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Switching from Theology to Law at Cambridge?

Hey, I am thinking from switching from theology to law at Cambridge and am wondering if anyone has experience of doing so. Or if you have heard of people doing this same subject switch.

How did you guys go about doing it? Should I contact them before I'm due to begin my education there this Sept?

I would also appreciate any other advice you can share for this matter! TIA!!

Reply 1

Stiffy Byng

You can't just waft from one subject to another, especially not from a relatively uncompetitive subject such as Theology to a competitive subject such as Law. Undergraduates already in residence have to ask their Director of Studies for permission to change Tripos, and this is not always granted.

You should ask now, but don't be surprised if the answer is no.

Reply 2

horrible history

Original post by Anonymous

Hey, I am thinking from switching from theology to law at Cambridge and am wondering if anyone has experience of doing so. Or if you have heard of people doing this same subject switch.
How did you guys go about doing it? Should I contact them before I'm due to begin my education there this Sept?
I would also appreciate any other advice you can share for this matter! TIA!!

Not sure that would be even possible for this year since, in addition to approval from your DoS, you will need to demonstrate ability to achieve the entry exam criteria i.e. LNAT score. So you will need to have already taken this and passed to the required standard.

Reply 3

Anonymous #2

Original post by Stiffy Byng

You can't just waft from one subject to another, especially not from a relatively uncompetitive subject such as Theology to a competitive subject such as Law. Undergraduates already in residence have to ask their Director of Studies for permission to change Tripos, and this is not always granted.
You should ask now, but don't be surprised if the answer is no.

Understood, thank you! I'll just give it a shot without expecting too much.

Reply 4

Anonymous #2

Original post by horrible history

I took the LNAT last Sept, because I was considering whether to apply to law or not back then.

I guess I will just write to them and see how it goes.

Apart from the usual LNAT requirements and grades, are there any additional information they require for a switch? (If you have experience)

I'm guessing a personal statement for law is required too, so I'm working on it now.

Reply 5

Anonymous #2

Original post by Anonymous

I took the LNAT last Sept, because I was considering whether to apply to law or not back then.
I guess I will just write to them and see how it goes.
Apart from the usual LNAT requirements and grades, are there any additional information they require for a switch? (If you have experience)
I'm guessing a personal statement for law is required too, so I'm working on it now.

Thanks in advance btw!

Reply 6

Stiffy Byng

Having taken the LNAT may help, but the problem is that all of the law places have been allocated, and those in the August reconsideration pool will get first dibs on any spaces that become free because of missed offers.

This article relates to students who have already matriculated -

https://www.varsity.co.uk/features/28384

Reply 7

horrible history

Original post by Anonymous

Thanks in advance btw!

As a theology offer holder I’d expect that a law interview, and possibly a law ps, would be required. There might be a little less inclination to support this given the timing and lack of university track record in comparison to switching after a year but I guess if you meet the standards and present an informed and compelling case to change, then it could happen.

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 8

horrible history

Original post by Anonymous

I took the LNAT last Sept, because I was considering whether to apply to law or not back then.
I guess I will just write to them and see how it goes.
Apart from the usual LNAT requirements and grades, are there any additional information they require for a switch? (If you have experience)
I'm guessing a personal statement for law is required too, so I'm working on it now.

You don’t say whether your offer is conditional or not but if it is conditional, you should also be prepared for the offer requirements to be potentially increased!

Reply 9

Anonymous #2

Original post by horrible history

You don’t say whether your offer is conditional or not but if it is conditional, you should also be prepared for the offer requirements to be potentially increased!

Oh wow! I did not know that they can still make your offer higher/harder if it's conditional.

Luckily for me I'm a applying after a gap year so I have my grades and an unconditional offer.

Thanks for your advice, maybe I'll just write to them and see if it's possible to do anything now, but if not then I'll stay on my course first and see how it goes after a year.

Reply 10

Anonymous #2

Original post by Stiffy Byng

Having taken the LNAT may help, but the problem is that all of the law places have been allocated, and those in the August reconsideration pool will get first dibs on any spaces that become free because of missed offers.
This article relates to students who have already matriculated -
https://www.varsity.co.uk/features/28384

Thank you for the article provided. Yep, maybe I'll just ask if they can do anything now, but if not I'll stay on for a year and apply next year to switch so that I may be considered before all the slots are taken up externally.

Anyway, its not the end of the world if I'm unsuccessful since theology is still an extremely fascinating subject to me!

Thank you for always giving us (students) advice and insight on the forum! Have a great day :smile:

Reply 11

horrible history

Original post by Anonymous

Oh wow! I did not know that they can still make your offer higher/harder if it's conditional.
Luckily for me I'm a applying after a gap year so I have my grades and an unconditional offer.
Thanks for your advice, maybe I'll just write to them and see if it's possible to do anything now, but if not then I'll stay on my course first and see how it goes after a year.

They won’t. Unless ofc you say all bets are off and want to change course. Because law is significantly more competitive than theology, they will almost certainly reassess all elements of your application vs the law criteria, wouldn’t be fair to other applicants if they didn’t. Probably worth looking at the Cambridge stats for law entrants to see what the typical achieved grades are compared to yours. You can likely find them via whatdotheyknow.

Reply 12

Stiffy Byng

Original post by Anonymous

Thank you for the article provided. Yep, maybe I'll just ask if they can do anything now, but if not I'll stay on for a year and apply next year to switch so that I may be considered before all the slots are taken up externally.
Anyway, its not the end of the world if I'm unsuccessful since theology is still an extremely fascinating subject to me!
Thank you for always giving us (students) advice and insight on the forum! Have a great day :smile:

Also, there is always the GDL or the senior status law degree.

Reply 13

drriversong

i know there's a slim chance of switching subjects once you're on Tripos, but I've never heard of anyone switching before matriculation. That said, there's a first for everything. Keep us posted with how you get on!