Workload

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Full-time or part-time A balanced workload Contact hours Independent study

Full-time or part-time

Any degree can be studied full time or part time. To be a full-time student will depend on what degree you are taking. For example six courses in a BA is enough to be a full-time student, but in a BCA or BSc you would need to take at least seven. Anything else is considered part-time.

Most full-time first-year students take six, seven or eight courses over the first two trimesters of the year. Some students may be required to take eight courses in their first year.

Take into account your academic ability, organizational skills and other commitments (including extra-curricular activities, work and family commitments) when deciding how many courses to study.

Full-time students are advised not to take on part-time work for more than 10 hours a week initially. You can increase this in your second trimester, once you know how much time you need to spend on your study.

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A Balanced Workload

Try to balance first and second trimester courses. If you are taking an uneven number of courses over two trimesters, take your lighter workload in the first trimester where possible. For example, three courses in the first trimester and four in the second.

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Contact Hours

For most first-year courses you will have three 50-minute lectures a week and a 50-minute tutorial where you will meet with your tutor in a small group for discussion and individual assistance.

Some science students will also have three-hour laboratories. Language students will spend some time in the Language Learning Centre.

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Independent Study

For every hour you spend in class you will probably need to spend one or two hours working on your own: reading through your notes, preparing your assignments, writing laboratory reports, and doing research in the library. So if you are spending 12 hours a week in lectures and tutorials, you will need to set aside another 24 hours for independent study. This means a minimum 36-hour working week for three courses per trimester - and at times like exams and assignment due dates you will need to allow more time.