Completing your dissertation can feel overwhelming due to to the level of independent working required as well as the word count and required time commitment.

A key aspect of managing the overall project is to break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks , or 'chunks' of work (Cottrell, 2014). This can help you to set your own deadlines and work strategically which will, in turn, make the process more enjoyable.

Once you have your deadline, you can use backward planning to decide how best to use your time. Williams (2018) breaks down three stages of dissertation writing to help in your planning:

1. The Bigger Picture - deadline for submission.

2. The Next Milestone - smaller deadlines such as an ethics form or draft chapters.

3. The Week Ahead - smaller tasks to be completed. The number of tasks on this list will most likely fluctuate depending on the stage you have reached.

You may not have been given any deadlines other than the final submission date. If this is the case, it may be useful to set your own deadlines to ensure that you are able to keep on top of the workload and avoid any last minute panics.

The examples timetables below are for a hypothetical student who is conducting a questionnaire for their dissertation research.

The first timetable is the schedule created to ensure each stage of their research, as well as the dissertation write up, is completed.

The second is an example of a timetable which incorporates the students other course commitments alongside their research requirements.

If you are conducting research with participants (as opposed to secondary or desk-based) it is important to be aware of and account for anything which may impact on whether they consent to participate.

In the timetable below, our student is conducting research with the staff at their placement school. They have considered busy periods at the school and adjusted their plans to make they are able to recruit the most participants possible.

The categories, dates and tasks will vary depending on your course requirements however planning your dissertation in stages, as well as considering other work you will also be required to complete, can help create a realistic timetable.

For a suggested timeline, the following link is a 'Dissertation and Thesis Calculator' from the Rochester Institute of Technology in the U.S. If you enter today's date and your submission date, you will be provided with a suggested timeline to complete your work.

Cottrell, S. (2014) Dissertations and Project Reports: a step by step guide. Basingstoke: PalgraveMacmillan.

Rochester Institute of Technology (2024) 'Dissertation and Thesis Calculator'. Available at: https://wmlapps.rit.edu/dissertation-calculator/      (Accessed: 24 June 2024).

Williams, K. (2018). Planning Your Dissertation. 3rd Edition. London: Red Globe Press.