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How much time do I need to study?

This article appears in: Balance work, life and study, Changing careers, Online study
A study desk space



Step 1: Figure out where your time goes


Now, plot it on a timetable.

Once you have worked out where your time goes and therefore, how much free time you are likely to have, you can then look at how you might best use your time to meet your goals.

Step 2: Figure out how much time you need to study




For example, assuming you allow 11 hours per subject you can expect:

One subject 11 hours
Two subjects 22 hours
Three subjects 33 hours
Four subjects 44 hours

Step 3: Consider how you'll fit study in

Look at your week and figure out where you can either steal several small chunks of time, or one large chunk of time. For example, some CDU students study while their children nap, during their lunch break at work, for an hour or two early in the morning, or for a few hours after dinner every night. Others scale back their other commitments and set aside one or two full days of study a week. 

Remember to consider flexible study arrangements.

Your course doesn't need to studied full-time. If you need a break, you can adjust your study load as you go by reducing the number of subjects you take within a semester or even take a semester off. You can also take advantage of summer semester to spread your study load across the year or even get ahead to finish your degree sooner.

To discuss your options, reach out CDU's friendly Student Central team

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