19 July 2024

Prior to coming to UCL, I expected fifty contact hours per week and rigidly scheduled (independent) study hours, which someone else would define for me. Plainly, I was wrong.

At UCL, a student is expected to dedicate approximately 30 hours to self-study, while the contact hours amount to around 8 to12 hours per week, depending on the course and the modules chosen. Modules are usually structured as a combination of lectures and seminars — during the latter students are expected to actively contribute to the class discussion.

On my modules, which are mostly text-based, I was assigned required and recommended readings every week. These readings and reflections on them usually take up the majority of the self-study time. In the seminars, the discussions were built around those readings and questions they suggested, and even though I could still get some meaningful takeaways without reading the assigned texts, preparation prior made the learning experience so much more intense and rewarding.

Another important aspect of the studies was visiting my lecturer’s office hours: reflecting on my own questions and completing some sort of general field research to be able to sustain an insightful academic conversation. It really helps to think outside the box and explore your interests, and sometimes feels like going through an additional (self-directed) module! On additional modules: at UCL, it may be possible to ‘audit’ some classes — attend them but not count them towards your credits — but it depends hugely on departmental policies and the lecturer’s decisions.

Now, the assessments also depend on how a course is structured, but the most common forms are coursework and exams. In my case, for coursework, I had to write referenced essays of around 1500 to 2500 words in length. Usually, I try to start as early as possible, for I take my time transforming what I read into reasonable ideas, but in most cases, I sit down a week and a half before the submission deadline. 

Research takes about 10-15 hours to complete if I want to be as meticulous as possible, and the total writing process usually seems to take away all the spare hours of self-study I acquired over the weeks (it depends, of course, on the writing style and the word count). 

Further, in April and May, there are exams, when students occupy libraries from 8 am to 8 am [sic], revising, reading anew, or practicing past exam papers. The exams are more or less evenly spaced across May, so there is always time to prepare — the key is to stay focused, take care of your physical and mental health (for which UCL provides support!), and manage your time well.

Good luck!

Amelia Chukhnova, School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS-CMII)