Gantt Chart

A project timeline – also known as a Gantt Chart- is a stylized bar graph that illustrates a project schedule. A Gantt Chart will have a vertical axis for tasks and a horizontal axis for time allocation. It is a convenient tool in both long- and short-term time management due to its ability to visually depict time estimations for project tasks and objectives. Developing a project timeline is also essential for career readiness, as a plethora of industries and employers use Gantt Charts to break down large, complex projects into discrete milestones managed by multiple stakeholders. Research projects do not always have clear deadlines or outcomes, so this tool can help you better plan your project and hold yourself accountable. Furthermore, as a student, you are often balancing research with coursework, student organizations, additional jobs, and/or other responsibilities, so we hope this helps you think about how to create a feasible and realistic balance. Overall, Gantt Charts are an invaluable tool for your independent research experience. The faculty review committee that awards Undergraduate Research Grants (URGs) now require supplemental Gantt Charts in all applications, with an additional itinerary for Academic Year URG projects that involve an intensive trip component (e.g., collecting data through an archive visit).

We have created a detailed Research Project Gantt Chart Guide that you can access here. Below, you’ll also find templates and Gantt Chart examples to help you in creating your own. Please remember that the Office of Undergraduate Research advisors can help guide you through the drafting and revision process of your Gantt Chart. Make an appointment early in your process through our advising request page here. You do not need to have a draft of your chart before you talk with an advisor.

You are encouraged to use this Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grant (AY URG) Gantt Chart Template (click to access & make a copy).

The Academic Year URG Gantt Chart is tied to the academic year. Academic Year URG eligibility requires that you are enrolled in at least one independent study or capstone type class in which to conduct your research. As such, you will be submitting a Gantt Chart with at least one quarter worth of time estimations completed. If you have a larger project such as a senior thesis an accurate timeline may involve multiple quarters. The provided template also includes a tab aligned with NU-Qatar campus academic calendar. It may be the case that your Academic Year URG project involves a short research intensive, which is a small component essential for driving forward progress on the rest of your research. Common research intensives involve collection of evidence. Perhaps you need to visit some archives and look at primary sources for your senior thesis, or perhaps you need to travel for fieldwork to collect data that you analyze later in the quarter. Consequently, these research intensives often involve trips that are better described by an itinerary than just a Gantt Chart. If your Academic Year URG research is requesting funds for such an intensive then you are required to complete and submit an itinerary alongside your project’s Gantt Chart. The provided template comes with a complementary template for intineraries in a separate tab; if the itinerary is not relevant to your project, then please delete the tab before submission.

Example AYURG Gantt Charts

You are encouraged to use this Summer Undergraduate Research Grant (Summer URG) Gantt Chart Template (click to access & make a copy).

The Summer URG Gantt Chart is tied to the summer. Summer URG eligibility requires that you must conduct 8-full weeks of research during which you have no additional time commitments like internships or classes. Given that summer is typically longer than 8 weeks, you will be submitting a Gantt Chart that is appropriately scoped for the grant period. An itinerary is not required for Summer URG projects.

Example SURG Gantt Charts