Free, no sign-up to start: the plan opens as a live, editable Gantt chart. 16 tasks across 4 phases, about 47 weeks if every task runs in sequence.
What's in the template
| Phase | Task | Example duration |
|---|---|---|
| Proposal | Topic and research questions | 14 days |
| Proposal | Proposal draft | 21 days |
| Proposal | Proposal approval | 7 days |
| Proposal | Ethics or IRB application and review | 30 days |
| Research | Literature review | 45 days |
| Research | Methods and instruments | 14 days |
| Research | Data collection | 60 days |
| Research | Data analysis | 35 days |
| Writing | Draft results and discussion | 30 days |
| Writing | Draft introduction and conclusion | 14 days |
| Writing | Advisor review and revisions | 21 days |
| Writing | Formatting and references | 7 days |
| Defense | Submit to committee | 1 day |
| Defense | Defense preparation | 14 days |
| Defense | Defense | 1 day |
| Defense | Final corrections and submission | 14 days |
Durations are examples to replace with your own estimates, not benchmarks.
About this thesis and dissertation timeline
Many graduate programs ask for a Gantt chart in the thesis or dissertation proposal. This template covers the standard path: proposal, ethics review where needed, literature review, data collection, analysis, chapter writing, advisor feedback and the defense.
Ethics or IRB approval sits on its own row because data collection with human participants usually can't begin without it, and review times vary by institution. Check your program's deadlines and replace the placeholders.
Who it's for: Master's and doctoral students, and advisors who track several students.
How to use it
- Open the timeline. Click Open in the editor to load the plan.
- Work back from your submission deadline. Set the final submission to your program's deadline and pull every earlier task into place.
- Overlap the literature review. Most students keep reading while collecting data. Unlink the literature review so it runs alongside methods and collection. In the task panel, remove the predecessor, then set the new start date. Then check that the task that came next still lists the earlier work as a predecessor, so delays keep cascading.
- Share with your advisor. Share a read-only link. PDF export for your proposal document is on the Solo plan.
Planning tips
- Submit the ethics application as early as your program allows.
- Leave real time for advisor feedback; it is often the longest wait in the writing phase.
- Schedule formatting separately; reference and template checks take longer than expected.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I make a Gantt chart for my thesis proposal?
- List each research phase, estimate durations, link the ones that depend on each other (such as ethics approval before data collection), and set the final date to your submission deadline. This template starts you from that structure.
- Can my advisor see my timeline?
- Yes. Share a read-only link; your advisor does not need an account.
- Is there a template for a shorter research project?
- Yes. The research project template covers a single study without the thesis writing phases.
Related templates
The free plan saves one project. Downloads (PDF, CSV) and more projects are on Solo, $12/month.