Didn’t get first choice Law at Nottingham, offered criminology.

Hi, my son is so disappointed and shocked with his results. Predicted A*AA and received BBC.
Nottingham (first choice) have offered Criminology instead of Law. Also offered Law at Kent.
Any one else in this position or similar?

Reply 1

Uni of Kent 1

Official Rep

Hi there,
I’m really sorry to hear your son is feeling disappointed, I know Results Day can be a huge shock, especially when grades come out differently than expected. Please reassure him that he’s not alone in this, lots of students go through Clearing or end up on a slightly different path than they first imagined, and still go on to do really well.

I am a final year law student and I am having a great time here. Let me tell you why I love it here 😊

🔹there’s a wide range of optional modules available that students can choose from in 2nd and 3rd year. The wide selection means it’s easier to find modules that align with my genuine interest and career aspirations.

🔹There’s opportunity to have hands on experience on real life cases from the Kent law clinic which not only improves understanding of the contents but is also highly valued by employers

🔹 the university also have lawyering skills modules which helps students gain practical skills. We offer 5 lawyering skills modules as part of our programme at Kent. Client Interviewing, Mediation, Mock Trial Advocacy, Mooting and Negotiation. In addition, we offer a unique opportunity for students to attend court as part of our Student Outdoor Clerk Scheme (SOCS). I did negotiation last year and loved it.

🔹the university also organizes and participates in competitions which allows students to gain invaluable experience. I have represented Kent in the National Moot Competition and it not only enhanced my CV but also boosted my confidence. there was lots of preparation and practice session by the university which made the experience much easier and enjoyable.

🔹 the university career service is also helpful and supportive. Additionally, we also have employability scheme. The Employability Points Scheme rewards you for active engagement in co-curricular activities and any activity which enhances your employment with unique experiences of work. For each co-curricular activity completed, you can claim Employability Points. These can be cashed-in for the chance to apply for exclusive internships, work placements, training and more! You can have a look at the list of employers who participated in the scheme last year https://student.kent.ac.uk/careers/employability-points/sponsors

If he would like to visit the campus, the facilities before making a final choice we have a clearing open day tomorrow at Canterbury Campus. If you are interested, you can book the visit from here https://www.kent.ac.uk/clearing

If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out.
Best wishes
Srijita
Uni of Kent student reps

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 2

UoNstudents

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi there, thank you for reaching out!

I completely understand how tough and surprising results day can feel, especially when expectations were so different. Please let your son know he’s not alone in this; many students every year face similar situations and still go on to have an amazing university experience.

In terms of his options:

•

Criminology at Nottingham is a strong course in its own right and still very closely linked to Law, especially if he’s interested in areas like justice, policy, or social research. Some students even go on to postgraduate Law conversion courses afterwards. You can find more on UoN's Criminology Course here: Criminology BA | University of Nottingham

•

Law at Kent would mean he’s still on his originally intended pathway from day one.

It really comes down to what feels most important to him: the subject itself (Law) or studying at Nottingham specifically. Both are great universities, and there’s no wrong choice here.

It might help for him to:

•

Compare the modules on each course to see which excites him more.

•

Think about long-term goals (does he want to practise Law professionally, or is he open to related fields like criminology, social policy, or research?).

•

Reach out to the admissions teams if he’d like clarification on future pathways from either course. Contact us

Above all, please reassure him that many students don’t follow the exact path they expected on results day but often find the course they take ends up being the right one for them!

Sending best wishes to both of you as he makes this decision! 🌟

Adelle, UoN Student Rep
#UoN