Time management

Managing your time effectively is critical to success, because it will have an impact on the grades you receive for coursework and in exams. On taught courses you’ll have deadlines for assignments, and you’ll find that if you don’t meet a deadline, you will lose marks, unless you have a valid reason.

You’re also expected to work independently to some extent, and on some courses you may be expected to do this for most of your study time. You may find that you’re having to work on several assignments at the same time, so managing your time can become complicated. Many PhD students work independently almost all the time.

In this video Lina and Hayder talk about the reasons for managing their time effectively. They talk about planning their own timetable, including time to relax, and emphasising the need for flexibility when plans have to change.

Post your responses to the questions below and take a look at what others have to say.

• Do you leave yourself plenty of time to do things, or do you leave things to the last minute?

• What strategies do you have for managing your time effectively?