A beginner's guide to timetables

1. Customise your timetable 

Want to keep Tuesday afternoons free? Or want to only be on campus three days a week? In Sydney Timetable, the University’s timetabling system, you can enter your class preferences before timetables are released.  

2. Don't forget to take lunch 

It can be tempting to try to squeeze all your classes into a few days but stacking too many tutorials might deprive you of some of the best parts of student life. Where possible, schedule time for a lunch break.

Lunch is usually the busiest time on campus for all kinds of activities; club events, BBQs, market stalls – there's usually something going on you wouldn't want to miss. Plus, asking a classroom acquaintance to join you for coffee or lunch is one of the best ways to make new friends.

3. Review and adjust your timetable 

Once your timetable is released, you can review and adjust your timetable up until the end of week 2 of semester. For Semester 2 classes, you can review and adjust your timetable up until until 11.59pm on Sunday 13 August 2023.

During this period, it’s important to make sure you’re allocated to classes and tutorials for units of study you’re enrolled in and ensure your preferences have been considered.  

During this period, you can also request to ‘swap’ a class or tutorial to another available time. Learn more about reviewing and adjusting your timetable.  

4. Allow travel time 

One of the first things you’ll realise is that the campus is really, really big. Check the maps to see where your classes are and how much walking time you’ll need to factor in. Getting from one end of Eastern Avenue to the other can take longer than you'd expect (especially if a club is holding a bake sale!).

Classes usually finish five minutes before the hour, and start five minutes after the hour, but they can (and often do) run up to the hour. Try your best to avoid scheduling two tutorials back-to-back so you don't end up arriving at your classes out of breath from legging it across campus.

5. Troubleshoot your timetable 

Things don’t always go to plan, so if you’re having trouble accessing your timetable, updating your preferences or managing a class clash, review our handy troubleshooting guide. You can also submit an enquiry to the Student Centre if your matter is urgent.  

Last updated: 18 July 2023