The entire process of obtaining and implementing the HR Award follows the schedule below:
HR Award Application Timeline
| Initial Phase | October 2019 – June 2021 |
| Preparation of the GAP analysis (description of the current situation) | April/September 2020 |
| Questionnaire-based survey | August 2020 |
| Preparation of the Action Plan 2021–2023 | August/October 2020 |
| Submission of documents to the European Commission | 18 November 2020 |
| Receipt of confirmation of the administrative approval of the documents | 3 December 2020 |
| Receipt of a request for additional documents | 18 March 2021 |
| Resubmission of the revised documents to the European Commission | 18 May 2021 |
| Receipt of confirmation of the administrative approval of the submitted documents | 2 June 2021 |
| HR Excellence in Research Award granted | 30 June 2021 |
Implementation Phase Timeline
| Implementation Phase | July 2021 – January 2027 |
| Implementation of the 2021–2023 Action Plan | July 2021 – June 2023 |
| Preliminary internal evaluation of the original action plan and revision of the action plan | July 2023 |
| Implementation of the 2023–2026 Action Plan | July 2023 – June 2026 |
| Interim assessment of progress in implementing the action plan by the European Commission, resulting in 'HR Excellence in Research', embedded 4 January 2024 | 4 January 2024 |
| Evaluation of the 2023–2026 Action Plan | July 2026 |
| Preparation and implementation of the follow-up 2026–2030 Action Plan | July 2026 – January 2030 |
| Preliminary internal assessment of progress in the implementation of the action plans prior to the European Commission evaluation associated with a university site visit | January 2027 |