Good time management is important, especially if you're studying externally. Below are some tips to help you manage your time.

Create a weekly planner

Download or print a weekly planner. These documents are available in both 16 and 24 hour formats, to accommodate students working late shifts or studying at unusual times. Fill in the planner with all your weekly commitments, including

• Work
• Family
• Housework
• Sports and community activity
• Gym and exercise etc

Once you’ve done this, identify optimal times for study-related activities, e.g. reading and assignment work. Depending on the number of courses you’re studying and your other commitments, you may be able to weave study time into your week quite easily, or you might need to revise your schedule to accommodate more time for study. Remember that the average course requires around 10 hours per week.

To help you visualise this, please see the sample weekly schedule below (click image to open large version). This is for a student doing their first study period of the Master of Medical Sonography.

Once you establish a weekly schedule you’re comfortable with, use that as the blueprint for each week of study period. Make adjustments when necessary (e.g. around the due dates of assignments).

Create a study period calendar

Download or print a study period calendar. Once you have a calendar, read through your Course Outlines and record assignment due dates onto it, as well as dates for quizzes, tests, required activities, and any on-campus events (e.g. the OCSE for Clinical Sonography Portfolio). Also note the assignment types and what percentage of your overall grade each assignment is worth: this will help you plan how much time to spend on each.

To help you visualise this, please see the sample study period calendar below (click image to open large version). This is also for a student doing their first study period of the Master of Medical Sonography. Note the colour-coded due dates and the inclusion of each assignment’s length and percentage of the overall course grade.

Also take note of the exam period if you have exams. Exact dates for exams are announced in the second half of study period, so until then avoid making travel plans for during that time.

If it's important for other people to know your calendar (e.g. partners, parents, housemates, family), post it in a shared space (on the fridge, in a living area) so they can easily see when you'll be busy.

Managing multiple assignments at once

If you’re enrolled in more than one course, you may find assignments in different courses are often due around the same time. Because of this, it’s important to start assignments early so you don't feel overwhelmed.

This Assignment Planning Calculator from Massey University can help you calculate how much time you’ll need to devote to each stage of the assignment process.