Dissertation and Thesis Calculator

The Dissertation Calculator is a tool that helps demystify the process of completing your dissertation or thesis. The calculator breaks down the dissertation process into manageable deadlines and provides you with important resources and advice. Using this tool can help you develop your specific process in collaboration with your department, advisor, writing group, and others.

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.

Assignment Calculator

The Assignment Calculator breaks down research and writing projects into manageable steps based on your due dates.

Each step includes hints and "how-to" links. 

  • Research paper
  • Meet with a  Peer Research Consultant ,  chat with a librarian 24/7 , or  email a subject librarian  for help with research.
  • Student Writing Support  from the Center for Writing offers help writing.
  • Libraries  media services  offers support for media production.

Please contact  Kate Peterson  ( [email protected] ) with any questions or feedback on the Calculator.

Main site homepage

Bear GRADS Toolkit

  • Theses & Dissertations
  • Academically & Scientifically
  • Journal Articles
  • Grammar & Punctuation
  • Data Visualization
  • Timeline Calculators
  • Goal Setting for Writing
  • Citation Management
  • Peer Review
  • Bear GRADS Events This link opens in a new window

Timeline, actions, and moving forward

Ever wondered how long it takes to write a thesis or dissertation? It is specific to the individual, to the topic, and to the degree, and it takes a long as it takes; yet, there are timeline calculators that can help you plan. Just remember, the calculators can't take into account your individual circumstances, discipline, or topic. These calculators provide only an estimation.

Dissertation Calculator

timeline by popcornarts from the Noun Project is licensed under CC BY 3.0 .  

  • << Previous: Data Visualization
  • Next: Goal Setting for Writing >>
  • Last Updated: Mar 11, 2024 4:02 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.unco.edu/BearGRADS

Library resources and services for graduate students

To help you with your dissertation/thesis.

Let your subject librarian/department liaison   know about your dissertation/thesis topic. They'll have suggestions for resources to look at, research strategies, and ways to save you time. 

Use a citation manager to save you time.  Citation manager workshops are frequently offered throughout the year. 

If you're using Word, see Formatting your dissertation in Word .

Learn about copyright  and in particular as it relates to dissertations and theses . Contact the copyright librarian for assistance and more information. 

Use the Dissertation Calculator to help plan your research timeline. 

See the University Thesis/Dissertation Submission and Formatting guidelines .

Learn more about the University's open access repository for dissertations & theses, the University Digital Conservancy . The UDC provides increased visibility of your work, provides long-term preservation, and persistent links for sharing and statistics. Browse or Search for UMN dissertations & theses in the UDC .

  • << Previous: Keeping up-to-date in your field
  • 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.

Search Website Search

Proposing, Writing, and Filing Your Thesis or Dissertation

Graduate Student Resource Center

You’ll find the most comprehensive information about thesis and dissertation writing in published books. A range of sites, however, do provide advice that is more extensive than mere lists of the document’s components and directives to “revise” and “be concise.”

We’ve listed the most useful sites below in the following categories:

Writing Your Proposal

Resources for Proposal Writers : An annotated list of books and websites compiled by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center.

Dissertation Proposal Resources : The University of Texas at Austin has a website with real dissertation proposals from a variety of fields, which may be useful for understanding possible options for organization and other aspects; and examples of successful NSF and Fulbright proposals.

Writing Thesis and Dissertation Proposals : A detailed document for proposal writers in all disciplines, developed by Penn State’s Graduate Writing Center.

Writing and Presenting Your Thesis or Dissertation : A short, free e-book on thinking about the project, writing the proposal, completing the project, and defending it, by S. Joseph Levine of Michigan State University.

Writing Your Thesis and Dissertation

Resources for Dissertators : An annotated list of books and websites compiled by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center.

Dissertation Calculator : Enter the start date and target completion date for your dissertation, and get a timeline of research and writing milestones, which range from creating a dissertation support network to writing the abstract. Clicking on any milestone will retrieve a page of detailed advice, along with links. Developed by the University of Minnesota.

Dissertations : Resources and tips from UNC Chapel Hill’s Writing Center for their dissertation boot camp.

PhinisheD : A discussion group for people working on theses and dissertations. You will need to create an account to view posts, and a moderator must approve your registration before you can access them. Once you do have access, though, check out the posts in response to frequently asked questions on managing your dissertation, advisor, and life.

Filing Your Thesis and Dissertation

Policies and Procedures for Dissertation Thesis and Dissertation Preparation and Filing : Did you know that your left and bottom margins have to be at least 1.5 inches wide? Or that your page numbers have to be centered? Read this official UCLA manuscript preparation guide to learn more shocking (and essential) tips.

Thesis and Dissertation Meetings : Attend one of these meetings in the quarter in which you plan to file. UCLA Graduate Division and Library staff will walk you through university regulations, important dates, and the above Policies and Procedures packet.

To report a broken link, please email us at [email protected] .

  • Library Home
  • General (Summon)
  • Books & Media (Catalogue)
  • Indexes, Databases & Articles
  • Research Guides
  • UBC Research
  • UBC Open Collections
  • UBC Vancouver
  • Asian Library
  • Biomedical Branch Library
  • Chapman Learning Commons Help Desk
  • The Chung | Lind Gallery
  • David Lam Management Research Library
  • Education Library
  • Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
  • Koerner Library
  • Law Library
  • Music, Art and Architecture Library
  • Rare Books and Special Collections
  • Research Commons
  • University Archives
  • Woodward Library
  • X wi7 x wa Library
  • UBC Okanagan
  • The Commons (Okanagan)
  • Okanagan Library
  • Special Collections & Archives
  • UBC Virtual
  • AskAway Chat Services
  • Borrowing Services
  • My Library Account
  • How to Get Library Access
  • See More...
  • Electronic Access
  • Connect to Library Resources
  • OpenAthens Login Overview
  • Computers & Technology
  • Print, Copy, Scan
  • Public Computers & Software
  • Group & Silent Study Spaces
  • Technology Spaces
  • Guides for Library Users
  • Undergraduate Students
  • Faculty & Instructors
  • Planning Your Research
  • Getting Started on Your Research
  • Finding Resources
  • Journal Articles
  • Evaluating & Citing Sources
  • Evaluating Information Sources
  • How to Cite
  • Publishing Research
  • Getting Started with cIRcle
  • Building Your Academic Profile
  • Collections
  • Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
  • Work with Us
  • Accessing Library Resources?
  • OpenAthens Login
  • Add Browser Extension for Access
  • Managing Your Account?
  • My Library Account Login
  • Need Citation Management?
  • Citation Management Tools

The Thesis Calculator

The thesis calculator maps out the stages and steps to graduate degree completion. The thesis calculator includes embedded links to UBC resources and supports available to graduate students.

What the Thesis Calculator provides

The thesis calculator consists of three columns: Academic, Professional, and Self-Care. The Academic column focuses on research and writing processes: searching and reviewing relevant literature; writing a viable research question; designing the study methodology; collecting, describing, and analyzing data, and so on. The Professional column focuses on developing a professional portfolio, networks, and identity. The Self-Care column focuses on maintaining financial, physical, and mental wellbeing.

Select your degree

Enter the expected date of candidacy below: consider candidacy as the date the thesis committee approves the thesis topic., enter the actual date of candidacy below. if you have not yet advanced to candidacy, enter the expected date of candidacy., about the assignment calculator.

Brought to you by the Centre for Writing and Scholarly Communication , Chapman Learning Commons and UBC Library

Based on the original Assignment Calculator from the University of Minnesota Libraries .

dissertation timeline calculator

Research Paper Planner

This timeline may include due dates on weekends and university holidays; depending on your plans you may need to make some adjustments., creating a presentation with slides.

View more 'research help' videos on our Youtube channel youtube.com/LibraryGeorgian

Creating a Video Assignment

dissertation timeline calculator

Time Management Resources for Graduate Students and Postdocs

Dissertation plan

Completing your dissertation can be overwhelming and stressful. It is a critical period of time to manage time effectively and execute your well-thought-out plans. In this section, we aim to provide some checkpoints or milestones that help you to complete your dissertation in a timely manner:

  • Find out the requirements and deadlines set by the department and graduate school. Having the end goal in mind will help you plan your way to get there.
  • Have the initial meeting with your advisor to discuss the goals of your dissertation and set up an overall timeline. For example, determine when to have the defense, when to send the dissertation to committee, when to send out the schedule poll to committee, etc.
  • Create an outline of the dissertation with sections and subsections for each chapter according to the initial discussion, and map out deadlines for each section.
  • Meet with your advisor to discuss and finalize the outline and roadmap, including what kind of format (by chapters or the whole dissertation) your advisor expects, and how to maintain the line of communication (face-to-face or email) and how often you should communicate, so that you can get support and feedback along the way.
  • Reach out to your committee members to let them know your dissertation plan and schedule the defense date. Ask if they are willing to provide feedback on your drafts.
  • Incorporate the feedback comments and edit your dissertation for submission to your committee for defense.

*You can create a timeline table to help you visualize your plan.

Execution plan:.

  • On your daily schedule, block off a couple of hours when you are most effective for your dissertation writing. Having this specific time block will help you prioritize and fit other tasks around your writing. Stick to the schedule and treat it as your appointment with your advisor or doctor.
  • Limit the distraction during your blocked writing time in order to fully concentrate.
  • Set a daily goal. For example, writing 2 pages each day on chapter 1 or finishing the method session on chapter 2, etc.
  • Find a place that you find yourself most productive and efficient, and write there.
  • Monitor your progress by calendars and project management apps.
  • You are not alone. Find someone who is also writing their dissertation to be your writing buddy to help encourage one another and keep each other on track.
  • Work/life balance (refer to the work/life balance )

https://www.stcloudstate.edu/elhe/_files/documents/dissertation/time-management-tips.pdf

https://sph.umd.edu/sites/default/files/files/StrategiesDissertationCompletion3_8_07.pdf

is powered by WordPress. Read the Sites@Duke Express and , or .

  • Information for Current Students >
  • Learning and Instruction Current Student Resources >

Dissertation Checklist and Timeline

Completing all of the crucial steps to the dissertation process can be complicated. Time and task management will be key to your success. Review the suggested tasks and print out this checklist to assist you in your dissertation journey.

Student's Name:
Choose Dissertation Advisor    
Choose Dissertation Committee with advisor approval on the Application to Candidacy Form    

Form with other students.

Become familiar with the . Formatting your dissertation using these guidelines from the start will save you time.

   
Identify defense deadlines.
Develop timelines for following steps working backwards from these deadline dates.
   
Dissertation Proposal Draft to Advisor    
Revision 1    
Revision 2 (if needed)    
Revision 3 (if needed)    
Final approval from advisor    
Submit human subjects form to Institutional Review Board (IRB) if needed    
Search for dissertation funding, e.g., Prof. Raimondi's grant writing course    
Remaining course work, e.g., independent studies for dissertation parts (if any)    
Schedule Proposal Defense (check with advisor's schedule first)    
Dissertation Proposal Defense (announcement)    
Submit GSE Dissertation Proposal Form w/Abstract & Timeline to chair's secretary    
Revise Dissertation Proposal (if needed)    
Collect Data    
Dissertation Chapters Drafted    
Prepare and submit conference proposals (optional)    
Prepare and submit manuscripts to journals (optional)    
Revise Chapter XX (as needed, number of days to be determined with advisor)    
Revise Chapter XX (as needed, number of days to be determined with advisor)    
Revise Chapter XX (as needed, number of days to be determined with advisor)    
Revise Chapter XX (as needed, number of days to be determined with advisor)    
Revisions to advisor (number of days to be determined with advisor)    
Prepare, practice, and give conference talks (optional)    
Dissertation Approved by Advisor    
Dissertation Submitted to Committee and Wait for Comments    
Dissertation Chapters Revised for Committee Members    
Advisor and Committee Members Agreement to Schedule Defense    
Dissertation Defense Scheduled (check with advisor's and members’ schedule first)    
Dissertation Defense (announcement)    
Dissertation Defense    
Revisions to Dissertation 1 (# of days to be determined by advisor)    
Revisions to Dissertation 2 (if needed, # of days to be determined with advisor)    
Revisions to Dissertation 3 (if needed, # of days to be determined with advisor)    
Final Approval by Advisor and Committee Members    
Final Paperwork to UB Graduate School    
Send Form to Dean's Office by to March in May Graduation    
   
 

Check with Advisor's Availability Schedule prior to submitting drafts.

Major Advisor is not available during:

   

The Dissertation Calculator

Resource details:.

Author: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Publisher: Regents of the University of Minnesota -- Twin Cities. University Libraries.
Description: Here, you can enter the expected completion date for your dissertation and the Dissertation Calculator will estimate dates for each of the stages in the dissertation process as well as providing information and tips on each of the stages. Although this resource is based on deadlines for the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, the Dissertation Calculator can be used to help ISU students plan out their dissertation timeline.
Link:
Image:
  • Get Help Here >

dissertation timeline calculator

  • 214-333-5320

dissertation timeline calculator

Click here to use the

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT CALCULATOR

How to Use the Research Calculator

This tool will help you stay on track and lead you to resources from libraries and writing centers to help you master the skills of planning, researching, drafting, and writing a research paper, thesis, or dissertation. This method of reverse scheduling is based on best practices for writing papers and theses developed by college and university faculty and librarians.

dissertation timeline calculator

Fill in the due date of your assignment, then click on the Calculate Assignment Schedule button to see what steps you should follow and when you should have them completed. You can modify the due date at any time.

On the Timeline page you will be able to:

  • print the schedule and
  • set up email reminders for the due dates.

Or go directly to the Research Paper Planner: Guide and view the resources listed there without setting up a timeline.

  • Deadlines provided by your instructor will supersede any provided by the Research Planning Timeline.
  • If you are using this tool to plan an Honor's or Master's thesis your due date should be one month before the thesis (or chapter - if you are breaking it down) is due to your advisor.
  • This timeline is a suggestion for efficient planning.
  • WARNING: This timeline includes due dates on weekends and University holidays; depending on your plans you may need to make some adjustments.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Vision Statement Building a great Christian university that is pleasing to God by producing Christ-centered servant leaders who are transforming the world.

  • University Directory
  • Parking Information
  • © 2014 Dallas Baptist University  
  • Legal Notice  
  • Last Updated: Oct 17, 2023 2:12 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.dbu.edu/research_calculator

Student Writing Support

Image from behind student walking down Northrop Mall

Student Writing Support (SWS) offers 1:1 writing consultations to help student writers develop confidence and effective writing strategies.

Welcome to Student Writing Support

Student Writing Support (SWS) writing consultants will listen to your goals and concerns, read and respond to your written work, pose questions that help you clarify and articulate your ideas, and affirm the experiences and abilities you bring to your writing. We value your life experiences and languages, and we seek to provide a supportive space for you to share and develop your voice. To learn more about what to expect and how to get the most from your visit to the Center, look at our  general and  graduate-student-focused informational handouts.

Consultations & Writing Resources

SWS offers four kinds of consultations during the academic year: In-person appointments, walk-in consultations, appointments in Zoom, and chat appointments in SWS.online. Be sure to review our copywriting tips (which contain a variety of videos, printable handouts, and web resources) and important policies and procedures regarding our services.

Brain icon on the left with arrow pointing to a document icon on the right, overlay text: "From this to this"

Get a Writing Consultation

Closeup of a hand writing onto a page in a notebook.

Writing Resources

Johnston Hall in the spring

Important Policies

SWS for Graduate Writers

Two women sitting at a desk with pen, papers, and a computer in the background

Explore SWS and other Center for Writing resources specifically tailored to graduate students, including tips on writing a dissertation and applying for jobs.

SWS for Instructors

A woman and a male student sit at a table. The woman looks toward the student and smiles with a pencil in her hand.

Resources to help instructors connect their students with Student Writing Support.

SWS Resources for Instructors

For questions about Student Writing Support, you can email us at [email protected] or call 612-625-1893.

In additional, you can review more resources for academic, mental, social, legal, and other kinds of support for students.

Dissertation Timeline Calculator

Of interest perhaps? http://www.lib.umn.edu/help/disscalc/

are you serious?? hmm, not sure this will work for everyone... surely one should come up with a personal timeline that suits how one works and the project at hand. This time line would scare the hell out of me if I took it seriously! it suggests a month to 'understand expectations!!' Half the battle of doing a PhD is learning to organise and plan your time effectively, using this just reduces the whole thing to a bit of a farce! ...

Ya, I think it#s always worth a look to see the stuff that's lying around...And then, act like intelligent human beings and be selective about what we would want to use and how! I dont even go by the PhD books available on the market :), so least of all a calendar...but its always of interest! Thats why "of interest perhaps?"

PS: Also Juju, i interpregted the 'understanding expectations' bit as understanding expectations of roles and duties between supervisor and supervisee. that was the first thing my sup said at our first supervision, what are your expectations and we need to understand mutual expectations. Of course the whole of it is relative and only an idiot would follow it verbatim or follow it at all, the whole of it is so very individualistic.

cool :-) it was interesting all the same ...

It  is interesting, but you need to plan your work according to the timetable of your university, for example here there is a week of induction to fit in, then there is the submission of the proposal (the formal one, not the one you used to get in:-)). Then there is the transfer, then you get left alone for a bit to get on and finish it. I set up a timeline using excel, put the dates along the top, I put the chapters down the sides, with broad areas that I wanted to include and them filled it in, leaving 6 months at the end for final writing up, but with areas for writing up for each chapter, plus review spaces for each etc., each with their own colour, yellow is writing up for example. This allowed me to put in the chapters needed for transfer, their write up etc in the correct months, but still let me allocate some time for other work during this time. The thing with excel is that you can add bits to it, and move stuff around, but it will still let you see where you are in the overall framework, plus it makes you think about what you need to put in it, so you need to have a rough plan at least. My supervisor liked it anyway.

Oh thats a great idea....i totally love graphs and charts and mind maps and tables..they work so well with me (and i work well with thme!) ok..off i go to check the stuffing (slurrrp!) bye!

======= Date Modified 13 Sep 2011 09:30:32 ======= ============= Edited by a Moderator ============= --inappropriate content--

======= Date Modified 08 Nov 2011 12:48:37 ======= [b]Why the graphing calculator are still so expensive so is there any free online tutoring site which can provide me the graphing calculator for free? i urgently want it...

Post your reply

Postgraduate Forum

Masters Degrees

PhD Opportunities

Postgraduate Forum Copyright ©2024 All rights reserved

PostgraduateForum Is a trading name of FindAUniversity Ltd FindAUniversity Ltd, 77 Sidney St, Sheffield, S1 4RG, UK. Tel +44 (0) 114 268 4940 Fax: +44 (0) 114 268 5766

Modal image

Welcome to the world's leading Postgraduate Forum

An active and supportive community.

Support and advice from your peers.

Your postgraduate questions answered.

Use your experience to help others.

Sign Up to Postgraduate Forum

Enter your email address below to get started with your forum account

Login to your account

Enter your username below to login to your account

Reset password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password

An email has been sent to your email account along with instructions on how to reset your password. If you do not recieve your email, or have any futher problems accessing your account, then please contact our customer support.

or continue as guest

Postgrad Forum uses cookies to create a better experience for you

To ensure all features on our website work properly, your computer, tablet or mobile needs to accept cookies. Our cookies don’t store your personal information, but provide us with anonymous information about use of the website and help us recognise you so we can offer you services more relevant to you. For more information please read our privacy policy

  • Assignment calculator

Assignment calculator for easy planning

  • Get your writing tasks planned out
  • Estimate assignment time
  • Manage your schedule effectively

How our assignment calculator works

Take the first time towards effective time-management – use our assignment calculator to get a detailed plan of the writing process.

  • Choose a start date
  • Select your deadline
  • Have your assignment outlined.

Other tools to ease your life

Check out these tools that may come in handy for writing an astounding essay.

Create a perfect title page formatted in line with the recent recommendations of APA, MLA or Chicago format.

Paste your text and get a great conclusion that wraps up all key points in the paper.

Convert words to pages or vice versa. Perfect if you don’t know how many words one page should have.

Tired of writing essays ?

Leave all the hard job to our professionals and they will handle the rest.

Get 10% off

By clicking on the “Write my essay” button, you accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You further agree to receive promo and account-related emails.

Assignment calculator, planner & calendar – all-in-one solution

Use our smart planner and calculate your writing time with your eyes closed!

  • Find out how many days you have before submitting your project.
  • Get your writing assignment planned out to the last detail.
  • Organize your schedule in several seconds.

The best thing about our assignment planner is that you can use it for multiple purposes. Do you want to see how much time it will take to complete your high-school or college assignment? Do you feel like your writing schedule needs more organized planning? Or maybe you want to outline the exact number of writing steps needed for task completion? Relying on our assignment schedule maker is a foolproof way to tackle any essay or research paper in time.

Why our writing calculator stands out

Enjoy the ultimate benefits that our writing calculator has to offer.

Don’t pay a cent to use our free essay calculator.

Plan as many writing tasks as you need.

Don’t waste time on registration – start planning now!

Input your due date and get your task planned instantly.

Plan any assignment ahead!

Keep the writing schedule organized with our assignment due date calendar! By using our smart tool, you will get any task done, be it an essay, a research paper, a term paper or a dissertation. Although handling the steps as they come may seem much easier, students often find themselves disorganized and unsystematic. It’s time that you finally sort all things out – and our timeline calculator will be of great help with that! Forget about being sidetracked once and for all. Our tool will provide you with an in-detail outline so you will always remain on the course till the finish line.

Research project calculator

This AI-powered research paper estimator is what you need when a research paper should be done soon. Did you know that 83% of students can’t submit their research work in time because of poor planning? For this reason, we have designed this handy assignment calculator. You will be able to find out how many steps you are away from finishing your study in a few seconds. Follow the given steps and you will definitely succeed!

Dissertation calculator & planner

It’s much more than just an assignment calculator! This ultimate tool will be your lifesaver when you need to estimate a dissertation timeline. This feature is completely free. Thus, every student can benefit from high-tech solutions. This tool will break the dissertation preparation process into smaller goals. An organized plan in front is surely what you need in order to write a structured study, even if it’s long as an arm.

Essay calculator

Get the most out of our essay time calculator. We made every effort to keep things simple and easy. All you need to do is choose the due date and our tool will do the rest. So if your essay deadline is just around the corner and every hour counts, there is no better way to write efficiently. This assignment calculator will estimate the time necessary for essay completion and break a task into manageable chunks.

Thesis calculator

This irreplaceable scheduler also works as a thesis calculator. Have to write a thesis but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered! With our calculator you will be able to perform your scientific work in an efficient way. Get an outline and find out the deadline for each stage of the research process. This way, you will always be in control of your schedule and won’t ever miss any due date.

Let an expert take care of your essay!

Entrust your assignment to proficient writers and receive TOP-quality paper before the deadline is over.

By clicking on the “Get expert help” button, you accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You further agree to receive promo and account-related emails.

IMAGES

  1. 5 Week Dissertation Timeline To Create Project Report

    dissertation timeline calculator

  2. Sample Dissertation Timeline

    dissertation timeline calculator

  3. Sample Dissertation Timeline

    dissertation timeline calculator

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

    dissertation timeline calculator

  5. Sample Dissertation Timeline :

    dissertation timeline calculator

  6. Annual Dissertation Timeline For Research Project Work

    dissertation timeline calculator

COMMENTS

  1. Dissertation Calculator

    Edit Dissertation draft & prepare for your defense. Although editing and revising occurs throughout the writing process, budget sufficient time to return to your draft for full-scale revision. Seeking feedback, reviewing, and editing your document helps you to: See your text from a reader's perspective.

  2. Dissertation and Thesis Calculator

    Using this tool can help you develop your specific process in collaboration with your department, advisor, writing group, and others. Date you will begin your dissertation: Target date for completion of dissertation: 90 Lomb Memorial Drive. Rochester, NY 14623. Call Us: 585-475-2562. Text Us: 585-542-5748.

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

    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 ...

  4. Assignment Calculator

    The Assignment Calculator breaks down research and writing projects into manageable steps based on your due dates. Each step includes hints and "how-to" links. Select the type of assignment: Research paper. Speech. Lab report. Graduate students can get additional help using the Dissertation Calculator.

  5. Research Guides: Bear GRADS Toolkit: Timeline Calculators

    Timeline Calculators. Ever wondered how long it takes to write a thesis or dissertation? It is specific to the individual, to the topic, and to the degree, and it takes a long as it takes; yet, there are timeline calculators that can help you plan. Just remember, the calculators can't take into account your individual circumstances, discipline ...

  6. Dissertation and thesis support

    Use the Dissertation Calculator to help plan your research timeline. See the University Thesis/Dissertation Submission and Formatting guidelines. Learn more about the University's open access repository for dissertations & theses, the University Digital Conservancy. The UDC provides increased visibility of your work, provides long-term ...

  7. How to Create a Research Timeline for Your Thesis

    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.

  8. Proposing, Writing, and Filing Your Thesis or Dissertation

    Dissertation Calculator: Enter the start date and target completion date for your dissertation, and get a timeline of research and writing milestones, which range from creating a dissertation support network to writing the abstract. Clicking on any milestone will retrieve a page of detailed advice, along with links. Developed by the University ...

  9. The Thesis Calculator

    The thesis calculator consists of three columns: Academic, Professional, and Self-Care. The Academic column focuses on research and writing processes: searching and reviewing relevant literature; writing a viable research question; designing the study methodology; collecting, describing, and analyzing data, and so on.

  10. Assignment Calculator

    Assignment Calculator. Research Paper Planner. Research Paper/Essay. Begin Date: Due Date: Research Paper Planner. This tool will help you stay on track and lead you to resources from libraries and writing centers to help you more easily master the skills for planning, researching, drafting, and writing a research paper, essay, honors or master ...

  11. Dissertation plan

    Limit the distraction during your blocked writing time in order to fully concentrate. Set a daily goal. For example, writing 2 pages each day on chapter 1 or finishing the method session on chapter 2, etc. Find a place that you find yourself most productive and efficient, and write there. Monitor your progress by calendars and project ...

  12. Dissertation Checklist and Timeline

    Download Dissertation Checklist and Timeline Adobe PDF Document Download pdf. Dissertation Checklist and Timeline. Student's Name: Dissertation Process. # of Days. Due Date. Choose Dissertation Advisor. Choose Dissertation Committee with advisor approval on the Application to Candidacy Form.

  13. The Dissertation Calculator • Center for Communication Excellence

    The Dissertation Calculator Resource Details: Author: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities: Publisher: ... Twin Cities, the Dissertation Calculator can be used to help ISU students plan out their dissertation timeline. Link: Resource Link: Image: Back To The Previous Page. Center for Communication Excellence, Graduate College 1137 Pearson 505 ...

  14. PDF SAMPLE FORMATTING TIMELINE FOR YOUR DISSERTATION

    SAMPLE FORMATTING TIMELINE FOR YOUR DISSERTATION. 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 ...

  15. From Start to Finish: How to Plan Your Dissertation Project

    Starting the Plan. Implementing the dissertation project plan begins with organizing your tasks and setting priorities based on your outlined timeline. Start by reviewing the project plan and identifying the first set of tasks to tackle. Ensure you have all necessary resources and materials before commencing each task.

  16. PDF Dissertation Calculator Tool for Tracking and Managing

    1.1. Dissertation Calculator Tool Dissertation Calculator is a web application tool to assist graduate students to help them manage and track their dissertation progress. It also provides a way to communicate updates and changes on each step of the progress with their adviser. Advisers can also provide useful

  17. PDF Dissertation Planner: step-by-step

    Dissertation Planner: step-by-step. This planner is designed to help you through all the stages of your dissertation, from starting to think about your question through to final submission. At each stage there are useful prompts to help you plan your work and manage your time.

  18. Home

    How to Use the Research Calculator. This tool will help you stay on track and lead you to resources from libraries and writing centers to help you master the skills of planning, researching, drafting, and writing a research paper, thesis, or dissertation. This method of reverse scheduling is based on best practices for writing papers and theses ...

  19. PDF Dissertation Timeline

    Creating a timeline to complete your dissertation will help to keep you on track. Creating the timeline when you are going into Candidacy (and adjusting as necessary) will give you a reasonable sense of when you will complete your degree. Working in reverse: 1. Choose the semester you wish to graduate and identify the deadlines to upload

  20. Especially for graduate writers

    The Dissertation Calculator breaks down the process into manageable stages with suggested deadlines, and provides students with important resources and advice tailored to the University context. (This tool was created by the Center for Writing in partnership with the University Libraries, the Center for Teaching and Learning Services, and the ...

  21. Dissertation Timeline Calculator on PostgraduateForum.com

    I set up a timeline using excel, put the dates along the top, I put the chapters down the sides, with broad areas that I wanted to include and them filled it in, leaving 6 months at the end for final writing up, but with areas for writing up for each chapter, plus review spaces for each etc., each with their own colour, yellow is writing up for ...

  22. Dissertation Timeline Calculator

    Dissertation Calculator is a tool for graduate students who are working towards their graduate degree at North Dakota State University to manage and track their dissertation progress. , a refereed article, a defense of doctoral dissertation or The Learning and phd thesis proofreading Leadership doctoral degree requires a minimum of 66 timeline ...

  23. Assignment Calculator: Plan Time for Essays/ Research Papers

    Dissertation calculator & planner. It's much more than just an assignment calculator! This ultimate tool will be your lifesaver when you need to estimate a dissertation timeline. This feature is completely free. Thus, every student can benefit from high-tech solutions. This tool will break the dissertation preparation process into smaller goals.