University marking

[QuestionableMouse]

Just had an email from a lecturer saying the assignment we were due to get back this week isn't going to be available until the end of next week. That means it has been seven weeks since we handed it in. I know Christmas has just ended but aibu to think seven weeks is too long to wait for a big standard (literature) assignment to be marked? My sister is at a different uni and they get theirs back much more quickly.

I had this for a whole year at my university. I didn't get a single piece of work back before the next was due in, it's incredibly frustrating as obviously you want to take comments in marking to improve for your next piece of work. Unfortunately I don't think you'll get very far with complaining if your university is anything like mine.

Ours is 4 weeks, but we have been shut since the 22nd and don't open until the 3rd, so that bit wouldn't count.

Reiterating what others have said: 20 working days or thereabouts is a usual timescale, but if something unforeseen happens (staff illness, for example) this can be extended if they tell you, as has happened with you. Someone mentioned marking cover, but tbh it's better to have the staff who know that module and the assignment marking the work, even if this means a slight delay.

You've mentioned that your second assignment will be due just after you get this one back now - you then went on to say two would be in the marking process at the same time. Which is it? It's not ideal of course. But this is an exception. If this was happening a lot (in the way some posters have described) you should complain - it's not acceptable to often find you don't get feedback in time to act on it in your next assignment. However, sometimes it just can't be avoided. Lecturers are only human.

if I've not done well and need to resubmit it

Resubmission isn't usually allowed for university work unless you have actually failed the assignment. Then the usual thing is that you will have one more chance to submit work and pass, but that deadline will be later on, not straight away. So this shouldn't impinge on getting your other assignment done.