timetabling based on student module preference -- which means moving everything around to allow every student to take every course they choose -- assumes that students are all available 9-6, Monday-Friday, with no constraints. but they aren't! and timetabling before choices would allow for that!

My place recently redid its timetabling policy (mostly to get people to book spaces they’re using when they’re using them) & my polite note that my UK UG’s institution’s approach of “this is when we will run optional modules pick them if you can make the slot” was good went down like a lead balloon.

This is one of the more baffling things to me about the UK. In the US system I studied in, all the courses are timetabled a year in advance, the times are printed in the catalog, and both staff and students can plan accordingly.

Also: clashes still happen, especially for joint honours & students are adults capable of making choices. Let them make informed decisions.

there's no sense that students might have to do the school run! if a student could see class timetables in advance, sure, they might make choices based on practicalities. but the alternative is that they get these timetables that don't work for them, anyway.

we're stuck in this narrative of 'student choice' that means we can't timetable in advance, because it might mean some choices clash and are therefore impossible. and there's this the idea that students would only choose to avoid e.g. 9am lectures because they are lazy.

It’s a huge disability issue for students and staff as well. Timetable changes mean disabled people have to rearrange support and do extra admin making sure venues are suitable.