Should I transfer to UCL I need help deciding pls pls
I currently have an offer for Queen Mary University London. My course is mechanical engineering but I want to go to UCL. I was thinking of spending 1 year at QMUL and then moving to UCL next year into their first year or foundation year whichever I get the grades for.
I know that UCL doesn’t do clearing but is there any way I could call them on results day and ask them if they could confirm my place for this year? I don’t mind if it is a foundation year or their first year. Also, would I have to decline my Queen Mary offer for this? I really don’t want to decline it because there is a risk they may not give me a place and then I will be stuck with no uni offers.
Also, I don’t want to take a gap year and apply next year because I would lose my QMUL offer and then what if next year I don’t get any offers because some unis may not like it. Another reason is that I would just be wasting a year if I take a gap year.
I know that UCL doesn’t do clearing but is there any way I could call them on results day and ask them if they could confirm my place for this year? I don’t mind if it is a foundation year or their first year. Also, would I have to decline my Queen Mary offer for this? I really don’t want to decline it because there is a risk they may not give me a place and then I will be stuck with no uni offers.
Also, I don’t want to take a gap year and apply next year because I would lose my QMUL offer and then what if next year I don’t get any offers because some unis may not like it. Another reason is that I would just be wasting a year if I take a gap year.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by soaring-armor
I currently have an offer for Queen Mary University London. My course is mechanical engineering but I want to go to UCL. I was thinking of spending 1 year at QMUL and then moving to UCL next year into their first year or foundation year whichever I get the grades for.
I know that UCL doesn’t do clearing but is there any way I could call them on results day and ask them if they could confirm my place for this year? I don’t mind if it is a foundation year or their first year. Also, would I have to decline my Queen Mary offer for this? I really don’t want to decline it because there is a risk they may not give me a place and then I will be stuck with no uni offers.
Also, I don’t want to take a gap year and apply next year because I would lose my QMUL offer and then what if next year I don’t get any offers because some unis may not like it. Another reason is that I would just be wasting a year if I take a gap year.
I know that UCL doesn’t do clearing but is there any way I could call them on results day and ask them if they could confirm my place for this year? I don’t mind if it is a foundation year or their first year. Also, would I have to decline my Queen Mary offer for this? I really don’t want to decline it because there is a risk they may not give me a place and then I will be stuck with no uni offers.
Also, I don’t want to take a gap year and apply next year because I would lose my QMUL offer and then what if next year I don’t get any offers because some unis may not like it. Another reason is that I would just be wasting a year if I take a gap year.
I would wait until results day then give UCL a ring to see how you can go about doing a year there.
Original post by soaring-armor
I currently have an offer for Queen Mary University London. My course is mechanical engineering but I want to go to UCL. I was thinking of spending 1 year at QMUL and then moving to UCL next year into their first year or foundation year whichever I get the grades for.
I know that UCL doesn’t do clearing but is there any way I could call them on results day and ask them if they could confirm my place for this year? I don’t mind if it is a foundation year or their first year. Also, would I have to decline my Queen Mary offer for this? I really don’t want to decline it because there is a risk they may not give me a place and then I will be stuck with no uni offers.
Also, I don’t want to take a gap year and apply next year because I would lose my QMUL offer and then what if next year I don’t get any offers because some unis may not like it. Another reason is that I would just be wasting a year if I take a gap year.
I know that UCL doesn’t do clearing but is there any way I could call them on results day and ask them if they could confirm my place for this year? I don’t mind if it is a foundation year or their first year. Also, would I have to decline my Queen Mary offer for this? I really don’t want to decline it because there is a risk they may not give me a place and then I will be stuck with no uni offers.
Also, I don’t want to take a gap year and apply next year because I would lose my QMUL offer and then what if next year I don’t get any offers because some unis may not like it. Another reason is that I would just be wasting a year if I take a gap year.
Have you looked on the UCL website for details on whether they accept applications from applicants currently studying at other UK universities for mecheng?
Universities are generally happy to accept gap year applications - they may be more cautious of an applicant who has started a degree elsewhere without intending to complete that degree.
If you want to go to UCL then a gap year would be a better option. For mecheng you could get a yini job placement and get work experience and cash too.
Original post by PQ
Have you looked on the UCL website for details on whether they accept applications from applicants currently studying at other UK universities for mecheng?
Universities are generally happy to accept gap year applications - they may be more cautious of an applicant who has started a degree elsewhere without intending to complete that degree.
If you want to go to UCL then a gap year would be a better option. For mecheng you could get a yini job placement and get work experience and cash too.
Universities are generally happy to accept gap year applications - they may be more cautious of an applicant who has started a degree elsewhere without intending to complete that degree.
If you want to go to UCL then a gap year would be a better option. For mecheng you could get a yini job placement and get work experience and cash too.
This is what UCL has said about applications from applicants studying at another university.
“All applicants studying at another higher education institution, including those who wish to transfer to a full-time degree programme at UCL, whether to commence a new programme of study, or to enter direct into the second year of a degree programme, must apply through the channels described in Section 3.3.”
Here is the link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/academic-manual/chapters/chapter-1-student-recruitment-and-admissions/section-3-admissions-and-selection#:~:text=All%20applicants%20studying%20at%20another,channels%20described%20in%20Section%203.3.
I am a bit hesitant in taking a gap year because if I reapply to UCL and QMUL next year, what if UCL rejects my application and I end up going to QMUL instead. It would be like taking a gap year for nothing. I also feel like I wouldn’t get much done in a gap year.
Original post by McGinger
Your chances of getting a transfer mid-degree to UCL are pretty close to zero
Yes for mechanical engineering they don’t accept transfers into second years but I am willing to start from their first year.
Original post by PQ
Have you looked on the UCL website for details on whether they accept applications from applicants currently studying at other UK universities for mecheng?
Universities are generally happy to accept gap year applications - they may be more cautious of an applicant who has started a degree elsewhere without intending to complete that degree.
If you want to go to UCL then a gap year would be a better option. For mecheng you could get a yini job placement and get work experience and cash too.
Universities are generally happy to accept gap year applications - they may be more cautious of an applicant who has started a degree elsewhere without intending to complete that degree.
If you want to go to UCL then a gap year would be a better option. For mecheng you could get a yini job placement and get work experience and cash too.
I replied right now but my post is being reviewed. I also wanted to add to that post that if I call them on results day, and if they confirm my place would it be an official confirmation like through UCAS or a verbal confirmation? I already applied to them last year so they must still have my application right?
Original post by soaring-armor
Yes for mechanical engineering they don’t accept transfers into second years but I am willing to start from their first year.
Then once you have your A level results, if they are good enough to make a realistic application to UCL, apply in a gap year - and forget going to QMUL.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by McGinger
Then once you have your A level results, if they are good enough to make a realistic application to UCL, apply in a gap year - and forget going to QMUL.
But again, even if my results are good enough for a realistic application, there may still be a chance I get rejected next year. In my opinion, losing my QMUL offer for a UCL offer that is not confirmed is not worth it. Since QMUL is still a really good university.
But I guess if my results are good enough I could call UCL and ask if they have any vacancies and then go from there.
Original post by McGinger
You can reapply to QMUL again next year as one of your 5 choices - they wont mind.
PS. Your chance of getting into UCL now through Clearing for Mech are non-existent.
PS. Your chance of getting into UCL now through Clearing for Mech are non-existent.
Ok so what if what I do is that on results day I just call them to see my chances (even tho they are close to none) and then I can either take a gap year or go QMUL then apply for UCL next year. I’m just really worried that if I take a gap year, I may not get my QMUL offer back if I get rejected by UCL or alternatively get an offer from QMUL and no offer from UCL. It would feel like I took a year out for no reason. I just think that it would be the safer option to attend QMUL for one year and then switch to UCL next year even if I have to start their course from their first year. Also, my parents aren’t really happy on the idea of me taking a gap year and would rather prefer me to switch unis. I can also wait for my teachers to give their views on this too.
If you did something like this for a year it would be the opposite of wasted https://www.etrust.org.uk/product-page/075sc-year-in-industry-placement-engineer
Original post by soaring-armor
Yes for mechanical engineering they don’t accept transfers into second years but I am willing to start from their first year.
There is no point calling them on results day unless they are advertising they are participating in clearing. All you would be doing is wasting your time and theirs. Since "wasting time" is a great concern to you evidently, I can't see why you think that's useful.
Literally starting a degree at one uni to restart at the other is by definition a wasted year as you'll have achieved nothing except burned a bunch of money AND a year of your SFE funding entitlement, doing something you had no intention of finishing. Completely pointless.
So just take the gap year because you'll be in exactly the same situation if you start there in first year after a gap year, but you won't have wasted one of your (finite!) years of SFE funding? Find something productive to do in that year to make it not a "wasted" year. Get a job, work on some personal projects, whatever. If you've not done A-level Further Maths, do that. Plenty of useful things you can do in a gap year that you won't get to do while wasting time and money at another university.
Also frankly UCL is not especially strong for engineering and you'd probably be better off applying to other universities that actually might be in clearing but have stronger engineering departments anyway (e.g. Birmingham, Sheffield, Southampton).
(edited 1 month ago)
It's never a waste of a year if it gets you were you want to be.
Original post by artful_lounger
There is no point calling them on results day unless they are advertising they are participating in clearing. All you would be doing is wasting your time and theirs. Since "wasting time" is a great concern to you evidently, I can't see why you think that's useful.
Literally starting a degree at one uni to restart at the other is by definition a wasted year as you'll have achieved nothing except burned a bunch of money AND a year of your SFE funding entitlement, doing something you had no intention of finishing. Completely pointless.
So just take the gap year because you'll be in exactly the same situation if you start there in first year after a gap year, but you won't have wasted one of your (finite!) years of SFE funding? Find something productive to do in that year to make it not a "wasted" year. Get a job, work on some personal projects, whatever. If you've not done A-level Further Maths, do that. Plenty of useful things you can do in a gap year that you won't get to do while wasting time and money at another university.
Also frankly UCL is not especially strong for engineering and you'd probably be better off applying to other universities that actually might be in clearing but have stronger engineering departments anyway (e.g. Birmingham, Sheffield, Southampton).
Literally starting a degree at one uni to restart at the other is by definition a wasted year as you'll have achieved nothing except burned a bunch of money AND a year of your SFE funding entitlement, doing something you had no intention of finishing. Completely pointless.
So just take the gap year because you'll be in exactly the same situation if you start there in first year after a gap year, but you won't have wasted one of your (finite!) years of SFE funding? Find something productive to do in that year to make it not a "wasted" year. Get a job, work on some personal projects, whatever. If you've not done A-level Further Maths, do that. Plenty of useful things you can do in a gap year that you won't get to do while wasting time and money at another university.
Also frankly UCL is not especially strong for engineering and you'd probably be better off applying to other universities that actually might be in clearing but have stronger engineering departments anyway (e.g. Birmingham, Sheffield, Southampton).
I see where you are coming from and I agree. A lot of money would be burned from switching to UCL. I was just hesitant of doing a gap year with the worry that QMUL may not give me an offer next year because I declined it the first time and that UCL may also not give me an offer as taking a gap year might affect my chances.
On UCL’s website, it says “UCL currently does not have any vacancies in Clearing in 2024. Please check our website on 15 August for any changes.” So on results day should I check their mech eng programme to see if it has any vacancies and then call them? If there aren’t any vacancies I could take a gap year (depending on my grades) or be satisfied with QMUL.
Original post by soaring-armor
I see where you are coming from and I agree. A lot of money would be burned from switching to UCL. I was just hesitant of doing a gap year with the worry that QMUL may not give me an offer next year because I declined it the first time and that UCL may also not give me an offer as taking a gap year might affect my chances.
On UCL’s website, it says “UCL currently does not have any vacancies in Clearing in 2024. Please check our website on 15 August for any changes.” So on results day should I check their mech eng programme to see if it has any vacancies and then call them? If there aren’t any vacancies I could take a gap year (depending on my grades) or be satisfied with QMUL.
On UCL’s website, it says “UCL currently does not have any vacancies in Clearing in 2024. Please check our website on 15 August for any changes.” So on results day should I check their mech eng programme to see if it has any vacancies and then call them? If there aren’t any vacancies I could take a gap year (depending on my grades) or be satisfied with QMUL.
Regarding QMUL, unis don't care if you rejected them one year then reapply. Not something they care about at all, and if you got an offer the first time then achieve those grades odds are pretty good you getting another one (although there's never a guarantee).
UCL has not to date participated in the main clearing process. While there's always a possibility I would consider it remote. They have only previously participated in clearing plus (where they basically "fish out" students who are eligible for clearing plus and so the applicant has no control over whether they get considered or not). So if you do plan to take a gap year and reapply, if you opt into clearing plus that may be a possibility.
But yes the way the main clearing process works is you check on results day and see what if anything is available!
Original post by artful_lounger
Regarding QMUL, unis don't care if you rejected them one year then reapply. Not something they care about at all, and if you got an offer the first time then achieve those grades odds are pretty good you getting another one (although there's never a guarantee).
UCL has not to date participated in the main clearing process. While there's always a possibility I would consider it remote. They have only previously participated in clearing plus (where they basically "fish out" students who are eligible for clearing plus and so the applicant has no control over whether they get considered or not). So if you do plan to take a gap year and reapply, if you opt into clearing plus that may be a possibility.
But yes the way the main clearing process works is you check on results day and see what if anything is available!
UCL has not to date participated in the main clearing process. While there's always a possibility I would consider it remote. They have only previously participated in clearing plus (where they basically "fish out" students who are eligible for clearing plus and so the applicant has no control over whether they get considered or not). So if you do plan to take a gap year and reapply, if you opt into clearing plus that may be a possibility.
But yes the way the main clearing process works is you check on results day and see what if anything is available!
Ok thank you.
I found this other Reddit article where the guy said that he got in through clearing with UCL last year but had to decline all his offers. That’s not really something I’m willing to do so I guess I am either going to take a gap year or be satisfied with QMUL. Might be a good idea to ask my teachers about this on results day.
Original post by soaring-armor
Ok thank you.
I found this other Reddit article where the guy said that he got in through clearing with UCL last year but had to decline all his offers. That’s not really something I’m willing to do so I guess I am either going to take a gap year or be satisfied with QMUL. Might be a good idea to ask my teachers about this on results day.
I found this other Reddit article where the guy said that he got in through clearing with UCL last year but had to decline all his offers. That’s not really something I’m willing to do so I guess I am either going to take a gap year or be satisfied with QMUL. Might be a good idea to ask my teachers about this on results day.
Probably referring to clearing plus as they didn't use the main clearing process.
You can't enter clearing while holding any offers anyway.
Original post by soaring-armor
Ok thank you.
I found this other Reddit article where the guy said that he got in through clearing with UCL last year but had to decline all his offers. That’s not really something I’m willing to do so I guess I am either going to take a gap year or be satisfied with QMUL. Might be a good idea to ask my teachers about this on results day.
I found this other Reddit article where the guy said that he got in through clearing with UCL last year but had to decline all his offers. That’s not really something I’m willing to do so I guess I am either going to take a gap year or be satisfied with QMUL. Might be a good idea to ask my teachers about this on results day.
Only thing I know is if you end up going to UCL and they offer you a spot in their foundation year don't take it, waste of time and money and they really lack in organisation. A lot of effort spent with little rewards on the actual unis part.
Original post by Anonymous
Only thing I know is if you end up going to UCL and they offer you a spot in their foundation year don't take it, waste of time and money and they really lack in organisation. A lot of effort spent with little rewards on the actual unis part.
What do you mean by lack in organisation?
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