Worried about uni hours if doing a science course? (1 Viewer)

[flashtrick]

I went to the University of Sydney Open Day like 2 weeks ago to decide on what courses I could potentially take next year. I'm really interested in science, ranging from chemistry to physiology.

But according to all the uni students I asked, doing Bachelor of Science requires 30+ contact hours per week. That means a ton of lectures and practicals. It's almost like going back to school; 6 hours, 5 days a week. I always thought uni life gave you a lot of free time to do your own stuff and work part-time.

So to all you guys undertaking B. Sci. or B. Applied Sci., is it possible to do these courses and still have your own life on the side. I just can't imagine studying full-time, working part-time and having time for friends and myself when the contact hours are that high!

 

[qrpw]

Yes, all the science courses are the most time-intensive. It's pretty much a maximum of 24 hours/week in class (someone's been lying to you)- 6 hours/week max for each 6 unit/credit point course. And you do 24 units/credit points per semester. This is for both USYD and UNSW.

I guess if you manage your time well you will be able to have more time for yourself compared to high school. Plus it's not like everyone goes to lectures anyway.

 

[moocow920]

I am interested in science courses as well, if anyone else responds about contact hours, what are the earliest lectures/clinicals start?

 

[madharris]

Bachelor of applied science/health sciences vary in contact hours
I have 14 hours, first year speechies have ~22 this sem I think, physics have ~25, not sure about. MRS
EP AND sport science have about 25 as well

But the contact hours do vary each semester depending on each unit

 

[flashyGoldFish]

30 is rare. More like 20+.

But really the contact hours should be at the bottom of your concerns for choosing your course. Pick what interests you not what has the least hours

 

[Nooblet94]

As above said, it's probably max 6 hours a week per subject and you usually do 4 (or 5 in first year, where 2 would be half subjects). While there are more contact hours than other disciplines, there's outside of class work to do. It's usually recommended that you spend 2-4 hours a week on each subject outside class, but other subjects like Arts (eg English) would expect you to read a novel each week, plus a reading, plus do a whole heap of your own research every single week.

Arts/law/business subjects tend to have less contact hours than science, but they require more work outside the subject.

Depending on your timetable, you should be able to manage social life/work/uni. It's like school in the sense that there's plenty of time at uni to socialise with before before/after classes or even during labs. Uni also has lots of events on and things like bars which help as a bit of social lubrication if you need it. Many students work maybe one day during the week and on weekends as a way of managing things.

I'm a science student and have 16 hours of class, volunteer 5 hours week, work 10-15 hours a week and still have plenty of time to socialise and maintain a distinction average.

That's not true. As far as I'm aware they have the same recommended amount of independent study (1hr per credit point per week) and really they don't require anything near that - I spent an hour per fortnight on my arts subject last sem and nearly managed a HD. And it's not just me, most people I've spoken to that do arts/law/business don't do that much outside of class and still manage decent grades.

Yes, all the science courses are the most time-intensive. It's pretty much a maximum of 24 hours/week in class (someone's been lying to you)- 6 hours/week max for each 6 unit/credit point course. And you do 24 units/credit points per semester. This is for both USYD and UNSW.

I guess if you manage your time well you will be able to have more time for yourself compared to high school. Plus it's not like everyone goes to lectures anyway.

Nope. Physics and Chem both have 7 hours a week, I'd assume it's the same for bio and whatnot too.

_________________________
The hours are absolutely shittastic. I had 23 last sem (but that's because I did a bludgy arts subject) and ~25 this sem. Bear in mind that you normally wouldn't have back to back classes, so you're actually at uni a lot longer than that - I spend 34 hours a week at uni. Plus you're supposed to do 24 hours of independent study per week on top of that, so it all adds up. I still have time to work ~8 hours a week, work out 3 times a week and I normally see my girlfriend at least once a week, but I barely see my friends during semester.

Ultimately I think it's worth it, but you have to be fairly dedicated to it. It's not something I'd recommend picking unless you're sure about it.

 

[LoveHateSchool]

That's not true. As far as I'm aware they have the same recommended amount of independent study (1hr per credit point per week) and really they don't require anything near that - I spent an hour per fortnight on my arts subject last sem and nearly managed a HD. And it's not just me, most people I've spoken to that do arts/law/business don't do that much outside of class and still manage decent grades.


Nope. Physics and Chem both have 7 hours a week, I'd assume it's the same for bio and whatnot too.

_________________________
The hours are absolutely shittastic. I had 23 last sem (but that's because I did a bludgy arts subject) and ~25 this sem. Bear in mind that you normally wouldn't have back to back classes, so you're actually at uni a lot longer than that - I spend 34 hours a week at uni. Plus you're supposed to do 24 hours of independent study per week on top of that, so it all adds up. I still have time to work ~8 hours a week, work out 3 times a week and I normally see my girlfriend at least once a week, but I barely see my friends during semester.

Ultimately I think it's worth it, but you have to be fairly dedicated to it. It's not something I'd recommend picking unless you're sure about it.

Yeah most science kids have 20-25 hrs. I had 25 first sem iirc, and less this sem because I do geography which is average 3 hrs a week. (So like 21 hrs maybe approx) Some will have a little more. Phys and chem are 7 hrs, but on the bio front most of them are 5-6 hrs a week. Though bio can fluctuate a little depending the level you do, there might be an extra hour some weeks due to workshops, the quiz slot or slightly less some weeks if you have fortnightly labs but a tute if you don't have the lab (a la MBLG).

Don't pick a course on the contact hrs though, time is of little worry if you love what you are doing.

 

[qrpw]

Nope. Physics and Chem both have 7 hours a week, I'd assume it's the same for bio and whatnot too.

My bad, nooblet's right.

But don't let that stop you doing what you enjoy doing!

 

[someth1ng]

Unless you're overloading, maximum should be 26 hours/week.

I guarantee you that you'll need to spend A LOT more time outside that too. I have almost no free time these days.

Science is very intensive.

 

[yasminee96]

Does anyone know the hours for doing a science at UWS ?

 

[someth1ng]

Does anyone know the hours for doing a science at UWS ?

Likely to be the same or about the same.

 

[flashtrick]

Thanks for the info guys.
As for everyone saying don't worry about the hours as long as I love it, I think whatever I pick is a gamble. Like I might be really into physics, but then after a semester of learning it, I might start to hate it. Oh well, I'll just see what happens.

But man, maybe I should pick some lame ass course with like 8 contact hours a week. Haha that would be an epic lifestyle.

 

[timeslowsdown]

I do science and law and in first semester I did 3 science subjects. It is really intensive, but depends on the subjects. Last semester I was doing maths and chemistry etc and now I'm doing environmental subjects which is less intensive. Yes and law has only 4 hours per subject but for me it's more intensive than science due to all the outside work you have to do. So although science has quite full on hours, you don't have to do heaps of readings. So it does balance out. And if you love what you're doing then it shouldn't be a problem