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University Transfer FAQ

Hello.

I noticed that there have recently been a reasonably high volume of questions about this and, as I cannot be bothered to always make the kind of detailed replies that are appropriate, I thought it would be good to make this thread. Feel free to ask questions and make suggestions for improvements and additions because obviously the better this is the more useful it will be. It was written up very rapidly by me a little earlier and is subject to considerable editing at some point.

Feel free to suggest revisions.

Why do people transfer?

People decide to transfer for all manner of reasons; some do it because the course does not match their expectations and some because of personal considerations such as family illness and the need to be closer to home. Others simply don't enjoy themselves where they are or want to "upgrade" to a university they consider to be better. Whatever the reason, many people do transfer each year and it is not as difficult or time consuming as many people assume it to be.

However, it also isn't an easy option and there is absolutely no guarantee that you will be able to transfer at all, let alone to the university you want to transfer to. It is important you are making the decision for the right reasons and, in many instances, taking a gap year is probably a better option if you are already considering a transfer before you have even begun your course. You should not make any plans that are dependent on you definitely being able to make X transfer because you could very well end up disappointed.

However, it should be noted that you can also apply for first year entry to other courses while at university and in that case you may well be in a stronger position than many applicants as you will have university experience, hopefully more knowledge and possibly the expectation of achieving a Certificate/Diploma of Higher Education or certainly the corresponding amount of credits.

First steps and initial correspondence

Initially, before beginning a formal application, you will want to contact the universities you are interested in applying to to ask them whether or not they will formally consider your application. This is because a variety of things may impede your progress before you even begin. Some examples include the fact that not all departments, and indeed universities, accept transfer applicants and that the course you wish to apply for may already be full up which is more likely to be the case if you are applying later in the academic year long after the standard UCAS cycle.

There are two strategies with your initial message and I suggest the latter personally because it may well save you time, gives the impression you have done some research about the process and ultimately has no negative implications that can reasonably be attributed to it.

One: Simply email asking broadly about the prospect of applying for X course. The reply, if positive, will often ask you for some if not all of the things listed below.

Two: Send an email to the admission office, possibly a department specific one, providing the following information:

- Your name and current university course
- The university you are currently studying at
- The course you are interested in transferring to
- Your academic history, specifically your A levels (or equivalent) and the grades you achieved.
- The official module names and descriptions (and codes for their easy reference) of every module you are studying that year and the grades you have achieved so far.

If time is an issue then phoning is likely to get you an answer quicker. Ask for and note the name and job title of the person you speak to and have the above information on hand.

The UCAS Application

If one or more of the universities you contact inform you that they will formally consider your application based on the information you have provided then you will need to submit a UCAS application in much the same way as you have previously. The difference being that, when you enter the course choice, you need to state that it is for entry point 2 (or 3 if that is the case) if that is the year you will be entering at.

You will still need to pay for the processing of the application and the same rules apply as for all other applicants with regards to adding choices, changing choices and how much you have to pay.

You will still receive decisions via track and will still have to accept or decline them as before with regard to what the offer is, although we cover that a little later.

What about a reference?

While some universities will accept a reference from an old school teacher, much the same as your original application, many wont and those that do will still prefer something far more recent. The guidance from university admissions staff is that the reference should be made by somebody who is an academic member of staff at the university you attend and that the more senior their position the better. You of course need to strike a balance between this and ensuring the reference is representative of your abilities and, as such, many people choose to provide a reference from a class teacher rather than a senior lecturer, for example, which may ostensibly seem the better choice.

It is possible that the member of staff will never have had to write such a reference before so you need to be prepared to offer them guidance on this if they request it (although in my experience they will request it from the university they are providing he reference to). Much the same as your original reference it should outline how you are as a student and highlight your academic strengths and why they recommend you for study on your proposed course.

Here is where having a personable demeanor and having made good impressions on staff will serve you well. You should be aware that it can take quite a long time for a reference to be provided, especially if it is being provided by somebody with a great many commitments, so it is important to get the ball rolling on this swiftly.

Your reference it should outline how you are as a student and highlight your academic strengths and why they recommend you for study on your proposed course. You should be aware that it can take quite a long time for a reference to be provided, especially if it is being provided by somebody with a great many commitments, so it is important to get the ball rolling on this swiftly.

You can help them by getting a copy of your previous UCAS reference and letting them know about any mitigating circumstances.

What about a personal statement?

You will need to provide a personal statement with your application and ultimately it has the same requirements as for other applicants. Some people do choose to include information about why they want to make the switch here although this will often be asked by admissions staff and passed on to the relevant person(s) separately.

This is your chance to show them that you have used your year well and to communicate to them that you are the kind of person they want at their university. Different people employ different strategies here with some people targeting the university specifically if they are only applying to one and talking about why the specifics of that course interest them and some simply relay their interests and motivations and treat it the same as other PSs written for the standard UCAS application. There is no right or wrong answer, but the aim remains constant - to present a case for you being worth an offer.

Adding qualifications to UCAS

You need to include all previous qualifications (GCSEs, AS and A levels usually INCLUDING resits) as well as the dates of your university study. If you've attended university long enough to pass any modules then these also need to be added to your application as qualifications.This post explains how to add your university modules/study to your application.

UCAS deadlines for transfer students

For first year entry you will normally need to apply by the standard UCAS deadlines (15 January for most courses, 15 October for Oxbridge/Medicine/Dentistry/Vet courses).

Applying be the early 15 October deadline while at university isn't recommended. You're making it clear to the universities you apply to that you started on a degree course without intending to finish it. If you want to apply for a course/university that has the early deadline then it is FAR better to take a year out of education and do something else. Oxford say "Oxford does accept applications from students who are currently studying at another university. Your full academic record would be taken in to account in your application, including your A-levels (or other equivalent qualifications) and study at university level, so we would need evidence of your performance on your university course." This would only be possible if you applied to enter into Year 1 at Oxford at the start of your Second year elsewhere. Cambridge say "Cambridge Colleges will only, as a matter of principle, consider applications from students enrolled in a degree course at other UK universities in very exceptional circumstances. Any application to study at Cambridge would need strong support from your Course Director or other academic tutor at your current university." - again only possible if you apply at the start of your second year for entry into the start of a course at Cambridge.

Outside of courses with the early deadline most universities would only expect to get applications for transfer close to the January deadline. Applying too early will give the impression that you haven't made much effort to settle in at your current university.
Universities are sympathetic to applications for first year entry after the January deadline (so even if a course is closed to late applications it is often worth getting in touch). The January deadline is not normally applicable to applications for entry into second or third year - but you should aim to apply as early as possible.

What will my offer be contingent upon?

Essentially, anything they want it to be contingent upon.

Firstly, it is often - although not always - the case that your A levels must be at least reasonably similar to those of other students on the proposed course and policy on that will vary. Of course, a slight deficiency here can possibly be mitigated by improved attainment, evidenced in this case by the grades you are achieving at university currently.

Secondly, your offer will almost always (I say almost because, although I've never seen this not be the case, It would be inappropriate for me to say it with complete certainty) be contingent on obtaining a certain grade for the stage of study you are currently at. This may range simply from needing to pass the year, to having to achieve X percentage (often a 2:1) or to having to achieve a certain result in specific modules as well as meeting other conditions such as the aforementioned.

The onus will be on you to provide proof that you meet any conditions asked of you before your offer becomes unconditional and this will include providing A level documents (they often accept scans) and proof of your university results. You should be mindful of any deadlines for proving this poof and be proactive in providing it!

Other actions you will need to take and considerations

Obvious though it may seem, you have to remember to inform student finance about the change of circumstance and, dependent on the specifics, this may involve beginning a new application for finance which, if you are applying late in the day, may mean resubmitting financial information and other documents they require. Of course you should consult them about this but it is definitely something you need to consider.

As well as all of the above it is perfectly possible that you may have a phone conversation with staff at the university you have applied to in which you are asked about the course so you should not enter into the process without having done enough research to be able to provide a cogent, convincing case for why you have made the decision should it be required of you.

Student finance implications

Obvious though it may seem, you have to remember to inform student finance about the change of circumstance and, dependent on the specifics, this may involve beginning a new application for finance which, if you are applying late in the day, may mean resubmitting financial information and other documents they require. Of course you should consult them about this but it is definitely something you need to consider.

If you apply to continue your degree elsewhere without repeating or restarting a year then your finance eligibility should not be affected.
If you apply to restart or repeat a year elsewhere then this will count as using your "gift" year of funding. Everyone gets ONE gift year so any further additional years (if you need to restart again or fail and repeat a year) wouldn't be eligible for a tuition fee loan.
Transferring from a foundation year into year 1 of a degree without a foundation year will normally also count as using up your gift year.

This means it is important that you're confident that the change of university/course is right for you. If you're unsure or in doubt then speak to your current university about suspending your studies for a year - you can suspend your studies AND hold a deferred offer to give yourself time to make the right decision.

Transferring courses within the same university

While this thread is primarily concerned with transferring to a university other than the one you attend, it is common for questions to be asked about this so I thought I should include it. University policy, indeed departmental policy, will vary but generally the following is true. There are two main times you can transfer internally without having to restart the year.

At the beginning of the year

The exact window will vary, as will the availability and ease of the option as some universities offer this as a promulgated matter of course and others simply make provision for it if a student presents a case for it. Generally, your academic attainment prior to university - A Levels etc - will be the determining factor of whether or not the switch is approved but thee may also be a discussion akin to an informal interview with somebody relevant beforehand.

At the end of the year

Most universities (perhaps all) allow this, but you usually have to meet the same module prerequisites with regards to core modules as other students. For example, if you study course X and choose elective module Y which happens to be the only core module for course Z then in most cases you will be allowed to switch. Most common is people switching from joint honors to one of the two constituent subjects alone as they always satisfy the progression prerequisites with regard to module choice.

Practice may vary massively at some universities and it is always better to call or email them and ask in advance of any binding decisions as obviously the advice your university provides is of far more use to you.

(edited 8 years ago)

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Reply 1180

Shaxx

Original post

by ruby_v

Ahh okay, you go kingston so do i lol

Oh lol what course are you doing?
And btw yes, you're right it will be £36000

Reply 1181

ruby_v

Original post

by Shaxx

Oh lol what course are you doing?
And btw yes, you're right it will be £36000

Biomedical sciences, youu?

Reply 1182

Shaxx

Original post

by ruby_v

Biomedical sciences, youu?

Computer Science

Reply 1183

ameslou

Hi,
I'm currently studying at the university of Brighton in my first year of English Literature and so far I've not been settling in well. I've found the new environment really hard to get used to and i'm starting to consider a transfer to a uni closer to home, perhaps in London.

The thing is, i don't have a clue where to start! I just want to get a clear grasp on my options really so i know whether or not any of this is doable. When do we have to apply for a transfer by?

Many thanks,
Amy :smile:

Reply 1184

mauvevenix

Original post

by ameslou

Hi Amy!

I'd suggest emailing unis that you'd be willing to transfer to to see if they accept transfers in the first place. If you get the green light from them, you can either start your UCAS application or wait until second term or so to see if your feelings change. I don't think transfers have to be sent in by the normal UCAS deadline.

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Reply 1185

ameslou

Original post

by Toya

Hi Toya,

Thanks very much, its just hard to know where to start with things like this! Your help is much appreciated :smile:

Reply 1186

jaack95

What happens if I don't get accepted for my transfer into 2nd year, do I just stay where I am?

Reply 1187

Juno

Original post

by jaack95

What happens if I don't get accepted for my transfer into 2nd year, do I just stay where I am?

Assuming you want to stay, yes

Reply 1188

Astoria

Do you need to enter university modules in the UCAS application?

Reply 1189

Minerva

Original post

by Astoria

Do you need to enter university modules in the UCAS application?

Why wouldn't you? If you are hoping to transfer into the second year of another course, the uni concerned will want to know what you've been doing.

Reply 1190

mauvevenix

How far is everyone into the whole UCAS process?

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Reply 1191

MissAjayG

Hey guys, I've been at uni for nearly two months now and the feeling of wanting to transfer hasn't gone away. I'm currently taking a foundation year, did some research and found that some universities I'm interested in transferring to, do take foundation year qualifications.

I know I have to re-apply from scratch on UCAS, contact the universities to confirm weather they'll take me or not and I'm willing to wait a little longer to see if I really do want to transfer or just trying to adjust to uni life. When would be the best time to start preparing to transfer if I was really sure about it? I'm just wondering has anyone done this before? I've been looking around and haven't really found anyone transferring into 1st year.

Also, for some reason, my university didn't ask for my qualifications. Will the other ones ask for them? And if they aren't so good, will that affect my chances of getting in?
It's just that my A-level results aren't great, and the typical offer for the unis I want to transfer to are AAA-BBB. Not to mention, there was problem with my birth name and the name on my certificate so I would have to dish out a few hundred pounds to get them renamed.

Thanks

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Reply 1192

Minerva

Original post

by MissAjayG

You need to find out from the unis you're interested in whether the 15 January deadline would apply to you, and work accordingly.

Also, for some reason, my university didn't ask for my qualifications. Will the other ones ask for them? And if they aren't so good, will that affect my chances of getting in?

I'd be very surprised if they didn't. You will have to enter your grades anyway in any new application, and if they are not in line with what the uni normally expects this could be a problem, unless you do exceptionally well in your Foundation course.

It's just that my A-level results aren't great, and the typical offer for the unis I want to transfer to are AAA-BBB. Not to mention, there was problem with my birth name and the name on my certificate so I would have to dish out a few hundred pounds to get them renamed.

Thanks

You will need to do this anyway. Employers frequently ask to see all your certificates and a discrepancy in the name will not help you. You've been 'lucky' this time, but most unis will expect to see the certificates and will not confirm your place until they have.

Ask your school or college for help in sorting this one out.

Reply 1193

mauvevenix

Does anyone have a vague idea of when is the best time to ask for a reference? And who would be best to ask?

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Reply 1194

Minerva

Original post

by Toya

Does anyone have a vague idea of when is the best time to ask for a reference? And who would be best to ask?

At least four weeks before any deadline that might have been set. Someone who is familiar with your academic work and can comment on your potential.

Reply 1195

ruby_v

If i am applying as an individual and want a reference from my personal tutor at uni, how are they able to access it?

Reply 1196

mauvevenix

Original post

by ruby_v

If i am applying as an individual and want a reference from my personal tutor at uni, how are they able to access it?

On the reference bit of apply, there should be a form to put in your tutors details. Then they get sent an email on how to give the reference,

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Reply 1197

PranavMusale

Hey. I will be completing my first year at mumbai university soon. Please can you tell me the names of the 10 universities you called up to enquire for direct second year entry. Please? Thank you. And for engineering? :biggrin:

Please revert. I wanna transfer :smile:

Reply 1198

yam_13

what do you mean you put stage 2 instead of 1? how do you do that?

Reply 1199

mufc27

Hi,
Just a quick question. Say if you want to transfer into a different university for the second year ,when would be the ideal time, approach Universities to enquire about you're intentions to transfer? Now, January Summer?