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The design of formal learning spaces in higher education has almost been a non-issue until recently, when the interest has increased considerably, both in Sweden and internationally. Hitherto, the close connection between space and time has been rather unnoticed in this context. The article aims at deepening the knowledge on the relationship between space, time, teaching and learning in higher education. Especially it highlights teachers´ possibilities, or lack thereof, to promote students´ understanding of curricular content under varying spatial and temporal conditions. The article describes and analyses two empirical studies, including five undergraduate courses framed by different combinations of time-space conditions. The analysis rested on extensive data: systematic observations, student surveys, interviews of students and teachers, and in one of the studies, examination results for a longer timeperiod. We found that multi-functional learning spaces where both students and teachers could engage in presentations, communication and use of digital resources enabled teaching for student active learning, thus promoting understanding and improved examination results. This however presupposed that teachers initially got educational support and additional time for planning. Good spatial preconditions also reduced space-related time-losses and disruptions of teaching and learning considerably, which is particularly important when the teacher-led time is sparse.