Introduction
It is an academically rigorous process to undertake a Master’s or PhD, but to go along with the actual research, students must also contend with numerous operational and administrative burdens. From prerequisite courses to coordinating proposal defences, data gathering, progress reports on the thesis, and ultimate submission, there are so many requirements that it can be overwhelming.
These logistical issues have deterred most students, causing them to be delayed, miss deadlines, and be unsure of what the next move should be. Administrators and supervisors also cannot keep track of the progress of each student, and as such, there are points of approval, ineffective communication, and absence of transparency within the research process.
This is where Planally comes in. Planally helps universities digitize and streamline the entire Master’s and PhD process, a structured blueprint that guides students, supervisors, and administrators through every step from coursework to thesis submission.
The Challenges of Managing Postgraduate Research
Postgraduates face various levels of complexity during their studies. Since their primary concern is research, they must navigate through:
- Tracking Pre-Requisite Courses – Students must complete some courses (e.g., research technique, academic writing) before moving on, although manual tracking can be disorganized.
- Coordinating Proposal Approvals – Proposal submission and defence require multiple approvals from supervisors and research committees, which can typically lead to delays depending on stakeholder availability.
- Organizing Data Collection & Analysis – Conducting pilot studies, refining instruments, and managing large datasets require structured tracking and oversight.
- Monitoring Thesis Progress – Universities require periodic progress reports, but without a system in place, deadlines are easily missed.
- Handling Final Submission & Review – Thesis revisions, plagiarism checks, and final evaluations involve multiple stakeholders, creating bottlenecks.
- Lack of Transparency – Students, supervisors, and administrators often struggle with unclear expectations, misplaced documents, and inefficient approvals.
Without a structured workflow, managing these steps manually leads to lost documents, unclear deadlines, inefficient approvals, and constant back-and-forth between students, supervisors, and administrators.
Research published in the article “The Impact of Digital Tools and Online Learning Platforms on Higher Education Learning Outcomes” highlights that the integration of digital tools significantly enhances academic performance by improving accessibility to resources, promoting engagement, and streamlining communication. (Tulinayo et al., May 24)
How Planally Digitalizes & Automates the PhD/Master’s Workflow
Planally eliminates manual tracking and disorganized workflows by providing a digital roadmap that guides students, supervisors, and administrators through each stage of the postgraduate journey.
Here’s how it works:
1. Structured Roadmaps for the Entire PhD Journey
Planally allows universities to define and standardize the entire research workflow, ensuring that students have a clear roadmap of what to complete at every stage.
Example of a structured workflow in Planally:
| Phase | Key Tasks |
| Coursework & Prerequisites | Complete Required Courses, Workshops, and Research Ethics Training |
| Proposal Development | Develop Proposal, Submit for Review, Obtain Approval, Conduct Proposal Defence |
| Research & Data Collection | Conduct Research, Gather Data, Obtain Necessary Approvals, Ensure Compliance with Research Ethics |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | Analyze Data, Refine Findings, Validate Research Outcomes |
| Thesis Writing & Review | Draft Thesis Chapters, Receive Feedback, Undergo Peer and Supervisor Reviews |
| Final Submission & Defence | Complete Plagiarism Checks, Prepare for Final Defence, Submit Revised Thesis |
This roadmap ensures that students and supervisors are always aligned, reducing uncertainty and administrative burden.
2. Collaborative Approvals & Task Tracking
Planally makes approvals more collaborative by integrating:
- Automated notifications for when a student needs supervisor feedback.
- One-click approvals for proposal submissions and thesis corrections.
- Real-time tracking of where a student is in the research process.
This reduces delays and eliminates the need for excessive emails or in-person follow-ups.
3. Automated Progress Monitoring & Reminders
- Planally sends reminders to students when deadlines are approaching (e.g., proposal submission deadlines, thesis submission notices, or viva preparation).
- Supervisors and administrators can track student progress in real-time, identifying those who may need additional support.
- The platform helps prevent last-minute rushes by ensuring students stay on top of their research journey.
4. Centralized Document Management
Instead of searching through multiple emails and folders, students and supervisors can:
- Upload & store all research documents in one place.
- Version-control thesis drafts, proposal documents, and progress reports.
- Ensure all approvals and comments are properly documented for future reference.
5. Enhanced Communication Between Students & Supervisors
- Supervisors can leave comments directly on submitted documents instead of long email threads.
- Students can see their pending tasks and next steps at a glance.
- The system ensures that no important communication is lost or forgotten.
Real-World Benefits for Universities & Students
Universities can benefit in the following ways with Planally:
- Improve Student Experience – Reduce administrative burden, allowing students to focus more on their research and advancing through their postgraduate journey.
- Increase Transparency – Keep students, supervisors, and administrators are aligned at all times.
- Improve Faculty Efficiency – Reduce manual tracking, making it easy for supervisors to monitor student progress and seamless approve submissions.
- Prevent Research Delays – Minimize delays caused by unclear processes or missing documentation.
- Standardize Postgraduate Workflows – Ensure consistency across departments, reducing confusion for students and faculty.
Conclusion: The Future of Academic Research is Digital
The PhD/Master’s journey is already challenging—but administrative inefficiencies shouldn’t be the reason students struggle. With Planally, universities can automate approvals, streamline workflows, and enhance collaboration between students, supervisors, and administrators.
By digitalizing research workflows, universities can increase completion rates, reduce unnecessary delays, and create a more structured postgraduate experience.
Is your university ready to transform its postgraduate research management? Explore Planally today to learn more about how Planally can help.
