Workload of each course

Your workload for each course will depend on a number of factors - the bullet points below describe some things that will affect how long it may take you to complete work and assignments for your postgrad course each week.

In the University of Auckland, one course equals "15 points".  Workloads  are based on an assumed 12-15 week semester (but many courses may span over 30 points and/or two semesters depending on the programme).

Your workload hours will likely range between 120 - 150 hours per semester for each 15 point course - so that is an average of about 10 hours per week - but for some people this may take a longer, or shorter, amount of time each week.

How much time you will need to complete your study will depend on many factors including: How recently you have carried out academic study; How quickly you read written text and can process information; How confident you are adapting to, and using, technologies; Any learning disabilities you may have, and/or Your reading and writing English language abilities. All of these aspects, along with the life, work and community commitments that you are juggling alongside your study will affect the amount of time you will find you need to spend on your studies, readings and assignments.

A key factor in making a successful start wtih postgrad study will be making a few reliable, regular 'chunks' of time in your busy week where you can prioritise some quiet study time for your course work, readings and assignments.

Make a plan for when you can study each week.

Start to think about how you will fit study into your busy professional, personal and community life.  You might like to visit the University of Auckland's Study Skills pages focusing on Self and time management.

It may be helpful to think about your time like a weekly planner where you map out blocks of time for:

• work commitments
• the time you will spend in travel to work/study/home
• childcare, whānau and community commitments
• time-tabled study time: on-campus or online course lectures, tutorials or sessions
• other possible study times (at home, at the library, with a study group) for assignments, readings...

Try to plan for a few blocks of time for doing course-related reading, work and assignments each week - try to find about 10 hours per week.  We know it is a lot of time!

If you make an actual weekly planner, you could colour-code each type of time commitment as a different colour.  Or you could colour-code time commitments depending on whether the commitment is required, optional or 'free choice'.  Either way, it should give you a visual picture of your week at a glance in terms of commitments.

To see an example of a weekly planner visit The UOA Study Skills page focusing on developing a Weekly Planner.

You can also download an example of a weekly planner to prepare for where you will make time for your study in your schedule.

Thinking about time and commitments inside and outside of study

Māori and Pacific students comment that a big challenge in returning to post-graduate study relates to finding
creative ways to manage busy working lives while adding time for study on top. It can feel like a juggling act at times keeping childcare, family, extended whānau and community responsibilities and involvements on the go while studying.

You certainly can't stop being a parent or a caring family and community member while you study.

However, adding study "on top" means you need to think carefully before your first semester of study begins about how you might re-prioritise a few things.  Regular time each week for attending course lectures, carrying out coures readings and activities and getting involved with work on assignments is important.  It may take some creativity to organise your time.

Top Five Tips for Parents who Study and Work

Athabasca University (in Canada) has a few useful suggestions for busy, working parents who are starting into university study.

Their top five tips for parents involved in university study are:

1. Establish routines.

2. Organise your environment.

3. Lean on your social network.

4. Children first!

5. Plan for the unpredictable.

To read more detail about these five tips, follow the link "Studying in the Child Zone".

A further tip from a student at Athabasca University can be found at their link "Study Tips From Our Students".  Here a mother, and postgrad student, describes how she was able to get her weekly readings done while also making time to read to her children at night in a creative way!

Doing your postgrad study, you will find your own creative strategies that work for you ... so that you can still be the parent, whānau & community member and work colleague who you want to be, while also completing your study requirements.

Preparing for time-pressured study demands and unexpected responsibilities

Put the 'Big Rocks' in first each week - avoid procrastination and do what is important

Being effective in your study while you juggle work, whānau and community responsibilities, means wherever possible, minimising procrastination and developing skills in being as productive as you can with the 'chunks' of study time you have available. For a few ideas that you my find helpful, visit the following website "Zen Habits" for some ideas about how you can plan to do the important 'big rocks' first each week and how to beat procrastination in order to be more productive with your study time. You may also find it useful to visit the University of Auckland's Career and Counselling website for further ideas about how you can stay 'CALM' during yoru study, and how you can increase your motivation and improve concentration.

Identifying, and dealing with, stress while beginning study

It is really normal, especially when beginning something new, to feel out of your comfort zone.  Some people may feel overwhelmed with all of the new information, deadlines, reading and resources to work through.  In some cases this can lead to feelings of stress.

If this sounds like something you may experience as you transition into postgrad study, you may find it helpful to keep refer to the following resources to assist you.

Stress busting

In the first instance, it is really helpful to know how to identify symptoms of stress. The list below outlines some different symptoms of stress that you might experience.

If you experience some of these symptoms of stress on a regular basis, you may wish to download the resource below - Stress Busting Tips -to find out how to identify stressors and deal more effectively with ones that are in your control.  

This resource can also be found at the University of Auckland's Libraries and Learning Services Study Skills website pages available to all students.

Download: Stress Busting Tips

CALM website

You might also find it helpful to visit the University of Auckland's CALM website. 

This Computer Assisted Learning for the Mind (CALM) site is designed to help all staff and students in the University of Auckland to build mental resilience, manage stress, anxiety and depression, build and maintain healthy relationships and find meaning in life.

Developing greater 'mindfulness'

If you are interested in growing your capabiliites in being resilient and managing stress, make 10 minutes to view the following video by Andy Puddicombe in his TED talk "10 Mindful Minutes".

View Andy Puddicombe 10 mindful minutes