Understanding Your Timetable
TIMETABLE STRUCTURE
The timetable consists of 8 columns:
Ñolumn 1: Week Days
There is a five-day week (Monday - Friday); weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are not included into the timetable. The number and types of classes vary from day to day. Some repeat during the week, others do not.
Ñolumn 2: Study Weeks
Each academic year is divided into study weeks (SW) marked either by Arabic (1, 2, 3, 4) or Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV). While the number of calendar weeks varies from month to month (e.g. five weeks in September and six weeks in November), the number of study week is fixed to four. Therefore, calendar and study weeks do not coincide. For example, the first study week of September begins on September 01, and the first study week of October begins on September 28. You may check yourself here.
! Note:
Pay attention that you may have different disciplines at the same time of the same weekday (e.g. at 16:00 on Monday), but in different study weeks (e.g. I or IV).
When a study week is not specified in the timetable, the class scheduled on this time occurs every week.
Column 3: Time
This column shows the time, on which your classes are scheduled. A class lasts for two academic hours (90 minutes in total), with a 5-minute break after the first academic hour. There are 10-minute breaks between classes and two longer breaks from 11:20 to 11:40 and from 15:00 to 15:20, when you can have a lunch.
Column 4: Subgroup
Division into groups is generally required for classes in computer labs, each of which is designed for 15 people. Different subgroups may have classes in different rooms and on different study weeks.
Column 5: Discipline
This column contains information about your courses (disciplines). Pay attention that you may have different disciplines on the same time of the same weekday (e.g. at 16.00 on Monday), but in different study weeks (e.g. I or IV).
Column 6: Type
Different types of classes ensure a balanced teaching process. In general, classes are divided into three types: lectures (LCT), labs (LW) and practicals (PR).
A lecture is an oral presentation, where a lecturer conveys the information in theory. In some cases, lecturers may provide students with workbooks or e-learning tutorials, in others, you will have to make your own lecture notes. If a tutorial is easy to obtain, you are advised to follow your lecturer’s track of thoughts rather than focus on taking notes. Things are always easier to brush up than learn from scratch.
! Note: Lecture attendance is crucial to your success at our Uni.
First, it gives you an insight into your area of study, logics of the disciplines studied and organization of semester work and examinations.
Secondly, it is an opportunity to share your lecturer’s experience. Students of engineering universities often find it easier to grasp their teachers’ practical knowledge before turning to the library. Sometimes, your lecturer’s experience may be key to your professional and personal development and influence your career.
Finally, there is a certain etiquette attributed to teacher-student relations at our University. The amount of attention that you receive from your teacher depends greatly on the amount of attention you paid to the teacher’s lectures. Do not expect any positive attitude if you have missed some of the teacher’s classes.
Labs and practicals are aimed at putting theoretical knowledge gained at lectures into practice. It is an opportunity to shine and show your knowledge, which is important for your relations with the teacher.
Again, the attendance of labs and practicals is mandatory and controlled by the teacher. Any lab that is skipped without a valid excuse should be redone and any examination - retaken. There are certain extra fees for each retake.
Column 7: Room
The first three figures shown here specify the room number; and the last figure - the University building number (e.g. 319-1 means ‘room 319, building 1’). The address of each building can be found on BSUIR Campus Map.
Column 8: Teacher
This column states the names of your lecturers, which are important to remember.
SUMMARY
To sum up, here is a step-by-step example of how to find out what classes the student group No. 463011 has on Monday, September 7, 2015.
1. Figure out on what study week September 7, 2015 falls. Use the calendar . E.g. this year September 7 falls on the second study week.
2. Open the timetable of your group (under your faculty and study programme).
! Tip: You may find your group number in your student ID card or credit book.
E.g. group No. 463011 refers to the Faculty of Telecommunications and the study programme Infocommunication Networks.
3. Find the respective day and study week in the timetable to learn what classes, where, when you have and who is your teacher.
E.g. In our case, students of this group have a lecture in Electronic Devices at 09:45, then a lab and a lecture in Digital and Microprocessor-Based Devices, and finally a practical class in Theory of Electrical Circuits.
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE TIMETABLES
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