Study Planner and Timetable Template

posted in: Study Tips 7
Online study planner.

A weekly study timetable is essential to be an organised university, college or high-school student, particularly when you are a busy online learner.

We suggest you use the study timetable template above (or similar) to help organise your week. Simple is best.

  • You can fill in the timetable in Microsoft Word (it's editable) or just with a pen or pencil.
  • Tip: It's best to start with fixed commitments.

But there's more to study planning than a timetable. A complete study plan also contains goals and strategies to make your study efforts work. The extra elements are essential for studying online.

What is an online study plan?

An online study plan is a structured schedule for students. It details study times and contains learning goals.

University, college and HSC students should create a schedule where certain days and times are allocated to study and nothing else. Developing a study plan not only helps you to be organised, but it also makes you accountable for learning outcomes.

As an online student, a study plan is vital. You need to have the discipline and persistence to do your studies. External students don't get energy from face-to-face interactions with teachers and peers.

How do I plan my studies?

The aim in study planning is to create a tool to help you navigate your course efficiently. The plan is personal to you and must reflect your study methods and lifestyle.

To create a study plan, a good starting point is to reflect on how your time is spent and prioritise what is important. Study time needs to fit into your schedule. But you should aim to study when you are well rested and mentally alert.

A habit that most outstanding students get into is to establish some sort of study goal before or at the beginning of each study session. Having a goal boosts motivation, makes you accountable and ensures you keep making progress.

Being realistic about what you can accomplish is also important. For example, allocating very large chunks of time to online study might end up having a demoralising effect. Study plans need balance. There should be rewards (e.g. free time) after you achieve study goals.

Steps to create a study plan

  1. Assess your current schedule. A good starting point is to assess how you currently spend your time. This will help identify how much time is available for study. You might also find activities that waste time and can be cut.
  2. Construct a timetable. To prepare a timetable, start by blocking out times where there are commitments. Then you can start allocating time for important things, including your course. To succeed at online study, you need to set aside a good number of hours for each course. Your timetable needs to leave room for extra study (in case you need it) and, of course, time for yourself.
  3. Set study goals. You can do this formally or just spend some time thinking about it. Good students set long term and short term goals. A longer term goal (for a course) might be to complete all readings and exercises before entering the exam period. A short term goal might be to work solidly for the next hour before you take a break.
  4. Establish good habits. A study plan works best if it is followed consistently. It helps to start well early on and build great habits. These help carry you through during any periods when you might be busy, tired or just down on motivation.
Follow Writing Team:
This article was written by the team at Lerna Courses. Sometimes we find it most efficient to produce and update articles collectively rather than relying on a single author. Rest assured that this content has been at least double-checked by our capable researchers.

7 Responses

  1. Stacy Tyrone
    | Reply

    Hello, my name is Stacy. This is my first time creating a study plan. I’m currently working on it because I work full-time, have football practice during the week, and games on Saturdays. I can see now that I definitely will be using this study plan. Thanks again.

  2. Kendra Cook
    | Reply

    this will most definitely help with my day to day planning. I’m a single mom of three boys so planning will need to be a part of my everyday life.

  3. Cadence
    | Reply

    This plan will come in handy, thank you for sharing.

  4. Necoll Davis
    | Reply

    This is my first time doing this. Thank you for this study plan. This pkan is what i do 5 days a week. on the weekends i left blank because its no telling what my family or friends have plan for me.

  5. Angela Huckel
    | Reply

    I work really well with a solid plan when I have a lot of commitments to balance and having a visual plan is the most effective reminder.

  6. Deborah Burbage
    | Reply

    This is my first attempt at on line learning ,my computer skills are minimal.My job is caring for my elderly parents in there home.I believe a study schedule plan will help motivate me into achieving set goals in a certain time frame.

  7. Esiteri Tulevu
    | Reply

    thank you for this study plan idea, i Hope to get an example of a typical study plan to draw ideas from regarding creating my own study plan. Thank you in advance

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