In my Student Support & Guidance Tutor role here in the Business School I see a lot of students.  And a lot of them find their courses hard and find juggling their studying and paid work hard.

So, here are some key numbers to help you manage your workload, cope with the stress of being a student, keeping the cash flowing and having a life and friends !

According to the University of Brighton’s very own website…

“Full-time students are normally expected to spend around 35 hours a week studying“.

So, take away your contact hours – usually around 12 hours approx per week for most Undergraduate courses in the Business School – and this leaves just over 20 hours per week of independent or self-study, in an ideal world.  This is only around 3 hours per day over the whole week, or 4 hours or so per day if you want to study within the ‘working week’.  This should be enough – providing this is focused, proper work ! – to ensure you live long and prosper on your course !

So, ‘independent study’ – what does this mean?, what does this consist of ?

Try a variety of techniques and approaches to keep things fresh and ensure that you’re working as broadly as possible on your course and modules.  It might include ongoing revision and going over course materials, summarising lecture notes, talking to your tutors, writing reports/essays, reading journals/text books to prepare for a seminar perhaps, undertaking group work, practising exam technique by doing past exam papers, watching relevant videos and documentaries and so on.

Work in manageable chunks and keep it varied and pacy, (as opposed to the occasional 15 hour study marathon fuelled by red bull and junk food !).

Use creative techniques – mind maps, diagrams, lists, tables, flow charts, stories, songs!  Whatever works, but be active in your studying, don’t just read passively.

What about paid work?, which a lot of those I see need to do to survive and eat !… “Tthe university recommends that full-time students work no more than 12–15 hours per week in paid employment“.  So, if you can just do a couple of shifts in a shop or at the pub, then this should leave you plenty of time to keep on top of your course – and make sure you have a bit of spare time most days to relax, hit the gym and keep sane !

If you need help finding work, do use the fab UoB Careers Service.  They have a ‘Vacancy Service’ you can sign up for – http://about.brighton.ac.uk/careers/find-a-job/

Also, don’t forget to use the excellent ‘Academic Study Kit’, to help you with any study skills problems – it contains lots of great tips, strategies & resources: http://about.brighton.ac.uk/ask/

Good luck – and may the numbers be ever in your favour !

Stuart Bullen, SSGT, room 139, Mithras., SSGTBusinessSchool@brighton.ac.uk