Free Template
Gantt Chart Template
A simple, ready-to-adapt Gantt chart structure for visually planning your dissertation timeline. Copy the stage breakdown below into a spreadsheet and adjust it to your own deadline and project.
How to Build Your Own Gantt Chart
- List your project stages down the left-hand column (see the example below as a starting point).
- Mark weeks or months across the top row, running from your start date to your submission deadline.
- Shade in the cells covering when each stage is planned to run.
- Allow stages to overlap where realistic — literature review, for example, often continues alongside other stages.
- Build in a visible buffer block near the end for revision and unexpected delays.
Example Stage Breakdown
| Stage | Example Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Topic refinement & proposal | Weeks 1-3 | Include time for supervisor feedback and revision |
| Literature review | Weeks 2-10 | Ongoing — continues alongside later stages |
| Ethics approval | Weeks 3-6 | Build in buffer; approval timelines vary by institution |
| Methodology finalisation | Weeks 4-6 | Should align with your approved proposal |
| Data collection | Weeks 7-12 | Allow contingency for recruitment or access delays |
| Data analysis | Weeks 11-15 | Can overlap with the tail end of data collection |
| Writing up findings & discussion | Weeks 14-18 | Often faster once analysis is complete |
| Full draft review | Weeks 18-19 | Time for supervisor or consultant feedback |
| Revision, editing & proofreading | Weeks 19-21 | Don't skip this — build in real time here |
| Final submission buffer | Week 22 | For formatting checks and unexpected last-minute issues |
Tips for Using Your Chart Effectively
- Update it honestly as you go — a chart that no longer reflects reality stops being useful
- Review it weekly, even briefly, rather than only when things feel off track
- Colour-code stages by type (planning, research, writing) for a quicker visual overview
- Share it with your supervisor if helpful — it can be a good basis for check-in conversations
Key Takeaways
- Build your chart around your actual weeks or months, not generic stage lengths
- Allow some stages to overlap — dissertations rarely proceed in a strict, sequential line
- Always include a visible final buffer for revision and unexpected delays
- Review and honestly update your chart regularly, rather than setting it once and forgetting it
Got Questions?
Gantt Chart Template FAQs
A simple spreadsheet like Excel or Google Sheets works well for most students; free templates and tools are also widely available online if you prefer a more visual, purpose-built option.
It's not usually a formal requirement, but many students find it genuinely useful for tracking progress and staying motivated throughout a long project.
A brief weekly check-in against your chart is a good habit, adjusting stages honestly as your actual progress differs from the original plan.