Timekeeping at university

It is very likely that your timetable will be different from the one you are familiar with in your current University or College or School. Daily classes can start at 9.00am in the morning and can finish as late as 8.00pm (9.00am – 6.00pm Medical School), from Monday through to Friday.

You need to ensure that you prepare for all your sessions, including scheduled lectures and seminars. This also means managing your time so that you can attend your scheduled classes (online and face to face) and use your time effectively to complete your work.

Some cultures have a relaxed attitude to time, however being on time is important in the UK, particularly at university.

Your sessions are scheduled to a strict timetable and being late means you miss important information and distract other students.

If you make an appointment to see a tutor, be on time, or contact your tutor to let them know you will be late. Staff often have a lot to do as part of their role and waiting for students is wasted time.
The same applies to group work – your group members also have a lot to do and don’t want their time to be wasted.

Remember that university is preparing you for the workplace – you cannot say to your boss that you needed an extra half an hour of sleep!