Blog by Shirley
Office Hours are one of the most valuable yet under-explained and underused resources available at university. For me personally, Office Hours have been a game changer that made my academic journey in my first and second year less overwhelming and much more exciting to navigate, and I will be sharing some insights and tips into how to make sure that your Office Hours with lecturers go as smoothly as possible.
What are Office Hours?
When I started my undergraduate studies, “office hours” was a term I heard repeatedly during the first weeks of lectures and tutorials. Professors would list their contact details and office hours on introductory slides, but the concept itself—and how to prepare for or use it effectively—was never really explained. It felt like another resource the university expected us to figure out on our own, and most students seemed to overlook it entirely.
Office Hours are dedicated times teaching staff and lecturers reserve to make themselves available to meet with students outside of regular teaching such as lectures and workshops. You can typically book a one-on-one session with your lecturer – from as short as 10 minutes to as long as an hour – via email or through the contact on their introduction page. Depending on the lecturer’s policies, it’s sometimes possible to have a “walk in” session.
A common misconception that many of us believe is that Office Hours are only reserved for those who are struggling with their studies. In reality, Office Hours are an opportunity to personalize your academic experience at university, and this can be very broad. It’s an opportunity to ask questions about certain course material, get some advice on your assignments (provided you have already consulted your tutor and general assessment advice), or discuss broader academic interests or aligned career path development. The point is – they are a valuable resource for everyone.
The benefits of Office Hours
There are many benefits to attending Office Hours that can significantly enhance your university experience. In the immediate sense, Office Hours can provide personalized academic support, ranging from clarification on a confusing concept or tackling an upcoming assignment, to further discussions with a lecturer on a specific area of study within your academic interest. Attending Office Hours can boost your confidence through direct engagement with lecturers in a low-pressure setting, making it easier to navigate complex materials or explore your academic interest with lecturers who’ve likely published journals or obtained a degree in that specific area.
In the long term, maintaining contact with your lecturers is an excellent way to get inside information on any upcoming conferences, seminars or workshops in that related field. These one-on-one interactions may also allow the lecturers themselves to get a personal understanding of your academic or even personal and professional development aspirations, which can lead to mentorship, reference letters and even networking opportunities. For example, through my frequent interactions with a lecturer in my International Relations course, I was able to collaborate with them on a grant scheme application and obtain several reference letters.
Tips on Attending Office Hours:
1. Prepare for your Office Hour in advance
Preparation in advance is key to making the most of your Office Hours with your lecturers. There are many ways you can prepare for your Office Hour, firstly asking yourself what you wish to get out of the Office Hour at the end. If it is about a specific question that you have about the course that the lecturer is teaching, write down some specific questions or get the course material that you are struggling to understand ready. Draft concise and clear questions to ask – as this not only shows respect for your lecturer’s time but also ensures that you are leaving with useful responses and advice in limited time.
For example, instead of saying “I don’t understand this topic, can you help me?”, try making it a bit more specific, like: “I am struggling to connect x theory with the y case study we discussed in the lecture. Could you help explain their relationship?” Bringing any relevant materials, such as lecture notes or tutorial questions can also allow the lecturer to quickly pinpoint your question and give targeted advice. Afterall, they are there to help, so don’t be afraid to raise your questions or points that you struggled with.
2. Be professional
A really obvious point and useful tip for attending Office Hours is just to get there! There really is no point in putting it off because you’re nervous or unsure of what to expect, as most likely everyone else in your course is feeling the same way and avoiding it for similar reasons. Start by doing some research before reaching out to your lecturer. Look into their academic focus and experiences, which you can usually find on their personal biography page on the School website. Use this information to craft a polite and professional email introducing yourself and explaining why you’d like to meet with them, and start by introducing yourself and the reason for requesting an Office Hour and asking for the available time slots to meet the lecturer.
When it’s time to attend your Office Hour, especially if it is your first time, you may be terrified by the thought of going in alone and having to make conversations with these highly accomplished professors whom you barely know, something that went through my mind during my first Office Hour. Take a couple of deep breaths and take it easy even if you are nervous, and you can arrive a few minutes early to show your professionalism and take the time to observe how others have attended their Office Hours. Start the conversation by introducing yourself with your name, year and degree, and the class you are taking , especially if they haven’t gotten that information from your email yet. For example, “Hello, I’m X, a second-year student in Y. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today.” These small details help create a positive first impression and set the tone for a productive discussion.
3. Don’t be afraid to find out more
While office hours are incredibly helpful for tackling topics from class, they don’t have to be limited to strictly academic matters! Some of the most memorable conversations I’ve had with lecturers have come from discussing topics completely unrelated to the course. Once you’ve addressed your main questions, take a moment to chat and get to know them a bit better. It also may help you become less overwhelmed and nervous about attending Office Hours as a whole. Ask how their week has been or if they have any plans for the weekend.
You might discover they have great restaurant recommendations, fascinating travel stories, book recommendations they enjoy or hobbies you’d never expect. Professors are people too, and many of them lead incredibly interesting lives. From sharing must-visit countries to books they love, I’ve learned so much by simply asking a few casual questions—it’s a great way to connect on a more personal level and can make navigating through your courses more engaging and fun!
4. Understand what Office Hours can and cannot provide
On the other hand, It’s important to know the limits of what office hours can offer. For instance, due to university policies or course restrictions, it may be that lecturers are restricted from providing detailed feedback on assessments before submission. Additionally, they might have already addressed common questions or given general advice about assignments during lectures or tutorials. To make the most of your time, check course materials or announcements beforehand to see if your query has already been answered. For specific issues like detailed feedback on an essay draft or navigating personal challenges, consulting your personal tutor or designated student advisor may be more appropriate. Being mindful of these boundaries ensures that both you and your lecturer can focus on questions that truly benefit from one-on-one discussion.
5. Remember to follow up and say Thank you!
After the session, it’s also a good idea to follow up with an email to thank the lecturer for their time and advice, as this can leave a positive impression on your lecturer and show your appreciation. Remember that there are no restrictions on how many office hours you can attend! But it is important to focus on enhancing the quality of the Office Hours rather than quantity. That being said, building a consistent relationship with your lecturer through regular visits or emails can be beneficial, don’t hesitate to reach out with follow-up questions or updates on how their advice has helped you. This ongoing communication also shows your genuine interest and engagement, which can make lecturers more willing to support your academic and professional development in the long run! For instance, I have maintained email relationships with several lecturers from my past courses, who have all been really helpful in answering my queries or interest in exploring a certain subject area in my future dissertation topic.
