Can I switch courses at university?

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows sth about switching courses after first year at the same university. I mean eg. Biomedical sciences to Neuroscience or Biotechnology. Sth in the same area just different course. Did anyone have this experience? Is it possible and if so, is it hard? What do i have to do to transfer to another course?

For the record I'm thinking of applying to Nottingham, Bristol, Exeter, Newcastle, Bath or Edinburgh, but any advise is appreciated.
Thanks

Reply 1

ExeterStudentRep

Official Rep

Hi Maga^_^,

This is a great question and I am more than happy to look into your enquiry further. I am just wondering, what is stopping you from applying to Neuroscience or Biotechnology in the first place? Perhaps it might be easier if you did choose to stick with one course throughout your three years. We at Exeter, often let our students change their course within the first two weeks, subject to availability and grades, but I haven't heard of a student changing courses in their second year. We have welcomed students from different universities, joining us to begin their second year studies in the same subject, but like I said it is very unusual to change your course, without starting your degree from the first year.

You might be able to pick one, for example neuroscience, and then take modules from biomedical science as some of our degrees can become cross disciplinary. Or you could look at maybe an FCH programme, also known as Flexible Combined Honours, where you can perhaps split your course between neuroscience and biomedical, but I am not totally sure. Have a look here at our FCH programme.

Let me know if you'd like me to speak to our admissions team about your concern and I can get back to you with a more detailed response, whether this may be about FCH or your initial enquiry.

Best wishes,
Sophie, University of Exeter Student Ambassador.

Reply 2

McGinger

Switching to Year 2 of an entirely different degree is not likely at all - because you would not have taken the requisite 1st year units for that degree. Starting again in Year 1 isnt that likely either as they would still want the appropriate A level grades which presumably you dont have, and they would not be likely to accept 1st year grades from another degree subject instead.

Never, ever, start any degree that you dont actually want to study in the hope that you can find some sort of magic back-door to an entirely different one. Its a total waste of time and money.

Reply 3

567tyu

Original post by Maga^_^

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows sth about switching courses after first year at the same university. I mean eg. Biomedical sciences to Neuroscience or Biotechnology. Sth in the same area just different course. Did anyone have this experience? Is it possible and if so, is it hard? What do i have to do to transfer to another course?
For the record I'm thinking of applying to Nottingham, Bristol, Exeter, Newcastle, Bath or Edinburgh, but any advise is appreciated.
Thanks

Edinburgh have direct entry into second year as an option for all of those courses. If you start in first year and find you want to switch after first year, you might be allowed to go into second year of the other degree as you would meet the prerequisites by virtue of your A-Level/Advanced Higher grades (if you do indeed meet the requirements for second year entry). However, this wouldn’t be a guarantee (particularly if you want to switch into a popular course), so you should still try and apply for the degree you want to do the most.