I left applying my placement very late. I applied for two jobs in total which were both at BCU for 2 different roles. I was offered both which was really great. If you apply from very early on and your persistent then you will get interviews. I didn't start applying until late May so it's ever too late to give up, there are always opportunities available. You will be at lectures about 8-12 hours a week. More than likely 10 though. When you approach deadlines you will probably find that its best to go library with people on your course, always working on modules alone can be mentally draining and of course in groups you can help eachother.
In the first year you study 4 modules at one time including two 30 credit modules (will work on this term one and two) and two 15 credit modules (you will have two modules before christmas and two after christmas.) The two exams we had were both before christmas, one was the accounting and the other was one where you was given the question before the test and could take in the the answer for the question into the exam. (So pretty much just had to copy it into the exam book from plain paper which imo was stupid lol) Some of the modules will have group work though so they aren't all individual assignments.
First term of year was as follows ;
Accounting and finance : exam
Marketing : Group presentation and option to work on individual work ( I didn't start the individual work till quite late)
Management module (30 credit) : exam before christmas and group work after christmas
Economics : Group work