Planning your PhD research: A 3-year PhD timeline example
Planning out a PhD trajectory can be overwhelming. Example PhD timelines can make the task easier and inspire. The following PhD timeline example describes the process and milestones of completing a PhD within 3 years.
Elements to include in a 3-year PhD timeline
The example scenario: completing a phd in 3 years, example: planning year 1 of a 3-year phd, example: planning year 2 of a 3-year phd, example: planning year 3 of a 3-year phd, example of a 3 year phd gantt chart timeline, final reflection.
Every successful PhD project begins with a proper plan. Even if there is a high chance that not everything will work out as planned. Having a well-established timeline will keep your work on track.
What to include in a 3-year PhD timeline depends on the unique characteristics of a PhD project, specific university requirements, agreements with the supervisor/s and the PhD student’s career ambitions.
For instance, some PhD students write a monograph while others complete a PhD based on several journal publications. Both monographs and cumulative dissertations have advantages and disadvantages , and not all universities allow both formats. The thesis type influences the PhD timeline.
Furthermore, PhD students ideally engage in several different activities throughout a PhD trajectory, which link to their career objectives. Regardless of whether they want to pursue a career within or outside of academia. PhD students should create an all-round profile to increase their future chances in the labour market. Think, for example, of activities such as organising a seminar, engaging in public outreach or showcasing leadership in a small grant application.
The most common elements included in a 3-year PhD timeline are the following:
- Data collection (fieldwork, experiments, etc.)
- Data analysis
- Writing of different chapters, or a plan for journal publication
- Conferences
- Additional activities
The whole process is described in more detail in my post on how to develop an awesome PhD timeline step-by-step .
Many (starting) PhD students look for examples of how to plan a PhD in 3 years. Therefore, let’s look at an example scenario of a fictional PhD student. Let’s call her Maria.
Maria is doing a PhD in Social Sciences at a university where it is customary to write a cumulative dissertation, meaning a PhD thesis based on journal publications. Maria’s university regulations require her to write four articles as part of her PhD. In order to graduate, one article has to be published in an international peer-reviewed journal. The other three have to be submitted.
Furthermore, Maria’s cumulative dissertation needs an introduction and conclusion chapter which frame the four individual journal articles, which form the thesis chapters.
In order to complete her PhD programme, Maria also needs to complete coursework and earn 15 credits, or ECTS in her case.
Maria likes the idea of doing a postdoc after her graduation. However, she is aware that the academic job market is tough and therefore wants to keep her options open. She could, for instance, imagine to work for a community or non-profit organisation. Therefore, she wants to place emphasis on collaborating with a community organisation during her PhD.
You may also like: Creating awesome Gantt charts for your PhD timeline
Most PhD students start their first year with a rough idea, but not a well-worked out plan and timeline. Therefore, they usually begin with working on a more elaborate research proposal in the first months of their PhD. This is also the case for our example PhD student Maria.
- Months 1-4: Maria works on a detailed research proposal, defines her research methodology and breaks down her thesis into concrete tasks.
- Month 5 : Maria follows a short intensive course in academic writing to improve her writing skills.
- Months 5-10: Maria works on her first journal paper, which is based on an extensive literature review of her research topic. At the end of Month 10, she submits the manuscript. At the same time, she follows a course connected to her research topic.
- Months 11-12: Maria does her data collection.
Maria completed her first round of data collection according to plan, and starts the second year of her PhD with a lot of material. In her second year, she will focus on turning this data into two journal articles.
- Months 1-2: Maria works on her data analysis.
- Months 3-7: Maria works on her second journal paper.
- Month 7: Maria attends her first conference, and presents the results of her literature-review paper.
- Month 8: Maria received ‘major revisions’ on her first manuscript submission, and implements the changes in Month 8 before resubmitting her first journal paper for publication.
- Month 9: Maria follows a course on research valorisation to learn strategies to increase the societal impact of her thesis.
- Months 9-12: Maria works on her third journal paper. She uses the same data that she collected for the previous paper, which is why she is able to complete the third manuscript a bit faster than the previous one.
Time flies, and Maria finds herself in the last year of her PhD. There is still a lot of work to be done, but she sticks to the plan and does her best to complete her PhD.
- Month 1: Maria starts a second round of data collection, this time in collaboration with a community organisation. Together, they develop and host several focus groups with Maria’s target audience.
- Month 2: Maria starts to analyse the material of the focus group and develops the argumentation for her fourth journal paper.
- Month 3: Maria presents the results of her second journal paper at an international conference. Furthermore, she helps out her supervisor with a grant application. They apply for funding to run a small project that is thematically connected to her PhD.
- Months 4-9: Maria writes her fourth and final journal article that is required for her PhD.
- Month 10: Maria writes her thesis introduction .
- Month 11: Maria works on her thesis conclusion.
- Month 12 : Maria works on the final edits and proof-reading of her thesis before submitting it.
Combining the 3-year planning for our example PhD student Maria, it results in the following PhD timeline:
Creating these PhD timelines, also called Gantt charts, is easy. You can find instructions and templates here.
Completing a PhD in 3 years is not an easy task. The example of our fictional PhD student Maria shows how packed her timeline is, and how little time there is for things to go wrong.
In fact, in real life, many PhD students spend four years full-time to complete a PhD based on four papers, instead of three. Some extend their studies even longer.
Furthermore, plan in some time for thesis editing, which is a legitimate practice and can bring your writing to the next level. Finding a reputable thesis editor can be challenging, so make sure you make an informed choice.
Finishing a PhD in 3 years is not impossible, but it surely is not easy. So be kind to yourself if things don’t work out entirely as planned, and make use of all the help you can get.
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My Study Plan for PhD in Literature and Health.pdf
This study plan had been prepared in 2014 in order to seek admission in PhD in English at a university with a good world ranking, focus on interdisciplinary studies, and that honours humanities programs. Because of the various circumstances ahead, the project was not taken by the universities I approached. I am still optimistic about the project and wanted to share the prospective researchers, and scholars working in the field of Literature and Health so that we can have common topics for discussion.
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In seeking a universal greeting that encompasses us all, I choose to say Forward Humanity-May humanity encompass us, and may kindness be our pulse. It is said that when we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. Without a doubt, there is much work that needs to be done on the South African landscape, in our societies and interactions which have been fraught with intense, deep rooted harm. What we need is to touch humanity, to learn to be kind once again. This was the understanding in my mind as I worked through my PhD. The topic was provocative, challenging. I wrote about Islamic State (IS) – or ISIS as is commonly known.
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This chapter is an example of a doubly innovative methodological approach to the drafts and revisions of a Ph.D. proposal. The authors used corpus analysis on five separate small-scale corpora to detect changes in approaches and attitudes towards the topic, mainly by focusing on single-word and multi-word term analysis and combining a qualitative and quantitative approach. Data was extracted by using Sketch Engine. The authors also sought to destabilize the relationship between the researcher and the author of the texts from which the corpora were derived by making the author of the texts a second author who provides an introspective analysis of the research findings. This was achieved through an unconventional interview method that drew on dialogic engagement.
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How to Prepare a PhD Research Plan/Schedule?
PhD research plan is a structured schedule for completing different objectives and milestones during a given timeframe. Scholars are usually unaware of it. Let us find out how to prepare it.
Between March 2021 to 2022, I read almost 15 different research proposals from students (for their projects) and only a single one, I found, with a comprehensive research plan for 3 years. Which is still not, kind of practical, probably copied from other students.
Such entities are not known to over 90% of students, if some know that because their university asked for but unfortunately, this basic procedure lacks penetration among students. I don’t know the exact reason, but students lack a basic understanding of the research process.
Meaning, that they don’t know or perhaps don’t complete their course work needly. PhD research requires many documents, SOPs and write-ups, before even starting it. For example, a rough research plan, research proposal, initial interview, competence screening, grant proposal and so on.
However, the requirement varies among universities and thus knowledge regarding basic procedures often also varies among students. So I’m not blaming students but certainly, it is the fault of the university side, as well.
When you come up with a research proposal with a research schedule or entire plant, certainly it will create a positive image and good reputation. So it is important. But how to prepare it?
Hey, there I’m Dr Tushar, a PhD tutor and coach. In this article, we will understand how we can prepare a structured plan for the PhD research and how to execute it.
So let’s get started.
How to prepare a PhD research plan/schedule?
A PhD research plan or schedule can be prepared using the GANTT chart which includes a month, semester or year-wise planning of the entire PhD research work.
First, enlist goals and objectives.
It’s not about your research objective enlisted in your proposal. I’m talking about the objectives of your PhD. Take a look at some of the objectives.
Note that these are all the objectives that should be completed during the PhD, but not limited to a specific subject. Note you have to show how you can complete or achieve each objective during the entire tenure of your work.
And that is what the plan/schedule is all about. Next, explain the time duration. The time required to complete each goal, roughly. For example, a semester or a year to complete the course work or 4 to 8 months for completion of ethical approval.
Now two things must be known to you, at this point in time.
- First, enlist the time required to complete each objective, as aforementioned.
- Second, what goals would you complete during each semester?
For instance, course work takes a semester to complete, but during the period a scholar can also craft their PhD research title, research proposal, ethical approval and grant proposals.
Now it is also crucial to know that there is no time bound to complete goals, but it should be completed as you explained. Let’s say you can plant it for 3 years, 4 or even 5 years depending on the weightage of your work.
In summary, the answer to the question of how to prepare a research plan is,
- Enlist your goals or objectives.
- Decide the time required to complete each goal.
- Prepare a GANTT chart.
Now you have prepared zero-date planning for your research but how to present it? The answer is a GANTT chart.
GANTT chart for PhD research plan:
GANTT chart is a task manager and graphical presentation of how and how many tasks are completed or should be completed against a given time duration. Take a look at the image below.
How can you prepare one?
Open MS Excel (on Windows) or numbers (on Mac).
Enlist goals or objectives in a column.
Enlist years (duration of PhD) in a row and bifurcate them into individual semesters. You can also prepare a month-wise plan, that’s totally up to you. In my opinion, semester-wise planning is good because research is a lengthy and time-consuming process. So monthly planning would not work.
To make a chart more attractive and readable use colors, as I used. Now mark a ‘cell’ against a column and row showing the objective which you are going to complete in a semester. Take a look.
After the end of this, your GANTT chart would look like this.
You can prepare a month-wise planning, individual semester-wise planning and goal-wise planning etc. I will explain these things in upcoming articles on 5 different types of GANTT charts for PhD.
Custom writing services:
If you find difficulties in preparing a research plan, synopsis, proposal or GANTT chart. We can work on behalf of you. Our costume services are,
- Synopsis writing
- Project writing
- Research proposal writing
- Research planning and GANTT chart preparation.
You can contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] to get more information.
Wrapping up:
Planning and executing a research schedule are two different things. Oftentimes, students just prepare as per the requirements and then do work as per their convenience. Then they are stuck in one place and just work around the time.
Plan things. Make your own GANTT chart, put it on your work table or stick it on a wall so that you can see it daily. Try to achieve each goal in time. Trust me things will work and you will complete your PhD before anyone else.
Dr. Tushar Chauhan is a Scientist, Blogger and Scientific-writer. He has completed PhD in Genetics. Dr. Chauhan is a PhD coach and tutor.
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IMAGES
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COMMENTS
PhD Plan of Study Template (Effective Fall 2019) PhD Plan of Study Your Name Date (Note that each time your committee meets, you should present them with an updated plan, and document such updates. Please remember to change the date with each revision) Department of Communication and Film University of Memphis Advisory Committee COMM Prof., Advisor
PDF | On Sep 1, 2006, Sune Høgild Keller and others published PhD Study Plan | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate
An exception can be made under extraordinary circumstances, as determined by Director of Graduate Studies and the student's major professor. Below is an example of how to plan the dissertation component in our PhD program. 6 hours: Proposal development. 6 hours: Chapter 1 and 2 writing. 3 hours: Chapter 3 writing and data collection.
Research plan of up to 5 pages, including a description of the objectives and research questions, state of knowledge and finally an evaluation of the qualification of the applicant to conduct the planned research. Please use the format below. (Note that the bibliography is not included in this part.) 2. Study plan (1-2 pages). 3. Financial plan.
Public Policy and Administration PhD Program of Study- 8 . Annual Review and Approval of Plan of Study . At the conclusion of each academic year, all students will be reviewed by the Program Director and Program Committee for professional development and mentorship opportunities and to determine if adequate progress has been made.
your study plan. Your study plan should be submitted on VandalWeb before the end of your second year of enrollment in your PhD program. You may change the study plan at any time during your time as a student, if needed. The Graduate Faculty of the University of Idaho have set the following minimum requirements for a doctoral degree:*
The graduate program in economics has a strong quantitative and analytical orientation. It is designed to provide a working knowledge of basic research skills and to broaden the students' understanding of economic institutions. Degree Requirements. To be awarded a Ph.D. degree in Economics a student must:
Doctoral Plan. 1. 5. Detailed Work Plan. Describe the studies or experiments envisaged to reach the set goals. Present your work plan in the form of work packages (WP), each defining the task and describing the methods used and the expected outcome. In general, a work package should describe 3 -. 12 months of work.
Project description. The description should be one to three pages, written by the PhD student and approved by the supervisor. The description may be included in the form, or attached as an appendix. Start with an introduction describing the project in a broader context. Give the background and motivation for the topic of the PhD project.
Study Plan for Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Please type or print clearly in ink) ... Graduate Track _____ Tentative Dissertation Topic:_____ Place * beside any course not taken at OSU. Place ** beside any MS hours petitioned to be counted toward fulfilling the . 50. semester credit hours required to be taken post-BS ...
they graduate. Students may also take additional workshop courses beyond the 27 units required by the program---and many do choose to! Dissertation units may be taken in amounts from 1 to 9 units in each semester from the start of the 4th year. A series of example plans of study follow, in which students with different research
Purpose of the PhD research plan • Develop a PhD project with realistic goals that can be achieved within the timeframe of the PhD period (normally 3-4 years). • Ensure that the PhD student and PhD supervisor(s) are aligned wrt goals of the project and the work plan/schedule. • Critically evaluate the overall objectives.
Study plan for the Ph.D. in Management A detailed description of the academic requirements of the Ph.D. in Management can be found in the rules and regulations. Because the rules are in French, and for your convenience, we are providing you with an unofficial summary in English below along with more administrative details.
The admission requirement for the PhD programme in Sociology is a master's degree/graduate study (hovedfag) in sociology, or equivalent education that the Faculty has approved as a basis for admission. A grade point average of B or better from the master's degree programme or equivalent education is required. Applicants with lower grades ...
Purpose of the Ph.D. Study Plan Form The Study Plan form has been designed to help you schedule and plan your coursework and other requirements during your Ph.D. Program. A copy of this completed and signed form must be given to the Graduate Student Affairs Coordinator by October 1 of the year you enter the program and anytime a change is made ...
Most dissertations are 100 to 300 pages in length. All dissertations should be divided into appropriate sections, and long dissertations may need chapters, main divisions, and even subdivisions. Students should keep in mind that GSAS and many departments deplore overlong and wordy dissertations.
Example: Planning year 2 of a 3-year PhD. Maria completed her first round of data collection according to plan, and starts the second year of her PhD with a lot of material. In her second year, she will focus on turning this data into two journal articles. Months 1-2: Maria works on her data analysis.
Therefore, in a good research proposal you will need to demonstrate two main things: 1. that you are capable of independent critical thinking and analysis. 2. that you are capable of communicating your ideas clearly. Applying for a PhD is like applying for a job, you are not applying for a taught programme.
PHD SAMPLE Full Time Plan of Study Name: _____ Enter: _____ Graduate: _____ Year 1: Fall Semester NUR 501 Philosophy of Science 3 hours Philosophy of science, scientific reasoning, and scientific progress are analyzed for relevance to present-day nursing research. NUR 540 Statistical Methods I 3 hours
Nimesh Lamsal. This study plan had been prepared in 2014 in order to seek admission in PhD in English at a university with a good world ranking, focus on interdisciplinary studies, and that honours humanities programs. Because of the various circumstances ahead, the project was not taken by the universities I approached.
You need to plan a research design and a roadmap so that you can proceed with your study scientifically. The most im-portant section of your research design is the methodology. As a researcher, you ... Writing methodology for your PhD thesis requires exceptional skill that every . Q. Faryadi DOI: 10.4236/ce.2019.104057 770 Creative Education ...
A PhD research plan or schedule can be prepared using the GANTT chart which includes a month, semester or year-wise planning of the entire PhD research work. First, enlist goals and objectives. It's not about your research objective enlisted in your proposal. I'm talking about the objectives of your PhD.
Graduate Study Plan. First Name: Last Name: Student ID: MY PROGRAM PLAN. I will complete a: Specific subject areas in which the student will be examined on comprehensive examination: Preliminary title of thesis or project: Attach detailed outline of research proposal: Estimate date of completion for the following: