Advice About Studying Parttime Courses

• Make the best use of your time

Coordinate your work and course schedules well in advance. Take courses during the evening or on weekends to avoid conflicts with work. Talk with your employer to see if she will allow you to rearrange your work schedule to meet you school needs. If you commute to your job or school on public transport, bring assignments with you to get ahead. Consider working part time to finance your education. Realize that you are not a superhero, and if you have to cut back somewhere do not be afraid to admit it to yourself.

• Have a positive outlook

Keep a positive attitude and be willing to adjust. Realize that there will be snags on the way and that life is not always perfect. Sometimes you may need to make short-term sacrifices. Find a support group of friends and family who will be there to pick you up if you get discouraged.

• Take Care of Yourself

By attending school and working, you are burning the candle at both ends. Avoid fatigue by getting plenty of sleep. Get in the routine of going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at the same time each morning. Try not to spend every waking minute working or doing school work or your energy tank will run empty. Create time for yourself to do things you like. Make sure to spend time with family and friends and enjoy moments of downtime.

Practical tips

1. At the beginning of each semester mark a calendar with the dates and times of all your classes as well as any papers, projects, tests and quizzes that are listed on your syllabus from each class.

2. After marking your calendar with the above information, take time to figure out which assignments will take some time to complete. Mark your calendar with reminders to start the assignment the appropriate number of days before it is due. When making this judgment take into account the amount of time you will be spending at work and will not be able to work on the assignment.

3. Just as you have specific times that you work, set aside specific times that you will study. Students often underestimate the amount of study time they need so make sure to set aside the appropriate amount of time for each class.

4. Use all the resources that are available to you. Many textbooks include a CD or website that contains extra information to help you understand the material better. Answer all the questions and take the quizzes included after each chapter to make sure that you understand what you’ve read.

5. Enrol for a distance learning programme, where course information can be learnt at home, and tutorials do not have to be attended. Never take more modules than you can mange. If you can handle two or three modules for a semester stick to this, than doing five or six modules.

6. Read all study guides carefully. Check due dates for all assignments, and submit them timorously. The course material given may also contain past year examination papers, which are extremely helpful when doing revision for the examination.

7. Check all dates for registering. Sometimes internet registering ends earlier than doing it in person. Study leave must be arranged at work to study and attend examinations. The examination venue needs to be checked as well, and if unsure of the location a trip should be made prior to the date to check the route out. Try to arrive well on time for the paper so that you are relaxed and calm.

8. Make time to study. Do a little work every day. Sacrifice the weekends and stay at home to finish a chapter. Time management is very important and crucial to success as a part time student. Try to read the study guides when you have free time at work or on your lunch break.

9. Contact other students registered for the same modules in your area and form a study group. Hold meetings and have regular interactions. Try to use peer help to understand problems that are presented in assignments and past year papers.

Good luck!