Weeks 1–2: Topic, question and sources
Start from a clear research question — narrow enough to answer, meaningful enough to be worth it. Gather 15–20 reliable sources and keep citation notes from day one.
Deliverable: one paragraph stating the question, plus a draft table of contents.
Weeks 3–4: Methodology and data
Decide how you'll answer the question: qualitative, quantitative or mixed. If there's an empirical part, start collecting/processing data now — it's the most unpredictable piece.
Help: research methodology guide.
Weeks 5–6: Writing
Write in whatever order helps, not necessarily front to back. Many start with the literature review and results, leaving the intro and conclusion for last. Aim for a steady pace (e.g. 500 words/day) rather than marathons.
Week 7: Revision
Leave the text for 1–2 days, then read it critically: argument flow, chapter links, clarity. Check every claim is backed by a source and that all citations appear in the bibliography.
Week 8: Formatting, Turnitin and submission
Apply your department's specs (cover page, margins, citation style), build a table of contents and run a plagiarism check before submitting. Leave time for small fixes.
Full steps in the thesis and dissertation guide.