Everyone's schedule is different — you might have paid work, care responsibilities, or other such commitments. That's why a good plan is one you can adapt. The goal is not a perfect schedule but a realistic one.

Monthly workload planning helps you manage two types of work. The first is assignments with a deadline. The second is class preparation, such as weekly reading for classes and regular module tasks.

 

Map your month

First, identify everything you need to complete over the next four weeks. Your academic timetable is the first thing to check (see Guide to My Timetable for help accessing it).

  • Collect all assessment deadlines in one place
  • Include smaller commitments such as seminars, weekly readings, quizzes, or lab work
  • Note any personal commitments that will affect your study time
  • Prioritise tasks by their earliest deadlines

 

Use a digital calendar or paper planner to see your whole month in one view.

 

 

Assignments

Start at the deadline. What needs to happen before you submit? And before that? And before that? Each answer becomes a step, and each step gets its own mini deadline.

'Do the reading' isn’t a single step. It might include finding and choosing sources, reading critically and efficiently, and taking notes.

'Write the assignment' might separate into planning and drafting, then revising and proofreading.

 

Try this…

  • identify which stages your assignment needs
  • schedule a series of mini deadlines (your own deadlines for each stage)
  • identify which tasks must be completed before others can begin — for example, you need a plan before you can draft, and a draft before you can proofread
  • if a step still feels too large, divide it further

 

 

Class preparation

Regular reading and module tasks need protected time in your weekly schedule. Class preparation supports your assignment work — protecting that time is part of doing both well.

 

Start here:

  • identify your regular weekly tasks for each module
  • allocate a study block (a set period of time in your day dedicated to study) for each one
  • treat these blocks as fixed commitments, not tasks you can move or remove

 

Also worth doing:

  • allow time for breaks, rest days, and unexpected delays
  • use quieter weeks to do more preparation, reducing pressure when assignments are due

 

Unlike assignments, this work doesn't build toward a single deadline — it needs to happen consistently throughout the month.

 

 

Managing multiple modules

When studying several modules at the same time:

  • give time to each module every week
  • schedule demanding tasks for when you concentrate best
  • spread assignment work and preparation across the week
  • identify weeks where two or more mini deadlines overlap and protect class preparation time in those weeks

 

This helps you make progress across all your modules every week.

When several assignments are due close together, a single monthly overview is not enough:

  • create an overview of all active assignments, their deadlines and your mini deadlines
  • when prioritising, consider each assignment's deadline, its weighting (percentage of your final grade), and how close you are to finishing
  • a shorter deadline doesn't always mean less work — consider the complexity of each assignment

 

 

Dealing with disruptions

Distractions, fatigue, and procrastination affect of us at some point. Replanning is good practice — reviewing and adjusting your plan regularly is what keeps it useful.

Review your plan at the end of each week:

  • review progress against your mini deadlines
  • reassess priorities when new tasks appear
  • adjust your plan when tasks take longer than expected
  • recognise when minor adjustments are not enough and the whole month needs replanning

 

If something feels difficult to start:

  • start with the smallest possible step
  • recognise tasks you tend to avoid and give them an early slot in your plan
  • leave gaps in your plan for unexpected delays

 

Try this…

Choose one task you've been avoiding. Set a timer for ten minutes and work only on that task. When the timer stops, decide whether to continue or move to something else.

If this approach works for you, consider trying the Pomodoro technique in more of your study time.

 

 

Group commitments

If you’re working on a group assignment, build this into your monthly plan from the start. Group tasks often take longer than expected.

  • record group deadlines and meeting times alongside your individual deadlines
  • assign responsibilities early so everyone knows what they’re doing
  • note when your work depends on another member completing their task first
  • allow extra time for checking, combining, and revising shared work

 

Try this…

At your first group meeting, agree on three things: who is responsible for what, when each part is due, and how the group will communicate if something changes. Write it down and share it with everyone.

More help is available in our guidance on Group work and collaboration.

 

 

Page last edited: 25 August 2026
Next review due: 25 July 2029