Dissertation plan
It's vital to have a good plan for this long piece of work.
Make a schedule
Start with the deadline and work backwards. It's best to give yourself a false deadline before the real one.
Time each stage
Think about how much time you need for each part of the project.
Advance planning
Which sections require advance planning? For example:
- Booking access to rooms/people/equipment
- If you depend on data from participants in surveys or interviews, allow time for contacting them.
- Allow time for interviews and transcribing them afterwards.
- You may need literature that will take some time to access because it isn't readily available in the Library/online.
- Schedule in time for data analysis.
Be realistic
Allow time for unexpected delays, such as illness or technical problems.
Break down tasks
Break down long tasks, such as a literature review, into small steps. It will make them feel more manageable.
Other commitments
Note all your commitments in your schedule, such as other assignments, paid work etc.
Time for learning
Plan for time to learn about new things, e.g. creating questionnaires/charts/tables; coding; analysing data
Have breaks
Include some time off in your schedule!
‘Your wellbeing is essential to your work; your mental health and academic ability cannot be separated from your physical health. Help your brain reach its full potential by taking care of your body, getting regular exercise, eating well and ensuring you are sleeping as regularly as possible.'
(Ghaleb, Third-year Geography student)