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Building a study schedule is crucial for success, especially if you are juggling work, study and personal commitments. Building a study schedule that works for you ahead of time enables you to feel prepared before your course begins, stopping you from getting overwhelmed whilst taking on a new venture.  

Our advice for building a study schedule is to be realistic about when you can study. For example, maybe you prefer doing 2 hours of work in the evenings rather than a full day of work at the weekends, the key is to find what works for you and your life. Generally, on our online part-time masters’ courses you will be expected to do around 20 hours of study per week but please check your course information for specific details.  

Once you start your course, you’ll have the chance to build a network with other fellow students and faculty. Building a global network of peers and academics in your field is a great way to help you engage with the course and strengthen your learning through peer feedback, insights and having people to talk to that understand the balance of work and study.

Students at The University of Manchester are able to access digital books and resources through library search. You can find a wide range of resources to help you with the course content and extended reading or independent study.

To help you get stuck into your course right away, it can be a good idea to refresh your academic study skills. You could do this by re-familiarising yourself with academic writing, time management, research techniques, and referencing rules, for example. 

Reviewing these skills will give you a head start on getting back into academic study and help you to manage your workload effectively. You can use the University library's award-winning skills programme, My Learning Essentials, to help you prepare.

Time management and organisation is crucial when balancing a career and academic study. Keep track of deadlines, assignments, and notes to stay on top of your work. If you haven’t already, you’ll soon be sent registration, IT, study guide and induction information, making sure you’re ready for registration opening and inductions sessions. 

Don’t forget to get excited about your course! Embarking on a new academic venture is an exciting time, gaining new knowledge and skills from world-leading academics. Find out more information in your course brochure, course web page and our online learning page to find out more about the exciting resources available to you as a University of Manchester student.  

Most of our courses require you to commit 20 hours a week to academic study, although for specific study times please refer to your course brochure. In order to start making your schedule its crucial to look at where you can fit these hours in. Whether you study for short bursts of time in the evening or commit 1-2 days a week exclusively to academic study you need to decide what works best for you. 

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Even with a perfect schedule, life can be unpredictable and can make sticking to a set plan difficult. That’s why we recommend that you build flexibility into your schedule to account for changing plans, personal commitments or busy periods in your career. It’s also crucial to be realistic about how much study you can fit into a certain amount to time, if you are too constricted something may take longer and take your schedule off track.  

Taking on academic study alongside your career is a big commitment so it is important to be able to learn on your support network. As you build you schedule make sure your support network understand what your timetable will look like and let them know how they can support you throughout your course. If you feel comfortable to do so, it may also be helpful to speak to your employer about your study schedule so they can be aware of any busy periods and help support you with an increasing workload.

Get the most from your studies by actively engaging with course materials. Rather than simply reading or watching content, take notes, reflect on key ideas and think about how new concepts connect to your existing knowledge and experience. 

It's normal to encounter concepts you don't fully understand straight away. Make a note of questions as they arise and revisit them as you progress through the course. Often, your understanding will deepen as you encounter new perspectives, discuss ideas with others or apply your learning in practice. 

If you're finding a topic challenging, try exploring it through different sources such as articles, videos, books or discussions with fellow students. Sometimes a new explanation or example can help a concept click into place. 

Set aside time to revisit key concepts and reflect on what you've learned. Regular review helps reinforce understanding, strengthen your confidence and make it easier to apply knowledge in future assignments and projects. 

One of the best ways to deepen your understanding is to explain concepts to others. Discussing ideas with classmates, colleagues or friends can help you identify gaps in your knowledge and strengthen your grasp of the subject.