6 Emotional Stages of Coursework

We've all been there.

Stage 1: Relaxed

“The coursework has only just been set. There’s no need to start it now!”

Your lecturer has just given you the assignment, and life is good. Everything looks reasonably simple and logical, so it shouldn’t be a problem—especially since you have two months to finish it. You plan to start early to avoid becoming that student who pulls an all-nighter before the deadline. Innovative thinking (insert smirking emoticon here).

Stage 2: Calm

You still have at least four weeks until the deadline—ages. You can’t quite remember the exact due date, but you’ll double-check later. Right now, your biggest worry is what to get your friend for their birthday meal at Pizza Express. It definitely can’t be a bottle of Glenns. Wait… what’s the assignment on again?

Stage 3: Mild Panic

The assignment is due in two weeks. All your friends finished it ages ago, and you still can’t remember what it’s about. This should be the point where you start getting the gist of the coursework, but you also have “that thing” one day this week. So logically, it makes sense to “start fresh” next week when you can dedicate all your time without distractions. Also, your Pizza Express friend has invited you over, and it would be rude not to go—you still have that bottle of Glenns to drink.

Stage 4: Paralysing Anxiety

Now you have one week left. You’ve scanned the brief, so technically you know what you’re supposed to do. The only issue is… you have absolutely no idea what you’re supposed to do. The guidelines might as well be written in Swahili. You’re so consumed with fear and regret that you can’t even open your laptop, let alone sift through hundreds of academic journals looking for one sentence to support your introduction. Crap. (Insert sad, guilt-ridden emoji here.)

Stage 5: Desperation Followed by Determination

It’s the night before the deadline. Time to be a grown-up about this. You’ve made mistakes, but there’s still time to fix this. You stock up on energy drinks and sugary snacks and prepare for a long night. During this stage, you may also experience the following sub-stages:

Overconfidence due to mild success – Suddenly you feel unstoppable. Everything’s flowing, you’re ahead of schedule, and you convince yourself you have enough time to watch infomercials about mops, pressure cookers, or jeggings.

Misery and despair – The overconfidence fades quickly. The clock is ticking, and now you’re lying face-down on your bed wondering why life is pain. This stage may involve slamming your head into your books or weeping dramatically.

“The Zone” – You feel invincible. Sentences flow effortlessly, theory fits perfectly, and referencing is strangely satisfying. You are the messiah of coursework. Maybe next year they’ll hire you as a lecturer.

Stage 6: Exhaustion and Relief

Finally—it’s over.

And then comes the classic line, just like the morning after a night out:

“I will never do that to myself again.”

“Next time, I will start the assignment early.”

And then… you repeat the entire cycle with your next assignment.

Jake Li
University of Westminster Student

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