The present study was conducted on 508 (331 female, 144 male) first grade university students in order to investigate the relations between self regulation, the future time perspectives, and the delay of gratification in the academic field. A future time perspective scale, an academic delay of gratification scale and a motivational strategies for learning questionnaire were used for collecting data in December 2011. According to the research results, it was found that the students setting distant goals for themselves, and who connected those goals with their current actions, valuing actions that allowed them to reach their goals, overcome the problems caused by environmental distractors that prevented them from reaching those goals more easily, and they could also set sub-goals more easily. It can be said that these students apply self regulation strategies that allow them to be successful in also conducting their academic activity. Finally, delay of gratification can be accepted as a self regulation strategy.