Thursday 28-05-2026 - 11:46

 

 

 

This project is being led by Academic Representatives and LUSU Officers, working together with university stakeholders to better understand and improve the timetable experience for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

 

 

Over the past term, the Timetabling Academic Rep Group has been actively progressing this work through student engagement, discussions with staff, and representation at university meetings.

Timetabling plays a major role in shaping students’ academic experience and daily lives. Beyond determining when classes take place, it can influence students’ ability to balance hybrid learning, part-time work, commuting, research responsibilities, wellbeing, and participation in sports, societies, and other extracurricular activities that are central to university life.

As Academic Reps and LUSU Officers, we have continued to gather student feedback and engage directly with the University’s Timetabling Team. Last term, we met with the team to discuss student concerns and gain a better understanding of the timetabling process, including the challenges involved in balancing teaching requirements, room availability, and staff schedules. These discussions were important in ensuring that student experiences remain part of ongoing conversations around timetable planning and development.

We also presented our findings and ongoing work to Academic Reps and shared feedback at the recent Faculty Forum, helping to ensure that student perspectives are represented across different levels of the University.

To support this project, we launched a student survey which has so far received 192 responses from undergraduate and postgraduate students across a range of departments and study levels. We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to complete the survey and share their experiences. The feedback received has already helped us identify areas where timetabling can have a significant impact on student wellbeing, work-study balance, and overall academic experience.

One of the most frequently discussed concerns has been the use of the 9am-6pm scheduling window, with students highlighting the challenges that can arise from long days on campus and extended teaching hours. In response to this feedback, we are continuing to refine and update the survey to gather more detailed insights into student scheduling preferences and experiences.

As part of improving transparency and helping students better understand their schedules, we also want to highlight the Academic Timetable, which can be accessed here

 

The Academic Timetable allows students to:

• View when modules are scheduled across the week
• Check for potential timetable clashes between modules
• Explore how optional module choices may impact their schedule
• Make more informed decisions when considering module swaps or changes

 

Our work so far has included:

• Collecting and analysing 192 student survey responses
• Meeting and engaging with the Timetabling Team
• Presenting updates and findings to Academic Reps
• Feeding back student concerns at the Faculty Forum
• Continuing to update the survey to better reflect student experiences

 

Next steps for the project include:

• Gathering additional survey responses to ensure wider student representation
• Continuing discussions with the Timetabling Team
• Advocating for student-centered improvements to timetable planning

 

The survey takes approximately 5-6 minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous.

By taking part, you are directly supporting the ongoing work of Academic Reps and LUSU Officers to improve timetabling at Lancaster University.

 

We would really appreciate your time and your voice. You can access the survey here.