Honest data on where your PhD actually is.
Thesis Progress Reality Check converts vague "I think I'm about halfway" into structured weekly data and three calibrated pace projections — against your real funding deadline.
All your thesis data stays in your browser. We never see your word counts, statuses, notes, or weekly reviews.
The PhD question nobody asks until it's late
"Will I actually finish before my funding runs out?" — usually answered with a feeling, not a number. By the time the gap is obvious, the runway to recover is short.
- Self-assessment drifts — "about halfway" can sit unchanged for nine months.
- Supervisor meetings need structure — vague status reports make hard conversations harder.
- Funding-extension applications need data — the agency wants numbers, not narratives.
- Most "productivity" tools sell encouragement — streaks and badges, not honesty.
How it works
Set up your structure once
Program details, funding deadline, and your chapters or papers with target word counts. About 5 minutes.
Run a 12-minute weekly review
Update word counts, mark obstacles without judgement, and commit one honest number for next week.
See three projections recalculated
Current pace, productive-PhD pace, and realistic-with-effort — every week, from your own numbers.
Three things this tool does — and many it deliberately doesn't
Three honest projections
Current pace from your own numbers. Productive-PhD pace at 1,500 words/productive-week × 30 weeks. Realistic-with-effort at 2,500 × 35 with a revision buffer. Recalculated every week against your funding deadline.
A 12-minute structured weekly review
Five steps: update data, honest pace check, see new projections, mark obstacles (no judgement), commit one number. No streaks, no badges, no encouragement.
Calibrated pattern detection
After 4 weeks, opt-out observations from your own data: average pace, commitment-vs-actual ratio, and a realistic projection at your current rate. Never a comparison to other users.
Privacy & Trust
- Your thesis data never leaves your machine. Word counts, statuses, weekly reviews, obstacle categories, commitments, and notes are stored only on your device (IndexedDB).
- No account is required to use the extension. Install, set up your structure, and start tracking.
- The optional "Get product updates" sign-up in Settings sends only the email address you typed plus a tag identifying this extension — never any thesis content. Off by default.
- No streaks, no badges, no comparison to other users, no AI-generated coaching. The product sells honesty, not encouragement.
It is a structured tracker — not a predictor of success or failure, and not a mental-health tool. A single line on the dashboard points to university counselling when relevant. Read the full privacy policy.
Built by Dr. Rafiq Muhammad, PhD — author of the Mastering Research book series.
Pricing
Every feature, for everyone — no subscription, no tiers, no account.
Built for PhD students who deserve honest data about where they actually are.
Email is entirely optional and opt-in — leave it blank forever, or add it to hear about occasional updates.
Frequently asked questions
Is my thesis content uploaded anywhere?
No. Word counts, statuses, weekly reviews, obstacles, commitments, and strategic notes are stored only on your device. There is no GradSummit server that ever sees them. See the full privacy policy.
Does it predict whether I'll finish on time?
No — and deliberately so. The three numbers on the dashboard are projections, not predictions. They hold only if your inputs hold. The point of seeing them now is that month 32 is recoverable in ways month 48 often isn't.
How much does it cost?
It's free, with no subscription and no paid tiers. Every feature is available to everyone. There's nothing to buy and no account to create.
What data do you collect?
None by default. The only thing the extension can send to GradSummit is your email address — and only if you explicitly opt in to product updates in Settings (or on the welcome page) and click Subscribe. No thesis content is ever transmitted to us. Full details here.
Does it auto-detect my word counts from Word or Google Docs?
No, by design. The manual entry each week is part of the intervention — it's the moment you sit with the data and the projections together. Auto-detection would dilute the product's core value.
I'm struggling with my PhD. Is this a mental-health tool?
No. The extension shows uncomfortable data about progress; that's the right tool when you're ready to look, and the wrong tool when you're in crisis. A single calm line on the dashboard points to your university counselling service when relevant. If you're in distress, please contact a counsellor or trusted person first.
What if I find a bug?
Email support@gradsummit.com — replies go to a real human (the developer).