Finding time to study

Can you find more time?

At the moment, you don't seem to have enough time to study for an OU qualification. A 30-credit module studied over 12 months takes around six hours of study a week. All qualifications require at least 30 credits of study per year, and many require a minimum of 60 credits at some points in the qualification.

If you can't find enough time now, but are still interested in studying, think about how you might find more time. Could you juggle things round, reduce the time spent on certain activities, or give up others altogether? Can you think of ways to fit study around other commitments – for example could you find 30 minutes every lunch time, or time when children are occupied at activities? Could other people help with some of your commitments?

You've got enough time to study 30 credits a year

You've got enough time to study one of a small number of 30-credit modules, which are studied over 12 months and take up to six hours of study a week. You'll need to choose your 30-credit module carefully as many of them take place over a shorter period of time, and demand between 8 and 14 hours of study per week. All qualifications require at least 30 credits of study per year, and for many you'll need to study a minimum of 60 credits.

As you make future choices for the modules you'll study, you need to be certain that you've got enough time to study the number of credits required each year.

Also think about the number of years it might take to achieve your qualification, depending on how many credits you can study each year. (All of this information will be available online once you've joined us).

It's worth knowing that the amount of time you spend studying each week will vary. You'll need extra time just before an assignment is due and just before an exam.

For the best chance of successful study we recommend you think about:

• how familiar you are with the subject of your chosen qualification: will you need extra time to prepare before your module starts?
• the time of day when you'll be most productive
• the length of time that you can realistically concentrate at a given stretch
• creative ways to fit your study time around your lifestyle. For instance, can you listen to audio materials while travelling to work?
• scheduling your activities realistically according to your priorities
• the support that you'll need if you have a disability or long term health condition
• the extra time it may take to develop confidence in certain study skills

You've got enough time to study 30 credits a year

You've got enough time to study one of the majority of our 30-credit modules, which take from 8 to 9 hours of study a week over 8 to 9 months. You’ll need to choose your module carefully as some 30-credit modules take place over a shorter period of time, and demand up to 14 hours of study per week. All qualifications require at least 30 credits of study per year, and for many you'll need to study a minimum of 60 credits.

As you make future choices for the modules you'll study, you need to be certain that you've got enough time to study the number of credits required each year.

Also think about the number of years it might take to achieve your qualification, depending on how many credits you can study each year. (All of this information will be available online once you've joined us).

It's worth knowing that the amount of time you spend studying each week will vary. You'll need extra time just before an assignment is due and just before an exam.

For the best chance of successful study we recommend you think about:

• how familiar you are with the subject of your chosen qualification: will you need extra time to prepare before your module starts?
• the time of day when you'll be most productive
• the length of time that you can realistically concentrate at a given stretch
• creative ways to fit your study time around your lifestyle. For instance, can you listen to audio materials while travelling to work?
• scheduling your activities realistically according to your priorities
• the support that you'll need if you have a disability or long term health condition
• the extra time it may take to develop confidence in certain study skills

You've got enough time to study 30 credits a year

You've got enough time to study any of our 30-credit modules, which take between 6 and 14 hours of study a week, depending on the length of time over which it is studied. All qualifications require at least 30 credits of study per year, and for many you'll need to study a minimum of 60 credits, which will take up around 18 hours of study a week.

As you make future choices for the modules you'll study, you need to be certain that you've got enough time to study the number of credits required each year.

Also think about the number of years it might take to achieve your qualification, depending on how many credits you can study each year. (All of this information will be available online once you've joined us).

It's worth knowing that the amount of time you spend studying each week will vary. You'll need extra time just before an assignment is due and just before an exam.

For the best chance of successful study we recommend you think about:

• how familiar you are with the subject of your chosen qualification: will you need extra time to prepare before your module starts?
• the time of day when you'll be most productive
• the length of time that you can realistically concentrate at a given stretch
• creative ways to fit your study time around your lifestyle. For instance, can you listen to audio materials while travelling to work?
• scheduling your activities realistically according to your priorities
• the support that you'll need if you have a disability or long term health condition
• the extra time it may take to develop confidence in certain study skills

You've got enough time to study 60 credits a year

You've got enough time to study one of our 60-credit modules, which takes around 16 to 18 hours of study a week, or two 30-credit modules, which around 9 hours of study each a week. Approximately 60 to 80 % of this time will be directed through the module materials and the balance will be used for independent learning, review and revision.

Hours may vary depending on the combination of modules that you choose. When you begin to study towards a qualification with us, we’ll make sure that you understand how much time you’ll need to complete your modules as you select them. As you make future choices for the modules you'll study, you need to be certain that you've got enough time to study the number of credits required each year.

Also think about the number of years it might take to achieve your qualification, depending on how many credits you can study each year. (All of this information will be available online once you've joined us).

It's worth knowing that the amount of time you spend studying each week will vary. You'll need extra time just before an assignment is due and just before an exam.

If you're working full time we recommend that you study a maximum of 60 credits per year. Keeping your study manageable will give you a greater chance of achieving higher grades.

For the best chance of successful study we recommend you think about:

• how familiar you are with the subject of your chosen qualification: will you need extra time to prepare before your module starts?
• the time of day when you'll be most productive
• the length of time that you can realistically concentrate at a given stretch
• creative ways to fit your study time around your lifestyle. For instance, can you listen to audio materials while travelling to work?
• scheduling your activities realistically according to your priorities
• the support that you'll need if you have a disability or long term health condition
• the extra time it may take to develop confidence in certain study skills

You've got enough time to study 120 credits a year

You've got enough time to study two 60 credit modules (each of which takes around 16 to 18 hours per week). This is equivalent to full-time study. Approximately 60 to 80 % of this time will be directed through the module materials and the balance will be used for independent learning, review and revision.

Hours may vary depending on the combination of modules that you choose. When you begin to study towards a qualification with us, we’ll make sure that you understand how much time you’ll need to complete your modules as you select them.

If you're working full time we recommend that you don't study more than 60 credits per year. Keeping your study manageable will give you a greater chance of achieving higher grades.

It's worth knowing that the amount of time you spend studying each week will vary. You'll need extra time just before an assignment is due and just before an exam.

For the best chance of successful study we recommend you think about:

• how familiar you are with the subject of your chosen qualification: will you need extra time to prepare before your module starts?
• the time of day when you'll be most productive
• the length of time that you can realistically concentrate at a given stretch
• creative ways to fit your study time around your lifestyle. For instance, can you listen to audio materials while travelling to work?
• scheduling your activities realistically according to your priorities
• the support that you'll need if you have a disability or long term health condition
• the extra time it may take to develop confidence in certain study skills