A welcome pause to lectures, a ticket out of Edinburgh, or an unwanted week’s break? Reading week is subject to various interpretations by students and staff, and across the university many have vastly different experiences as the absence of formal teaching sessions leaves students to their own devices.
At the University of Edinburgh, two different variants of reading week exist: the reading week of semester one, and Flexible Learning Week of semester two. Whilst the semester one reading week is not universally recognised by schools within the university, Flexible Learning Week is a university-wide policy which all degrees are mandated to partake in. This has been in place since 2011 following a decision by the University Senate.
This provides schools with a default structure which excludes a reading week in semester one, and most schools do not deviate from this. Hannah Holtschneider, the Director of Teaching at the school of Divinity, expanded on the reasons behind this: ‘[…] if semester one was shortened by a week to accommodate a reading week we would end up with uneven teaching content [compared to semester two]’. A further consideration was that the insertion of a reading week would shorten the time allocated for revision in December, before examinations start.
In contrast, the Business School do implement a reading week in semester one, specifically during week six. One staff member commented that the school views reading week as “beneficial for both students and staff. For students, this gives them an opportunity to reflect on their learning so far, to catch up on assignments, and to have a bit of a breather. It also gives staff some time to reflect on the mid-course feedback provided to them by students and to make changes/improvements for the rest of the semester where possible.”
Upon speaking to students, it became clear that a reading week in semester one was generally favoured. Elsa, a second year French and Business student, has a reading week this semester and stated: “I like reading week.. because my French tutorials require so much prep work, around two hours per tutorial, it is nice to have a break to allow me time to complete assignments and revise content that I wouldn’t normally have time to do.”
Outside of academic life, reading week also provides students an opportunity both to return home and visit family, as well as time to work extra shifts. Emily, a fourth year English Literature and French student, shared that this is “typically the structure my reading week tends to take,” and this is “the same with my flatmates and a lot of my friends.” Emily said that this year, however, she has felt added academic pressure: “Where in previous years I have maybe had time for one or two days away from working, this year a lot of my midterm deadlines fall the week directly after reading week […] so I am required to work at a continued pace.”
To some students, reading week takes on an entirely different form; a skiing week. Far from the fluorescent lights of the Main Library, some students can be found basking in the Alpine sun instead. Skiing is an undeniable element of student elitist culture, and at a university in which 31.8 per cent of students are privately educated, economic disparities are often greatly illuminated during this time. Some feel that reading week can contribute to this atmosphere of exclusion. One student commented: “I am from a working class background so have never really been involved in the skiing culture […] I think that people should be able to use their reading week however they want, however it is disheartening when I see some of my classmates away on holiday whilst I have to work and study.”
Flexible Learning Week’s typical coincidence with the traditional half-term slot perhaps contributes to the prevalence of utilising this week as a skiing holiday. Further to this, many international students use the time to explore countries in Europe made possible by closer geographical proximity and cheaper flights. Though using the week as a break away does not align with the university’s official policy, many students feel it helps them to prevent burnout, particularly as coursework deadlines often fall in the week preceding reading week. This alternate use of reading week is a further testimony to its flexibility and capacity to allow students to use their time as they choose.
The chameleon of the academic term, reading week can shape-shift to suit each individual student. Whether it is used to work, catch up on assignments, or go home, its multifunctional character provides students the liberty to use it in ways best suited to them. Though reading is perhaps not central to every experience of reading week, its allowance of individual autonomy in a university life strictly dictated by timetables appears to be what truly endears it to students.
Photo by Spencer Siles Giavalisco for The Student.
