Time management allows you to achieve the most within the limited time you have available. At University that might mean balancing all of our readings and assessments, with work, a social life and home responsibilities. It’s like a budget for your time. A good tool to start with is the SRC’s year planner that allows you to see all of your commitments in one glance. The internet is awash of time management resources.

A good place to start is with the Learning  Hub’s information on how to make a daily timetable, for all of your classes, private study time, and other responsibilities; as well as a semester planner to map out when each of your assignments are due, so that you allow enough time to complete each of them. Try each of these for a few weeks, and make whatever adjustments you need to have them suit you. Sometimes poor time management can be caused by other factors, such as perfectionism and procrastination. 

The Uni’s Student Counselling Service has some resources online, and you can also talk to a counsellor to get some strategies. ADHD is also a major cause of time management difficulties. If you have a diagnosis, you can register with the Uni’s Inclusion and Disability Services to get adjustments, like extra time for your assessments. There are lots of support groups that share information on techniques that help to start tasks, remain focused, and manage the anxiety around ADHD.

There are plenty of resources that are quite expensive, and some that are free, so take your time to find whatever works best for you. It is also a good idea to talk to your lecturers and tutors to let them know what you find difficult, and what they might do to help you to succeed. 

Sometimes you cannot get things done, because there are too many demands on you. If you need to work, or have other responsibilities, consider taking a reduced study load. Before dropping any subjects, students check if they are breaching payment conditions, while international students will need permission from the Faculty Some students think that having a smaller study load will mean they will graduate later, but the reality is that you will progress more quickly, and at less cost, if you do three subjects and pass them all, than if you attempt four subjects and fail some. When completing any assignment, take the time to check that you have correctly referenced, and be mindful to paraphrase as you go. No matter how busy you are it is not worth risking a fail grade, because you have plagiarised, either deliberately or accidentally. 

Buying an assignment from someone, or using AI is likely to be discovered by the Uni, and is likely to lead to a suspension from Uni. If you are not sure what you could do instead, please talk to an SRC Caseworker, who can offer a free, confidential, non-judgmental service, that is independent of the Uni.