How to Plan the First Year of Your PhD

In shortIn year one, narrow your topic to a researchable question, build a literature system you’ll actually use, run one small study, and aim for one early output — a conference paper or review.

Months 1–3: orient

• Meet your supervisor regularly and agree on expectations in writing.
• Read widely, then narrow. Write a one-paragraph research question and revise it monthly.
• Set up reference management (Zotero or Mendeley) from day one.
• Finish coursework requirements early if your university has them.

Months 4–6: build the literature base

• Create a review matrix: paper, method, data, results, limitations, gap.
• Search systematically in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed or IEEE Xplore, depending on your field.
• Draft the literature review chapter now — it becomes your first paper.

Months 7–9: first small study

• Choose something you can finish in three months.
• In computational fields, reproduce a published result first. You learn the tools and find gaps.

Months 10–12: first output

• Turn the review or small study into a conference paper or journal submission.
• Choose indexed journals and check them against predatory lists.
• Present at a department seminar for feedback.

Habits that matter more than plans

Weekly writing time, a simple research log, and backups of data and code. Read about the key components of a research article before you draft.

Want a plan built around your topic? Book a PhD planning consultation on Zoom or Google Meet.