feedback.
• Complete proposal documents and budget, submit to your Grant Coordinator .
• Upon completion of review, the grant coordinator will submit the proposal to automatically collect signatures from your department chair, the Dean, and other approvers as needed. These approvals are required before you submit any proposal for an award that will be administered through the university.

Examples of submission deadlines and review cycles

In general,  the process of developing a funding request should begin 12 to 18 months before the grant is needed .

This will vary if there is a one-step process – submitting a proposal is the only step – or a two-step process (sending a Letter of Inquiry seeking an invitation to submit a proposal, then developing and presenting a full Proposal if invited).

Example for large funding program

For funders with no deadlines for submission..

In some cases, funders note that applications are accepted at any time. However, it is probable that there will be a period of at least three to six months before the application is reviewed by a corporate contributions committee or a foundation board of directors and a decision about providing funding is made.

Also note that the result of the initial review may then be to invite the applicant to submit a full funding request, which in turn may not be reviewed for three to six months before the final decision is reached on whether to provide funding or not.

Even in this case,  the process of developing a funding request should begin 9 to 12 months before the grant is needed.

Last updated: 4/23/2021

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Surf awards: sample timelines.

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• Sample Timelines

Your SURF proposal timeline should:

• clearly indicate start and end dates,
• include an anticipated number of project work hours each week (maximum: 40),
• include a total number of project work hours,
• provide a week-by-week listing of planned project milestones, and
• include your full name.

This level of detail will show the reviewers you have carefully structured your project. Account for your planned enrollment in summer coursework, participation in study abroad programs, and/or any other substantial commitments in your timeline. All weeks of summer research must be completed between May 6 and August 23, 2024 .

The standard SURF timeline involves working on your project 40 hours/week for 9 weeks (or 35 hours/week for 10 weeks). However, the weeks need not be continuous, and you might elect to work fewer hours per week if that would be more appropriate to your particular situation. If you commit to fewer than 350 total project hours, your stipend amount will be prorated.

There are many different ways to present a timeline; three good examples follow below. Remember that your proposal, timeline, and budget should work in concert to demonstrate the feasibility of your project.

Timeline – Jane Husky Total project hours – 350. Work week: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm (35 hrs/week for 10 weeks). I will have weekly lab meetings with my advisor to track progress and troubleshoot any major issues. I will also be consulting regularly with graduate students in the lab working on related projects.

Timeline – Jonathan Husky Work weeks will be 5 days per week (Mon. – Fri.) at an average of 25 hours per week, totaling approximately 400 hours. In accordance with the policies of the Institute of Materials Science, I will not be working in the lab in the absence of supervision from either a graduate student or instructor.

Timeline – June Husky

I will remain in regular touch with my advisor, Professor Cross, throughout the summer. We have scheduled weekly Skype calls for the time I will be in Brazil and biweekly meetings on campus upon my return. Project hours: 350 hours total.

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How to Write a Research Timeline for Fellowship Applications

Now that it is the middle of application season, we have gotten a number of questions about writing timelines for fellowship applications. Here are a few tips:

• We have found that there is rarely a perfect time to apply for fellowships; students are always a little early or a little late. Therefore, if necessary, you can also use the timeline to describe the work that you need to do to prepare for the necessary research. For example, you can include how you will learn a certain research technique or a useful coding language.
• A major concern of reviewers is the feasibility of your research. Use the timeline to demonstrate that you are cognizant of the time your research will take. You can do this most convincingly if you have done a pilot project. For example, reviewers will believe that you can assess the health of six acres of saguaros in three weeks if you have already assessed two acres in a week and a half. If you have not had the chance to do a pilot project, then ask several people about the feasibility of your timeline – and then believe them when they say it will take more time than you expect.
• “I will use a mixture of German, Turkish, and Arabic at first, depending on the strengths of the group. Later as I develop more in Surayt and Kurdish I may use those increasingly, as appropriate.”
• “At the beginning of the growing season I will remove intact 10cm diameter by 10cm deep cores with representative vegetation from each of three thaw-progression habitats: permafrost-underlain palsas, recently thawed Sphagnum bog, and graminoid-dominated fen.”
• Use a chart . Proposals are generally filled with words, so a nice chart can be enjoyable for a reviewer. Gantt charts are simple depictions of what you plan to do. You can create them in Excel. Just google it.

Timelines for fellowship proposals are not complicated when they are completed. But creating one is difficult because if you are applying at approximately the right time in your academic life, you are probably not quite ready to create one; the details of precisely how will accomplish the work you want to do are still fuzzy. However, you will find that writing a timeline will be incredibly beneficial to you as you move forward, regardless of if you receive the grant or not.

The GradFunding Newsletter is a service of the University of Arizona Graduate College, Office of Fellowships and Community Engagement. You may reuse this article but please acknowledge Shelley Hawthorne Smith and the University of Arizona Graduate College Office of Fellowships and Community Engagement.

To subscribe or unsubscribe to the newsletter, send an email to [email protected] (link sends e-mail) with "subscribe (or unsubscribe) gradfunding FirstName LastName" in the subject line. You may send opportunities for posting or questions to address to the newsletter editor, Shelley Hawthorne Smith ( [email protected] )

How to Write a Timeline for a Qualitative Research Project

A qualitative research project explores a question, examines a societal or historical problem, or explains the qualities of a specific topic. Unlike quantitative research projects that deal with numbers and statistics, the data in a qualitative research project is generally presented in the form of words or pictures, and the researcher may set out to explore a phenomenon or idea with only a rough idea of what he needs. Despite the open-ended nature of qualitative research, it is still possible to design your research project and create a timeline for its completion.

Choose a topic for your project. You may opt to devote just a few days to this step on your timeline, but if you are searching for a topic for a dissertation or book project, it may take you several months or longer to decide on a topic. If you have already been assigned a specific topic to explore, you can leave this step out of your timeline.

Conduct your research. Decide how much time you will spend researching your topic. Your project may require you to read multiple books, conduct interviews, or travel to observe people or events in a specific location. Decide on your research method(s) and then determine how much time you will need to complete the research. For example, you may decide that you need three weeks to read books on your subject or three months to conduct interviews about your topic.

Analyze the results of your research. Decide how much time you need to organize the research you have conducted and analyze the results.

Prepare your research for presentation. Determine how much time you will need to write up or otherwise prepare to present your research and analysis. This may take only a few days for a short term paper or several months or even years for a dissertation or book.

Receive feedback from your project adviser, professor or anyone else who will critique your work. You may want to consider building in time for feedback throughout your project rather than only after you have prepared it for presentation.

Proofread and edit your work. Many people are so excited to finish their project that they forget to add time for this important final step.

Add some "cushion time" to your timeline. Remember that things can and will go wrong. Examples include: lack of feedback from your adviser, a crashed computer and accidentally deleted interview notes. Time-sucking accidents happen, so build some extra time into your timeline, so that you are prepared when inevitable problems occur.

• While this list provides the steps that you need to account for in your timeline, only you are capable of determining how quickly (or slowly) you need to work and how much time should be devoted to each step.
• Be sure to note official deadlines as you are making your timeline. For example, if you are writing a dissertation you may be required to turn it in to your committee by a specific date in order to graduate. If you are writing a paper for a class, a professor may require you to turn in a first draft for feedback on a certain date. As you build your timeline, take these official deadlines into consideration.
• 1 "Secrets for a Successful Dissertation"; Jacqueline Fitzpatrick, Jan Secrist, and Debra J. Wright; 1998
• 2 "How to Complete and Survive a Doctoral Dissertation"; David Sternberg; 1981

About the Author

Al Derr began writing professionally in 2010 and has published work in "Theatre Journal." She is a freelance writer, tutor and theater director. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in theater and secondary education from Texas Christian University and a Master of Arts in theater history from Texas State University, San Marcos.

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How to Do a Proposal for a Fifth Grade Science Project

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Research Tips and Infromation

03 Proven Steps to Write Timeline Section of Research Grants Proposal

Grants are a critical source of funding for many research projects, where technology is advancing rapidly, and new discoveries are being made every day. Writing a successful grant proposal requires a combination of technical expertise, innovative ideas, and effective communication skills.

One essential component of a research grant proposal is the timeline section, which outlines the project plan and demonstrates how the proposed activities will be executed within a specific timeframe.

In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of creating a clear and concise timeline section for a research grant proposal. We will explore how to identify major milestones and activities, divide activities into specific time periods, use a chart or table to represent the timeline, label and describe each activity, and review and refine the timeline section to increase your chances of securing funding.

Whether you are a seasoned researcher or a newcomer to grant writing, this post will provide you with practical tips and examples for creating a persuasive and effective timeline section that showcases your expertise and potential impact.

In case you are not familiar with writing research grant proposals, then please visit my post on  Research Grants Uncovered: A Step-by-Step Guide to Funding Your Research Projects . This post will help you in writing powerful research grant proposals in minimal time.

Introduction

I. identifying major milestones and activities, ii. dividing activities into specific time periods, iii. using a chart or table to represent the timeline.

Grant proposals are often submitted to secure funding for research projects. The timeline section is an essential part of a grant proposal that outlines the expected duration of the project and the sequence of events that will take place. A clear and concise timeline section is crucial in convincing the reviewers that the project is feasible and can be completed within the given timeframe.

The purpose of the timeline section is to provide a roadmap of the research project and show how the various activities and milestones will be achieved over time. It helps to demonstrate that the project has been carefully planned and that the researchers have considered the necessary resources, equipment, and personnel needed to carry out the research.

Creating a timeline section involves several steps, including identifying the major milestones and activities, dividing these activities into specific time periods, using a chart or table to represent the timeline, labeling and describing each activity, and reviewing and refining the timeline section.

For example, in a computer science research project, the timeline section might include activities such as:

• Literature review: Conducting a thorough review of existing research on a particular topic and identifying gaps in the literature.
• Data collection: Gathering relevant data from various sources, such as surveys, experiments, or simulations.
• Data preprocessing: Cleaning and preparing the data for analysis.
• Data analysis: Using statistical or machine learning techniques to extract insights and patterns from the data.
• Model development: Creating a mathematical or computational model that can be used to predict outcomes or simulate scenarios.
• Implementation: Implementing the model or algorithm in software or hardware.
• Testing and validation: Testing the model or algorithm to ensure that it produces accurate results and validating the results against real-world data.
• Publication and dissemination: Writing research papers, presenting at conferences, and sharing the findings with the broader scientific community.

By following the steps outlined in this blog post, researchers can create a timeline section that effectively communicates the scope of their research project and demonstrates their ability to complete the project within the given timeframe.

In research projects, it’s essential to identify the major milestones and activities that need to be accomplished. These milestones and activities are critical to achieving the research objectives and completing the project within the given timeframe.

Examples of activities that may be included in a computer science research grant proposal include:

• Design and development of new algorithms or software
• Data collection and analysis
• Testing and validation of the algorithms or software
• Integration with existing systems or platforms
• Writing research papers and presenting at conferences
• Dissemination of research findings to the scientific community
• Collaboration with industry partners or other researchers

Once you have identified the major milestones and activities, it’s important to prioritize them based on their importance and their impact on the research project. For example, some activities may be more critical than others, and delaying them could have significant consequences on the overall project timeline.

One way to prioritize activities and milestones is to use a technique called critical path analysis. This involves identifying the activities that are critical to the project’s success and ensuring that they are completed on time. By focusing on these critical activities, you can ensure that the project stays on track and is completed within the given timeframe.

For example, the design and development of new algorithms or software might be a critical activity. If this activity is delayed, it could impact the entire project timeline and delay other activities, such as testing and validation. Therefore, it’s important to prioritize this activity and ensure that it’s completed on time.

In summary, identifying major milestones and activities and prioritizing them is crucial in a research project. This helps to ensure that the project stays on track and is completed within the given timeframe.

Once you have identified the major milestones and activities in your research project, the next step is to divide them into specific time periods. This involves determining the duration of each activity and scheduling them in a logical sequence to create a timeline.

Dividing activities into specific time periods is important for several reasons. It helps to ensure that the project stays on track and is completed within the given timeframe. It also enables you to monitor progress and identify potential delays or roadblocks early on, allowing you to take corrective action as needed.

When choosing time periods for your activities, there are several considerations to keep in mind. For example, you may choose to use weeks, months, or even quarters as your time units. The choice of time units will depend on the nature and complexity of your research project, as well as the preferences of the funding agency.

Another consideration is to ensure that the time periods are realistic and achievable. It’s essential to estimate the time needed for each activity accurately. Overestimating or underestimating the time needed for an activity can lead to delays or a compressed timeline, which can impact the quality of the research.

Here are some tips for estimating the time needed for each activity:

• Break down each activity into smaller tasks: This can help you to estimate the time needed for each task more accurately.
• Consider dependencies between tasks: Some tasks may be dependent on others, and delays in one task may impact the entire project timeline.
• Take into account any potential roadblocks or delays: For example, if your project involves collecting data from multiple sources, you may need to factor in the time needed to negotiate access to the data.
• Consider the experience and skill level of the research team: If your team is new to a particular research methodology or technology, it may take longer to complete certain activities.

For example, in a computer science research project, if the design and development of new algorithms or software is a critical activity, you may estimate that it will take six months to complete. You may then break this activity down into smaller tasks, such as requirement gathering, design, coding, testing, and documentation. You can then estimate the time needed for each task and schedule them in a logical sequence to create a timeline.

In summary, dividing activities into specific time periods is an essential step in creating a timeline section in a research grant proposal. It helps to ensure that the project stays on track and is completed within the given timeframe. By carefully estimating the time needed for each activity and considering potential roadblocks, you can create a realistic and achievable timeline.

After identifying major milestones and activities and dividing them into specific time periods, the next step is to represent the timeline visually. Using a chart or table is an effective way to present the timeline section of your research grant proposal.

Here are some benefits of using a chart or table to visually represent the timeline:

• Provides a quick overview: A chart or table can provide a visual representation of the timeline, allowing readers to quickly understand the project’s duration, major milestones, and activities.
• Easy to understand: A well-designed chart or table can make the timeline section of your proposal easy to read and understand, even for non-experts.
• Highlights critical activities: By using color-coding or other visual cues, you can highlight critical activities or milestones that are essential to the project’s success.
• Demonstrates organization and planning skills: A well-organized chart or table demonstrates your organizational and planning skills, which are critical in research projects.

Here are some example timeline formats that can be used in computer science research grant proposals:

• Gantt Chart: A Gantt chart is a popular tool for representing a timeline visually. It shows the project’s duration, major milestones, and activities, and their interdependencies in a horizontal bar chart.
• Table Format: A table format is another way to represent the timeline visually. It typically includes columns for the activity or milestone, start and end dates, and the duration of each activity.
• Calendar View: A calendar view provides a visual representation of the timeline in a monthly or weekly format. It can be helpful for projects that are time-sensitive or involve multiple team members.

Here are some tips for creating an effective and easy-to-read chart or table:

• Use a clear and concise title: The title of your chart or table should clearly indicate the project’s duration, major milestones, and activities.
• Use color-coding or other visual cues: Color-coding or other visual cues can make it easy to distinguish between different activities and milestones.
• Include relevant information: The chart or table should include all relevant information, such as start and end dates, duration, and interdependencies between activities.
• Keep it simple: The chart or table should be easy to read and understand, even for non-experts. Avoid cluttering the chart or table with too much information.

For example, in a research project, a Gantt chart might be a good choice to visually represent the timeline. You could include major milestones and activities, along with their interdependencies, in a horizontal bar chart. You could color-code the chart to highlight critical activities or milestones that are essential to the project’s success.

In summary, using a chart or table to visually represent the timeline section of your research grant proposal can be an effective way to present the information in a clear and concise manner. By using color-coding or other visual cues and keeping the chart or table simple, you can create an easy-to-read and understandable timeline.

Example of a Gantt chart :

In this example, the activities are listed in chronological order, and their durations are specified. The timeline is divided into months, and each task is assigned a start and end date within the appropriate month. This format allows for a clear understanding of the timeline and how each task fits into it.

However, it should be noted that a Gantt chart is usually a more visually intuitive way to present a timeline, as it shows the relative duration of tasks more clearly than a table.

Here is an example of a timeline table in tabular format:

This table includes the same information as the Gantt chart example in the previous answer, but in a different format. Each row represents an activity or milestone, and there are columns for the start and end dates, as well as the duration of each activity.

This format can be useful for presenting a timeline in a more compact way and can be easier to read for individuals who may have difficulty interpreting a visual representation of the timeline.

However, it should be noted that a table format may not be as effective at conveying the interdependencies and relationships between different activities and milestones, which can be more easily represented using a Gantt chart or other visual format.

Here is an example of a timeline in a calendar view:

This calendar view shows a monthly breakdown of the activities and milestones in a research grant proposal. Each row represents a week, and each column represents a month. The activities and milestones are listed under the appropriate week and month in which they occur.

This format can be useful for presenting a timeline in a way that is easy to follow and understand. It can also be helpful for projects that involve multiple team members or are time-sensitive, as it provides a clear view of deadlines and the duration of each activity.

However, it should be noted that a calendar view may not be as effective at conveying the dependencies and relationships between different activities and milestones, which can be more easily represented using a Gantt chart or other visual format.

How to label and describe activities in the timeline section of a research grant proposal, specifically in the computer science domain:

• Activity: Software Development Description: Develop and test software modules to meet project requirements. This includes designing and implementing algorithms, creating user interfaces, and debugging code.
• Activity: Data Collection Description: Gather data from online sources, research databases, and other relevant sources. This includes extracting and preprocessing data, and ensuring data quality.
• Activity: Prototype Testing Description: Conduct usability and functionality testing on the project prototype to identify and fix bugs, and improve the user experience.
• Activity: Report Writing Description: Summarize research findings and project outcomes in a clear and concise report. This includes creating data visualizations, discussing limitations and implications, and drawing conclusions.

When labeling and describing each activity, it’s important to be concise and specific. Use action verbs to describe what will be done during each activity, and provide enough detail to give a clear understanding of the task. It’s also important to consider potential roadblocks or contingencies that may arise during each activity, and plan accordingly. For example, you may include a contingency plan for software development, in case additional debugging or testing is required.

Overall, labeling and describing each activity in the timeline section of a research grant proposal is crucial for communicating the scope and goals of the project, and for helping reviewers to understand how the project will be executed. By providing clear and concise descriptions, you can help ensure that your proposal stands out and is successful in securing funding.

Here are some examples of how to review and refine the timeline section of a research grant proposal in the computer science domain:

• Importance of reviewing and refining: The timeline section is a critical component of a research grant proposal, as it communicates how the project will be executed and whether it is feasible within the proposed timeline. It’s important to review and refine the timeline section to ensure that it accurately represents the project plan and is free from errors or inconsistencies.
• Tips for getting feedback: To get feedback on the timeline section, consider sharing it with colleagues or mentors who have experience in grant writing or project management. Ask them to review the timeline section for accuracy, completeness, and clarity. Additionally, consider seeking feedback from individuals who are not familiar with the project, to ensure that the timeline section is easy to understand and communicates the project plan effectively.
• Common mistakes to avoid: When reviewing and refining the timeline section, it’s important to avoid common mistakes that can undermine the credibility of the proposal. For example, avoid overestimating the time required for activities, as this can make the proposal appear unrealistic or unfeasible. Additionally, avoid using ambiguous language or unclear labels, as this can make it difficult for reviewers to understand the project plan.

Overall, reviewing and refining the timeline section of a research grant proposal is crucial for ensuring that the proposal accurately represents the project plan and is free from errors or inconsistencies. By seeking feedback from colleagues and mentors and avoiding common mistakes, you can help ensure that your proposal stands out and is successful in securing funding.

A clear and concise timeline section is a crucial component of any research grant proposal, where projects can be complex and involve multiple team members. By identifying major milestones and activities, dividing activities into specific time periods, using a chart or table to represent the timeline, labeling and describing each activity, and reviewing and refining the timeline section, you can effectively communicate your project plan and increase your chances of securing funding.

It’s important to remember that the timeline section is not only a planning tool but also a persuasive document that demonstrates the feasibility of the project. By carefully crafting a timeline section that is realistic, feasible, and well-organized, you can showcase your expertise, commitment, and potential impact, and inspire reviewers to invest in your project.

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• Indian J Anaesth
• v.60(9); 2016 Sep

How to write a research proposal?

Department of Anaesthesiology, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Devika Rani Duggappa

Writing the proposal of a research work in the present era is a challenging task due to the constantly evolving trends in the qualitative research design and the need to incorporate medical advances into the methodology. The proposal is a detailed plan or ‘blueprint’ for the intended study, and once it is completed, the research project should flow smoothly. Even today, many of the proposals at post-graduate evaluation committees and application proposals for funding are substandard. A search was conducted with keywords such as research proposal, writing proposal and qualitative using search engines, namely, PubMed and Google Scholar, and an attempt has been made to provide broad guidelines for writing a scientifically appropriate research proposal.

INTRODUCTION

A clean, well-thought-out proposal forms the backbone for the research itself and hence becomes the most important step in the process of conduct of research.[ 1 ] The objective of preparing a research proposal would be to obtain approvals from various committees including ethics committee [details under ‘Research methodology II’ section [ Table 1 ] in this issue of IJA) and to request for grants. However, there are very few universally accepted guidelines for preparation of a good quality research proposal. A search was performed with keywords such as research proposal, funding, qualitative and writing proposals using search engines, namely, PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus.

Five ‘C’s while writing a literature review

BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

A proposal needs to show how your work fits into what is already known about the topic and what new paradigm will it add to the literature, while specifying the question that the research will answer, establishing its significance, and the implications of the answer.[ 2 ] The proposal must be capable of convincing the evaluation committee about the credibility, achievability, practicality and reproducibility (repeatability) of the research design.[ 3 ] Four categories of audience with different expectations may be present in the evaluation committees, namely academic colleagues, policy-makers, practitioners and lay audiences who evaluate the research proposal. Tips for preparation of a good research proposal include; ‘be practical, be persuasive, make broader links, aim for crystal clarity and plan before you write’. A researcher must be balanced, with a realistic understanding of what can be achieved. Being persuasive implies that researcher must be able to convince other researchers, research funding agencies, educational institutions and supervisors that the research is worth getting approval. The aim of the researcher should be clearly stated in simple language that describes the research in a way that non-specialists can comprehend, without use of jargons. The proposal must not only demonstrate that it is based on an intelligent understanding of the existing literature but also show that the writer has thought about the time needed to conduct each stage of the research.[ 4 , 5 ]

CONTENTS OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

The contents or formats of a research proposal vary depending on the requirements of evaluation committee and are generally provided by the evaluation committee or the institution.

In general, a cover page should contain the (i) title of the proposal, (ii) name and affiliation of the researcher (principal investigator) and co-investigators, (iii) institutional affiliation (degree of the investigator and the name of institution where the study will be performed), details of contact such as phone numbers, E-mail id's and lines for signatures of investigators.

The main contents of the proposal may be presented under the following headings: (i) introduction, (ii) review of literature, (iii) aims and objectives, (iv) research design and methods, (v) ethical considerations, (vi) budget, (vii) appendices and (viii) citations.[ 4 ]

Introduction

It is also sometimes termed as ‘need for study’ or ‘abstract’. Introduction is an initial pitch of an idea; it sets the scene and puts the research in context.[ 6 ] The introduction should be designed to create interest in the reader about the topic and proposal. It should convey to the reader, what you want to do, what necessitates the study and your passion for the topic.[ 7 ] Some questions that can be used to assess the significance of the study are: (i) Who has an interest in the domain of inquiry? (ii) What do we already know about the topic? (iii) What has not been answered adequately in previous research and practice? (iv) How will this research add to knowledge, practice and policy in this area? Some of the evaluation committees, expect the last two questions, elaborated under a separate heading of ‘background and significance’.[ 8 ] Introduction should also contain the hypothesis behind the research design. If hypothesis cannot be constructed, the line of inquiry to be used in the research must be indicated.

Review of literature

It refers to all sources of scientific evidence pertaining to the topic in interest. In the present era of digitalisation and easy accessibility, there is an enormous amount of relevant data available, making it a challenge for the researcher to include all of it in his/her review.[ 9 ] It is crucial to structure this section intelligently so that the reader can grasp the argument related to your study in relation to that of other researchers, while still demonstrating to your readers that your work is original and innovative. It is preferable to summarise each article in a paragraph, highlighting the details pertinent to the topic of interest. The progression of review can move from the more general to the more focused studies, or a historical progression can be used to develop the story, without making it exhaustive.[ 1 ] Literature should include supporting data, disagreements and controversies. Five ‘C's may be kept in mind while writing a literature review[ 10 ] [ Table 1 ].

Aims and objectives

The research purpose (or goal or aim) gives a broad indication of what the researcher wishes to achieve in the research. The hypothesis to be tested can be the aim of the study. The objectives related to parameters or tools used to achieve the aim are generally categorised as primary and secondary objectives.

Research design and method

The objective here is to convince the reader that the overall research design and methods of analysis will correctly address the research problem and to impress upon the reader that the methodology/sources chosen are appropriate for the specific topic. It should be unmistakably tied to the specific aims of your study.

In this section, the methods and sources used to conduct the research must be discussed, including specific references to sites, databases, key texts or authors that will be indispensable to the project. There should be specific mention about the methodological approaches to be undertaken to gather information, about the techniques to be used to analyse it and about the tests of external validity to which researcher is committed.[ 10 , 11 ]

The components of this section include the following:[ 4 ]

Population and sample

Population refers to all the elements (individuals, objects or substances) that meet certain criteria for inclusion in a given universe,[ 12 ] and sample refers to subset of population which meets the inclusion criteria for enrolment into the study. The inclusion and exclusion criteria should be clearly defined. The details pertaining to sample size are discussed in the article “Sample size calculation: Basic priniciples” published in this issue of IJA.

Data collection

The researcher is expected to give a detailed account of the methodology adopted for collection of data, which include the time frame required for the research. The methodology should be tested for its validity and ensure that, in pursuit of achieving the results, the participant's life is not jeopardised. The author should anticipate and acknowledge any potential barrier and pitfall in carrying out the research design and explain plans to address them, thereby avoiding lacunae due to incomplete data collection. If the researcher is planning to acquire data through interviews or questionnaires, copy of the questions used for the same should be attached as an annexure with the proposal.

Rigor (soundness of the research)

This addresses the strength of the research with respect to its neutrality, consistency and applicability. Rigor must be reflected throughout the proposal.

It refers to the robustness of a research method against bias. The author should convey the measures taken to avoid bias, viz. blinding and randomisation, in an elaborate way, thus ensuring that the result obtained from the adopted method is purely as chance and not influenced by other confounding variables.

Consistency

Consistency considers whether the findings will be consistent if the inquiry was replicated with the same participants and in a similar context. This can be achieved by adopting standard and universally accepted methods and scales.

Applicability

Applicability refers to the degree to which the findings can be applied to different contexts and groups.[ 13 ]

Data analysis

This section deals with the reduction and reconstruction of data and its analysis including sample size calculation. The researcher is expected to explain the steps adopted for coding and sorting the data obtained. Various tests to be used to analyse the data for its robustness, significance should be clearly stated. Author should also mention the names of statistician and suitable software which will be used in due course of data analysis and their contribution to data analysis and sample calculation.[ 9 ]

Ethical considerations

Medical research introduces special moral and ethical problems that are not usually encountered by other researchers during data collection, and hence, the researcher should take special care in ensuring that ethical standards are met. Ethical considerations refer to the protection of the participants' rights (right to self-determination, right to privacy, right to autonomy and confidentiality, right to fair treatment and right to protection from discomfort and harm), obtaining informed consent and the institutional review process (ethical approval). The researcher needs to provide adequate information on each of these aspects.

Informed consent needs to be obtained from the participants (details discussed in further chapters), as well as the research site and the relevant authorities.

When the researcher prepares a research budget, he/she should predict and cost all aspects of the research and then add an additional allowance for unpredictable disasters, delays and rising costs. All items in the budget should be justified.

Appendices are documents that support the proposal and application. The appendices will be specific for each proposal but documents that are usually required include informed consent form, supporting documents, questionnaires, measurement tools and patient information of the study in layman's language.

As with any scholarly research paper, you must cite the sources you used in composing your proposal. Although the words ‘references and bibliography’ are different, they are used interchangeably. It refers to all references cited in the research proposal.

Successful, qualitative research proposals should communicate the researcher's knowledge of the field and method and convey the emergent nature of the qualitative design. The proposal should follow a discernible logic from the introduction to presentation of the appendices.

Financial support and sponsorship

Conflicts of interest.

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to develop an awesome PhD timeline step-by-step

A successful PhD journey begins with a solid plan that includes a PhD timeline . A thought-through and well-designed PhD timeline requires some time but can be accomplished in a few simple steps.

Why a clear PhD research timeline matters

Step 1: decide what to include in your phd timeline, step 2: discuss your provisional phd timeline with your supervisor/s, step 3: design your phd timeline, step 4: regularly update your phd timeline.

Doing a PhD means committing to a challenging project that spans several years. Therefore, it is no surprise that doing a PhD can feel quite overwhelming. How do you even begin to tackle such a huge project?

A PhD timeline breaks down the daunting task of doing a PhD into an actionable plan with tasks and milestones along the way.

Even if not everything will go as planned (which is normal and no problem!), a PhD timeline can give PhD students peace of mind. A good plan, worked out in a PhD timeline, helps them to structure their time, communicate their goals and work toward specific targets.

Some PhD students are required to create a PhD timeline as part of their programme. Yet, even if PhD students are not required to do so, it is highly recommended to create a PhD timeline!

PhD timelines should be as diverse as PhD research projects: What you decide to include in your timeline should fit to your situation, goals and your programmes’ requirements.

Common elements included in a PhD timeline are the following:

• Data collection : How, when and where are you collecting your research data?
• Fieldwork : Is your data collection spread out or are you spending several weeks doing fieldwork? If so, when is this scheduled and how can you avoid overlaps with other requirements, such as coursework?
• Experiments : Are you running experiments for your PhD research? If so, when? And how long do you estimate this will take you?
• Data analysis : Once you have your data, be it quantitative or qualitative data, when and how do you analyse it? How much time do you block for this task?
• Writing plan : When are you writing down your results? How can you break down writing into different parts, for instance, writing goals per chapter or article?
• Publications : Publication requirements differ from PhD programme to programme. Even if you write your PhD as a monograph (instead of a selection of articles) , you should try to publish something during your PhD. When would you have an opportunity to do so, and how much time does it require?
• Conferences : Every PhD student should present at a conference during their PhD trajectory. Which conferences are you interested in? When do they take place, and when would you have findings to share at a conference?
• Coursework : What are your PhD programme’s coursework requirements? What courses are you interested in, and when are they offered?
• Other activities : Are there any other activities that are crucial for your PhD project? Think, for instance, about an extensive dissemination campaign, collaboration with external partners, internships, online activities etcetera.

Make a draft plan, including dates and times. Then move to Step 2: Discussing it with your supervisor/s!

Proactively creating your PhD timeline is a good step as a PhD student. However, you should share your thoughts and ideas with your PhD supervisor/s and get their input.

If possible, set up a meeting with your supervisor/s that is entirely dedicated to your PhD timeline. During this meeting, you can share what you created so far.

Then, you should discuss the following questions:

• Is there anything missing in the PhD timeline?
• Is the PhD timeline realistic?
• Should anything be removed from the PhD timeline to prioritise other tasks?
• Does the PhD timeline meet all the formal requirements to graduate within the designated amount of time?
• Is there institutional support and sufficient financial resources for activities such as fieldwork, conference attendance, etcetera?

Make sure to take notes during the meeting, as you will need the answers to these questions to edit your provisional PhD timeline.

Not only will this discussion help you to finalise your PhD timeline. It will also help you to get clarity on your supervisor/s’ expectations!

You may also like: Planning your PhD research: A 3-year PhD timeline example

Following the input of your supervisor/s, your PhD timeline will reach a more final stage. Now it is time to think about designing your PhD timeline:

A well-designed PhD timeline is not just pretty for the eyes, but it makes it much easier to have a good overview of all plans and milestones ahead.

Yet, it would be wrong to argue that there is a one-size-fits all solution to designing a perfect PhD timeline.

Maybe you are a very visual person and would prefer your timeline to illustrate a broad overview of the upcoming years. Maybe you are encouraged by checking things off your to-do list. In that case, a more detailed PhD timeline with many different tasks and milestones may be more suitable for you.

A common way to design PhD timelines is via Gantt charts. If you want to learn more about Gantt charts for your PhD timeline, check out my post on how to design Gantt charts in Microsoft Excel, Power Point and Word.

A PhD timeline is there to keep you on track and to showcase the milestones that you reached in your journey so far. However, while it is good to have a solid plan, the future is impossible to predict.

Your PhD timeline should be a living document or chart. Update it regularly!

For instance, a conference may be cancelled. You may have a period of sick leave. An experiment may not work out as planned. Or writing a paper takes longer than expected.

Successful PhD students remain flexible and don’t panic as soon as something does not work out as planned.

So, use your PhD timeline to regularly reflect on your progress and your current situation. Update your PhD timeline when needed, to prioritise tasks and set more concrete and achievable goals for the upcoming months.

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Creating awesome Gantt charts for your PhD timeline

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