Changing degree course - is this possible?

I don't know much about doing courses in gap years etc but one of my best friends has applied for neuroscience and she does chemistry, biology and psychology a levels, with an AS in geography. She has offers from all the universities she applied to so you may not have to do a maths A2 level, if you already have an A in it at as (as well as four others - Wow!)

If I were you I'd do your chemistry a level in one year and finish off your biology A2, which would only be two subjects so less work. But as you've already managed A's in 6 subjects in one year I'm sure you'll be fine!

Maybe also check with universities whether they look unfavourably on students who've done a third year at sixth form, but I'm sure they wouldn't because its not like you've failed your second year, more of a change of heart.

Also have you considered looking to see if there are any foundation years for people who haven't done the correct a levels for courses?



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Chemistry a level is unbelievably harder than gcse. Also what are the grade requirements for the unis you want to apply to for neuroscience??


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id say so

Do you think universities would be accepting of an extra year at school?

I don't think they'd mind

email admissions

My question is - can I take a gap year, finish both of my maths and biology a levels, and do chemistry a level in one year? So I would be doing 1 whole a level and two normal A2s. I know that this will be difficult, but I got an A* in GCSE chemistry so I'm hoping I could handle it. Would this be possible or completely out of my reach? I would probably self teach chemistry but attend A2 lessons for biology and maths?

Self-teaching Chemistry AS and A2 would be difficult, but possible if your school/college supported you with it. The practical component/coursework obviously needs teacher involvement.

AS and A2 chemistry, I would attend both classes and do both As/A2 exams in January and summer and teachers helping with the coursework, although with the change in exam structure I'm not sure where I stand with that!

Chemistry is my main worry as having not done it for 2 years it would be very challenging, but I do like a challenge!

Im just going to have to make sure universities would accept this third year and not see it as me being lacking compared to other applicants!

The exam structure change just means you'd just have an awful lot of exams in the Summer. So tough, but probably manageable.

If you could do some serious learning of parts of AS Chemistry this Summer, that would presumably give you the background knowledge that would make your A2 Chemistry class make some sense. Achieving A/A* might be tricky because of the A2 needing AS to make complete sense, but would probably work out okay.
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It looks like ill be doing 3 maths A2 exams, 2 biology A2 exams and then 2 chemistry exams in summer 2014, but I know people with 7 exams this summer so I'm not too worried about the volume, more about learning and retaining the information for both AS and A2 chemistry,however hopefully I should be able to get the coursework up to a good grade before the exams.

Thank you for the advice I really appreciate it

Probably four Chemistry exams (two AS and two A2).

One thing you could try for learning/retaining lots of information is Anki.

Self-teaching Chemistry AS and A2 would be difficult, but possible if your school/college supported you with it. The practical component/coursework obviously needs teacher involvement.

Heya. Just to give you another opinion, a friend of mine did a Biology A-level in a year plus an extra AS in English to get into Cambridge (she didn't, but she did do well in her exams, getting an A in English and got a B in Biology as a not very science-orientated student). As to universities thinking badly about you doing an extra year, I am almost certain they won't care at all, they are only against people resitting exams, which you would not be doing and could prove on your application. It would be worth asking the admissions tutors of the courses you are interested in though, to double check.

I personally took Chemistry A-Level (albeit six years ago now!) and think it is easily do-able in a year, and that if you do struggle a decent tutor will help you get to grips with it. It is mostly about understanding it, other than the organic chemistry which is more about learning by rote. With your grades, it sounds to me like you would get on absolutely fine. I say go for it!

Also, I can attest to the importance of doing a subject you are passionate about. I studied Medicine for four years at Imperial College and although I loved it, I really missed having the chance to do arts-based stuff so in the end changed to studying English Literature! I think with law you can get involved in scientific stuff e.g. my friend is an intellectual property law barrister and a Physics graduate, and he works on all kinds of stuff such as learning about the aerodynamics of Formula One cars. However, it is obviously secondary to the actual law stuff!

Before you have started the course, it is easy to change. Once you are accruing a massive debt, everyone tells you to just finish your course and stop whinging about not enjoying it, it's not fun. Follow your heart I say!