Workloads

Programmes of study in the Geography Department have been designed such that the total workload for a 10 credit module is approximately 100 hours, while the workload for a 20 credit module is approximately 200 hours. Students are therefore expected to work 36 - 40 hours per week throughout each 15 week semester.

Modules GEO263, GEO264 and GEO356 require supplementary work during the vacations, and the time commitment for these vacation activities is additional to the normal semester workloads for these modules.

Level 3 field class modules (GEO358, GEO364, GEO365 and GEO367) have the same total workload commitments as other 20 credit modules, but a significant proportion of the workload may fall in a vacation, depending on the timing of field classes.

Your time in lectures, practicals, seminars or tutorials will rarely amount to more than half of the expected workload. However, in all modules you will be expected to undertake reading and other independent work to supplement the taught hours. It is extremely important that you put in the required hours on a week by week basis. The importance of reading is shown in the criteria for marking (see the "Assessment" section). It is impossible to get an Upper Second class mark, and difficult to attain a Lower Second, without evidence in your assessment that you are conversant with the literature on the subject: attending the lectures is not enough on its own.

Semesterised course structures, such as those at Sheffield, provide little time for traditional 'revision' activities. It is therefore important that students keep up-to-date with their work week-by-week throughout the semester.

Reading Weeks

Academic weeks 6 and 12 of the Autumn and Spring Semesters are usually reading weeks. Normally in reading weeks, no lectures, seminars, practical classes or tutorials are held. Students are expected to use these weeks for their personal work, such as reading in the library and the preparation of project work and assignments. The normal system of staff office hours operates during reading weeks. Students are expected to remain in attendance at university during reading weeks.