A good starting point for ensuring you are able to manage your time effectively, is to construct a timetable for the semester or term overall. Some tips for creating your timetable are provided below.

1. Download a study planning blank by clicking here.

2. Write-out your class timetable on the planner, specify Lectures, Tutorials, Lab classes, whatever. Maybe do this in red.

3. Next, put on it your fixed time commitments: job, meals, travel times, and any other regular fixed commitments you have, like sport or training. You could do these in different colours.

4. The white spaces left are what you have available for study and relaxation.

5. As a very rough guide, you should spend at least one hour studying for every classroom hour and for some courses up to three hours of study for every class hour (obviously that is very rough – what kind of course you are doing will make quite a difference, but this will give you an indication).

6. Add-up the hours available for study after you schedule some relaxation times. Divide the total study hours by your number of subjects: begin by allocating about equal time for each subject.

7. Plan where in the week your study times for each subject should be located. Play around with these to get a good “fit”. For example, plan to study “hard” stuff at those times when you are likely to feel fresh and energised, and easier stuff for times when you may be a bit tired. Experiment!!!!!

8. Each Sunday, maybe, use additional copies of the planner to draw up a specific study plan for the coming week, specifying exactly what you will work on in the time slots of your semester timetable: there will need to be a mix of working on assignments to be handed in and general revision study for exams.

This is how many students organise their study. It may not be the best method for you. Try it out! If it is not working see a Counsellor to work-out a better approach that works for you!!