How to use the study hours per week calculator
- List each course with its credits and the study hours per credit you plan for it.
- Set the class hours per credit, which is how long each credit meets in class every week.
- Open the advanced options to enter your sleep per night and any work or other fixed hours.
- Read the weekly study hours, the class hours, the daily study time and the hours left in the week.
Formula
study hours = credits x study hours per credit
class hours = credits x class hours per credit
hours left = 168 - sleep x 7 - class and study hours - other hours
The example of 2 study hours per credit is a common planning guess, not a rule. Use the guidance from your school or instructors if they give any. The study hours per day are shown for 7 days and for 5 days.
Thirteen credits
Four courses carry 4, 3, 3 and 3 credits, which is 13 credits. At 2 study hours per credit that is 26 study hours a week, and at 1 class hour per credit it is 13 hours in class, for 39 hours in all.
Spread over 7 days, the study time is 3.71 hours a day, or 5.2 hours a day over 5 days. With 8 hours of sleep a night (56 hours) and no other commitments, 168 - 56 - 39 = 73 hours are left for everything else.
Choosing the study hours per credit
The right number depends on the course, your background and the instructor. Reading-heavy and lab-heavy courses often take more, and review courses take less. Try different values for different rows, and adjust after the first few weeks, when you know how long the work really takes.
The page shows the hours left in the week, because a plan that fits the study time may still not fit a job, commuting and rest.
Turning hours into a plan
Once you know the weekly load, divide it into sessions. A timer such as the Pomodoro timer can help structure them, and the exam study planner builds a schedule before a test. Track due dates with the assignment tracker, and see how your grades weigh in with the GPA calculator.
Assumptions and limits
- Credits and hours are treated as simple weekly figures. Credit definitions and class time differ between schools and countries.
- The same number of study hours per credit applies for the whole term. Hours before exams or deadlines are not modeled.
- The 168-hour week is 24 hours times 7 days, with sleep subtracted only if you enter it.
- The default values are examples that you should replace with your own.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours should I study per credit hour?
There is no single answer. Two hours of study for each credit hour is a common planning guess, and the page uses it only as an editable example. Use guidance from your school, and adjust to how you actually find the courses.
How is the weekly load worked out?
For each course, multiply credits by study hours per credit, then add the class time, which is credits times class hours per credit. The page totals the courses and subtracts sleep and other fixed hours from the 168 hours in a week.
What if the hours do not fit in the week?
The hours left show in parentheses and a warning appears. Reduce credits, lower the study hours per credit, or cut the other hours until the plan fits.
Can I add more courses?
Yes, up to 12 rows. Use Add a course, and remove rows you do not need. Each row has its own credits and study hours per credit.