Most institutions advise students to anticipate to work 2 hours outside of class for every hour spent in class. That means that each 3-hour lesson will need at least 6 hours of preparation. Courses vary in duration; some may take less time, while others with extensive reading assignments, homework problem sets, or lengthy papers may necessitate more time. On average, courses last 4 months from start to finish so you would need to plan ahead and allow enough time to complete your project or essay. In addition to coursework, students may be required to prepare presentations for class or conduct research. These activities can also consume a lot of time so make sure to factor in sufficient study time into your schedule. Many students find it helpful to set aside weekly studies days where they simply focus on their work for 1 or 2 days out of the week. Overall, expect to spend about 15% of your time on campus activities and 85% of your time working on projects or essays. This includes time spent in class, studying, and preparing presentations for classes as well as free time.