Five hundred hours. When people see that number on a course page, many close the tab. Spread across a year, though, it is about ten hours a week, roughly the time the average Australian spends watching streaming TV.
The trick isn't finding more time. It's deciding in advance where the time comes from.
Do the maths first
| Hours per week | Time to finish 500 hours |
|---|---|
| 5 | about 2 years |
| 8 | about 15 months |
| 10 | about 12 months |
| 15 | about 8 months |
Courses4me students have unlimited access to their course, and most finish within 12 months. Choose a weekly number you can keep up in a bad week, not your best week.
Three timetables that work
The commuter (10 hours). Train or bus 30 minutes each way, five days a week = 5 hours of reading on your tablet. Plus two 90-minute sessions on Saturday and Sunday morning for assignments = 3 hours. Plus one evening session of 2 hours. Total: 10.
The parent (8 hours). Four evenings a week, 60 minutes after the kids are in bed = 4 hours. One long session on the weekend while someone else has the children = 4 hours. Total: 8. Reading happens in the evenings; writing assignments happens in the weekend block, when you have quiet time to think.
The shift worker (12 hours, uneven). Instead of a weekly timetable, set a fortnightly target of 24 hours and track it. On days off, do two 3-hour blocks with a proper break between them. On work days, do 20 minutes of revision or a lesson quiz.
Make the sessions count
Know what you'll do before you sit down. "Study" is vague. "Finish lesson 4 and do the quiz" isn't. Plan the next session at the end of the current one.
Separate reading from writing. Read and take notes in short sessions. Save longer, uninterrupted blocks for assignments.
Use the quizzes. Self-assessment quizzes at the end of each lesson are a quick check on whether you understood it. If you can retake them, use that to find the gaps.
Submit early, not perfect. Assignments in self-paced courses can usually be resubmitted after tutor feedback. A draft submitted this week teaches you more than a perfect one you're still polishing next month.
Expect a slump. Almost everyone hits a flat patch around a third of the way through. Plan for it: lower your weekly target for a fortnight rather than stopping altogether.
Tell people what you're doing
Partners, kids and housemates are much more supportive when they know Tuesday and Thursday nights are study nights. Some students put the timetable on the fridge.
When life gets in the way
Illness, a new job, a family crisis: it happens. The advantage of a self-paced course is that there are no due dates to miss. Pause, then pick a smaller weekly number and restart. If you're on a payment plan and need to talk about your options, call the student support team rather than stopping quietly.
The first week
Don't try to do ten hours in week one. Log in, look around, finish the first lesson and its quiz, and put your first three sessions in your calendar. Momentum matters more than speed.
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This article is general information only. Courses4me is a private education company, not a Registered Training Organisation, and does not guarantee employment.