The focus of this research provided insights into the issues that students felt influenced their perceived workload and affected their approach to learning. The main influences on perceived workload were canvassed including student characteristics and institutional factors. A complex picture emerged from the data indicating that these factors all act in concert and are highly inter-related. Therefore, it was recommended that lecturers collaborate in creating a more stimulating, responsive environment. The concept map makes an original contribution to scholarship illustrating the complexity of the workload issue and its relationship to learning. The study provides guidelines for institutions seeking to address this issue. The purpose designed student workload questionnaire provides a useful tool for gauging the major issues influencing perceived student workload. Although the results are not generalisable to other institutions the workload questionnaire and methodology of this study could be employed by other institutions seeking to investigate this issue.