Some people intend to work on their dissertation for at least two hours every day, while others aim to produce two pages per day. Make a plan that works for you. I made it a point to focus on the writing and research portions of my dissertation for at least three to four hours every day throughout the period I was writing it. This allowed me to feel like I was making progress even when I wasn't able to finish any more than two pages. In order to keep up with its rigorous publication schedule, some universities have developed policies regarding how long graduate students can work on their dissertations. The amount of time that can be spent working on the dissertation varies by university policy. Some institutions allow only two years to complete a degree, meaning that most students will need to find another line of work if they want to keep working on their dissertation after their initial completion date. However, many students are able to extend their deadlines through various means (such as taking classes during their dissertation year or finding part-time employment). The length of time that can be spent working on the dissertation also depends on the type of project involved. If it is a large project with many components, such as a multi-year study, then the time limit may be five years from the start of the program. However, if it is a more limited project such as an original article or brief report, then only two years are required from the beginning of the program.