Changing uni courses

3

I'm starting university this September. However, before applying, I wasn't sure what subject I wanted to do and picked archaeology because I thought I might be interested in the subject. Now, after getting my placed confirmed into the uni and enrolled on to the course. I'm starting to become unsure if this course is the right for me. Am I able to change the subject after I’ve had a couple of lessons and don’t like it or do I have to reapply for next year?
Alisha

Reply 1

molak20

13

Original post

by Aguya_alisha

I'm starting university this September. However, before applying, I wasn't sure what subject I wanted to do and picked archaeology because I thought I might be interested in the subject. Now, after getting my placed confirmed into the uni and enrolled on to the course. I'm starting to become unsure if this course is the right for me. Am I able to change the subject after I’ve had a couple of lessons and don’t like it or do I have to reapply for next year?
Alisha

hi i think some unis allow you to change after the first few weeks if you have the required a levels for the course youb want to switch to and there is space
though im not 100% sure so you should definetely check with your uni by calling them or emailing or even asking current students online

Reply 2

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post

by Aguya_alisha

I'm starting university this September. However, before applying, I wasn't sure what subject I wanted to do and picked archaeology because I thought I might be interested in the subject. Now, after getting my placed confirmed into the uni and enrolled on to the course. I'm starting to become unsure if this course is the right for me. Am I able to change the subject after I’ve had a couple of lessons and don’t like it or do I have to reapply for next year?
Alisha

It may be possible but there is absolutely no guarantee and it will be solely at the unis discretion whether they accommodate such a request. For very competitive courses it's very unlikely you would be able to change into them. You would also be expected to have met all the same requirements anyone else doing the "target" course would in terms of e.g. A-level subjects etc. It's usually only realistically feasible to swap courses within your department reliably, anything else is very much a roll of the dice.

If you know you don't want to study your current course, you should ask them now if you can change, and if not should begin the process to withdraw ASAP - unis and SFE will only write off/refund fees if you withdraw within the first week or two of term normally. If you wait longer, then regardless of whether you complete the rest of the year, you will lose one year of your SFE fee entitlement (or if you are self funding, you will be liable for at least the full term's fees if not the whole year).

-

For the benefit of others who may read this in the future, this is why you should never start a degree you don't intend to finish, and why you should aim to figure out what you want to apply to early to ensure you know what you want to do - and take a gap year if you are unsure. Additionally, it should be noted that it is not possible to use a "less competitive" course to get into the uni then "backdoor" into a more competitive course, and I imagine unis take a rather dim view of such schemes. This is not specific to the OPs case and based on what you have said is not your situation, but every year you get people searching these forums trying to find confirmation they can do this so, it seems sensible to make a note here for them in future :smile:

Reply 3

Sandtrooper

21

Original post

by Aguya_alisha

I'm starting university this September. However, before applying, I wasn't sure what subject I wanted to do and picked archaeology because I thought I might be interested in the subject. Now, after getting my placed confirmed into the uni and enrolled on to the course. I'm starting to become unsure if this course is the right for me. Am I able to change the subject after I’ve had a couple of lessons and don’t like it or do I have to reapply for next year?
Alisha

Which university are you attending and what would you potentially be interested in switching to?

Reply 4

Aguya_alisha

OP

3

Original post

by Sandtrooper

Which university are you attending and what would you potentially be interested in switching to?

I’m going to the University Of Bradford & I’ve been thinking about doing Game Design and Development.

Reply 5

Sandtrooper

21

Original post

by Aguya_alisha

I’m going to the University Of Bradford & I’ve been thinking about doing Game Design and Development.

Do you have the required A-Levels and entry requirements for this course? If this is the case, you would likely have to restart the following year, unless they are fine with you catching up after a few weeks. However, this could be very taxing.

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