Going to university is a huge decision and you might not have made the right choice. Don’t think it’s too late to change your mind and stay somewhere you hate. We tell you how to apply for a university transfer so you can move to where you’re studying with less stress.
There are lots of reasons why you might think your current university course isn’t right for you; it can be academic or personal and both are valid. If you think your choice of university isn’t right for you either, then you don’t have to complete your course there. Though the process of moving universities is a little complicated, we can take you through the process if it makes your experience better.
Making The Decision To Move University
Before you make anything official, you need time to properly think the choice over. Talk with friends, family and even your course tutor about your doubts and see if they can say anything to help.
As well as that, you need to do your research on what transferring universities would mean. More than likely, it would affect your student finance and how much you receive. For example, if you’re changing after your first year then you would probably have to fund part of your new course if you start from the beginning. Additionally, moving in/out of London may mean having to give some of your loan back. If you move back home to study, this would also affect the money you receive.
Student finance only funds 4 years of undergraduate study. You’ll need to consider whether you would have the money to start all over again.
You’ll also have to think about accommodation contracts and any other commitments you have made whilst attending the university.
In your heart of hearts, you’ll know what the right choice is for you. However, you need to make sure you’re informed before deciding.
Do Your Research Before You Apply
Once you’ve decided for yourself that the university isn’t right for you, you’ll need to research what universities you can transfer to. For now, you’ll need to know if you want to study the same subject elsewhere or start afresh with something different. It will also depend on when you’re transferring; if it’s within the first few weeks of 1st year, then it’s a little easier. This is because you won’t have to catch up on much and there’s more chance of there being spaces.
If you’re transferring at the end of an academic year, it’s a little trickier — but definitely still doable. It’s sometimes the case that you can go straight into the second year if you transfer if the courses are similar enough. The new course will look at your grades, the modules you studied and the credits you built up and calculate whether you need the first year or not. This can’t always be done and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to change past the second year.
What’s really important is communication. You’ll need to look into what universities accept transfers and discuss your individual situation with their admissions team and see if you meet their entry requirements. Heads up — competitive courses such as medicine very rarely have room for transfers. After speaking with them, you’ll have a much clearer idea of what’s possible and if you’ll be accepted.
UCAS confirms that it’s possible to transfer after your first and second year. Make this clear to any admissions team when enquiring about moving.
How To Transfer Universities
Once you’ve made your decision and received an informal offer from the university, then it’s time to get the process officially started.
Inform your course tutor about your plans to transfer. It’s likely that they’ll schedule a meeting to confirm the decision and you’ll need to do some paperwork explaining the choice.
You’ll then need to reapply to your newly chosen university through UCAS on the basis of your informal offer. You’ll need to confirm your year of entry, as well as your obtained credits and grades. You may also need to write a new personal statement when reapplying.
Importantly, tell student finance about your change of details so that your loan can be adjusted accordingly. You want your information to be as accurate as possible to get all the money you’re entitled to. Changes to your loan will be made clear.
Once everything has been confirmed, student accommodation will be your next priority. Get that sorted, and then it’s a matter of getting the moving date confirmed and transferring!