No longer want to study law?
I always thought I was going to study law, but now I am Im having doubts. I've come to the realisation I don't want to go into a law profession and the only reason I went to my current uni is because they were best ranked place for law that gave me an offer.
Now I'm unsure and part of me wants to do UCAS again and apply for some abrievation of politics and economics. As I'm not happy at my uni as I failed to get accepted into my dream uni but I feel with a less competitive degree I stand a better chance of getting in.
I live in Scotland so tuition fees’s isn't a problem as the degree I want to do is 4 years and SAAS gives you 5 years. However I'm unsure on the implications for my loan and accomadation leese( I'm in 1st year halls), aswell as if this is even a good idea. Any advice would be massively welcomed
Now I'm unsure and part of me wants to do UCAS again and apply for some abrievation of politics and economics. As I'm not happy at my uni as I failed to get accepted into my dream uni but I feel with a less competitive degree I stand a better chance of getting in.
I live in Scotland so tuition fees’s isn't a problem as the degree I want to do is 4 years and SAAS gives you 5 years. However I'm unsure on the implications for my loan and accomadation leese( I'm in 1st year halls), aswell as if this is even a good idea. Any advice would be massively welcomed
Reply 1
Hi there Zesty,
I'm sorry to hear you're not having the best time at the mo - this must be stressful.
Nobody can rightly tell you what the right choice for you is, except you. I would start with considering where your unease is coming from - is it the course, the uni itself, or something outside of all that such as feeling anxious in general, or not having met people like you yet? Is there anything you can do, join or get involved with from now that will make your uni life more enjoyable?
If you've given your current course a chance but are defo not enjoying it, then you can always choose to take this year out and reapply in the main cycle in 2026 for 2027 entry. Just be aware though that there are many things you can do with a law degree and so if the course content isn't a problem for you then you won't be trapped into doing law as a career. You can still go into Politics or government with law if you wanted to.
I can't comment on how your uni will advise on loan and accom leases - this will be something firstly to ask your personal tutor, and secondly to ask your uni's finance/money advice team. This will vary subtly from uni to uni so its not something anyone can advise on outside your institution.
I hope some of this helps, best of luck with your next steps 🙂
I'm sorry to hear you're not having the best time at the mo - this must be stressful.
Nobody can rightly tell you what the right choice for you is, except you. I would start with considering where your unease is coming from - is it the course, the uni itself, or something outside of all that such as feeling anxious in general, or not having met people like you yet? Is there anything you can do, join or get involved with from now that will make your uni life more enjoyable?
If you've given your current course a chance but are defo not enjoying it, then you can always choose to take this year out and reapply in the main cycle in 2026 for 2027 entry. Just be aware though that there are many things you can do with a law degree and so if the course content isn't a problem for you then you won't be trapped into doing law as a career. You can still go into Politics or government with law if you wanted to.
I can't comment on how your uni will advise on loan and accom leases - this will be something firstly to ask your personal tutor, and secondly to ask your uni's finance/money advice team. This will vary subtly from uni to uni so its not something anyone can advise on outside your institution.
I hope some of this helps, best of luck with your next steps 🙂
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post
by Zesty lemonI always thought I was going to study law, but now I am Im having doubts. I've come to the realisation I don't want to go into a law profession and the only reason I went to my current uni is because they were best ranked place for law that gave me an offer.
Now I'm unsure and part of me wants to do UCAS again and apply for some abrievation of politics and economics. As I'm not happy at my uni as I failed to get accepted into my dream uni but I feel with a less competitive degree I stand a better chance of getting in.
I live in Scotland so tuition fees’s isn't a problem as the degree I want to do is 4 years and SAAS gives you 5 years. However I'm unsure on the implications for my loan and accomadation leese( I'm in 1st year halls), aswell as if this is even a good idea. Any advice would be massively welcomed
Now I'm unsure and part of me wants to do UCAS again and apply for some abrievation of politics and economics. As I'm not happy at my uni as I failed to get accepted into my dream uni but I feel with a less competitive degree I stand a better chance of getting in.
I live in Scotland so tuition fees’s isn't a problem as the degree I want to do is 4 years and SAAS gives you 5 years. However I'm unsure on the implications for my loan and accomadation leese( I'm in 1st year halls), aswell as if this is even a good idea. Any advice would be massively welcomed
Hi @Zesty lemon
I'm sorry to hear you're not enjoying your uni experience and it's perfectly okay to take the decision to look at different courses and other unis. In terms of your student loan, I would contact SAAS in Scotland regarding your funding and the implications: Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) as well as your uni's Accommodation team to discuss options before you make any decisions.
Universities tend to have a Student Support Service team who can advise current students when they're in these kind of situations so I would definitely reach out to them, as well as check with your Student's Union as they tend to have advice services too. Talking through your circumstances and how you are feeling, and the options available to you is always of benefit. May be worth asking about suspending your studies while you take some time to think things through?
If you do decide to apply elsewhere and consider different course subjects, in terms of choosing the right uni for you, you should where possible attend an open day, as this will help you learn more about the degree course you are interested in, as well as get a feel for the campus. Definitely helps choose the right uni and course for you.
I hope this helps and good luck with whatever you decide.
Mel 😊
Reply 3
20
Firstly, many people who do Law don't 'go into Law' on graduation and never planned to. Its one of those degrees that really does hone your 'higher thinking skills' and it this that main-stream employers value, not the subject knowledge. And is it actually that you don't like Law - or is this because you feel you are not excelling on the course the way you thought you would?
Have you talked to your Personal Tutor or similar, or Student Support, Student Wellbeing etc? They are there to help with exactly this sort of problem. Ask about switching courses at the same Uni and what this process would involve - sometimes it does not need to involve a new UCAS application as its an 'internal transfer' even if you are restarting a different subject at Year 1. A new group of people, a different subject next year might be what you need to just kick-start your enthusiasm. Before you do anything, talk to your Personal Tutor etc - and find out what liability you would have for fees/accommodation etc. Then sit back and think about all the implications before you make any decision.
Have you talked to your Personal Tutor or similar, or Student Support, Student Wellbeing etc? They are there to help with exactly this sort of problem. Ask about switching courses at the same Uni and what this process would involve - sometimes it does not need to involve a new UCAS application as its an 'internal transfer' even if you are restarting a different subject at Year 1. A new group of people, a different subject next year might be what you need to just kick-start your enthusiasm. Before you do anything, talk to your Personal Tutor etc - and find out what liability you would have for fees/accommodation etc. Then sit back and think about all the implications before you make any decision.
Reply 4
12
Original post
by University of BathHi there Zesty,
I'm sorry to hear you're not having the best time at the mo - this must be stressful.
Nobody can rightly tell you what the right choice for you is, except you. I would start with considering where your unease is coming from - is it the course, the uni itself, or something outside of all that such as feeling anxious in general, or not having met people like you yet? Is there anything you can do, join or get involved with from now that will make your uni life more enjoyable?
If you've given your current course a chance but are defo not enjoying it, then you can always choose to take this year out and reapply in the main cycle in 2026 for 2027 entry. Just be aware though that there are many things you can do with a law degree and so if the course content isn't a problem for you then you won't be trapped into doing law as a career. You can still go into Politics or government with law if you wanted to.
I can't comment on how your uni will advise on loan and accom leases - this will be something firstly to ask your personal tutor, and secondly to ask your uni's finance/money advice team. This will vary subtly from uni to uni so its not something anyone can advise on outside your institution.
I hope some of this helps, best of luck with your next steps 🙂
I'm sorry to hear you're not having the best time at the mo - this must be stressful.
Nobody can rightly tell you what the right choice for you is, except you. I would start with considering where your unease is coming from - is it the course, the uni itself, or something outside of all that such as feeling anxious in general, or not having met people like you yet? Is there anything you can do, join or get involved with from now that will make your uni life more enjoyable?
If you've given your current course a chance but are defo not enjoying it, then you can always choose to take this year out and reapply in the main cycle in 2026 for 2027 entry. Just be aware though that there are many things you can do with a law degree and so if the course content isn't a problem for you then you won't be trapped into doing law as a career. You can still go into Politics or government with law if you wanted to.
I can't comment on how your uni will advise on loan and accom leases - this will be something firstly to ask your personal tutor, and secondly to ask your uni's finance/money advice team. This will vary subtly from uni to uni so its not something anyone can advise on outside your institution.
I hope some of this helps, best of luck with your next steps 🙂
Thank you for the advice. The issue with applying for the 2026/2027 cycle is I'm conscious Scotland isn't going to have free tuition fees for ever and I'm anxious to go to uni before they implement fees. Therefore I was thinking about applying to UCAS now and then re-evaluating in January if I want to drop out or not. I'm unsure though if being actively enrolled at one uni may lessen my chances of being accepted elsewhere.
Reply 5
12
Original post
by McGingerFirstly, many people who do Law don't 'go into Law' on graduation and never planned to. Its one of those degrees that really does hone your 'higher thinking skills' and it this that main-stream employers value, not the subject knowledge. And is it actually that you don't like Law - or is this because you feel you are not excelling on the course the way you thought you would?
Have you talked to your Personal Tutor or similar, or Student Support, Student Wellbeing etc? They are there to help with exactly this sort of problem. Ask about switching courses at the same Uni and what this process would involve - sometimes it does not need to involve a new UCAS application as its an 'internal transfer' even if you are restarting a different subject at Year 1. A new group of people, a different subject next year might be what you need to just kick-start your enthusiasm. Before you do anything, talk to your Personal Tutor etc - and find out what liability you would have for fees/accommodation etc. Then sit back and think about all the implications before you make any decision.
Have you talked to your Personal Tutor or similar, or Student Support, Student Wellbeing etc? They are there to help with exactly this sort of problem. Ask about switching courses at the same Uni and what this process would involve - sometimes it does not need to involve a new UCAS application as its an 'internal transfer' even if you are restarting a different subject at Year 1. A new group of people, a different subject next year might be what you need to just kick-start your enthusiasm. Before you do anything, talk to your Personal Tutor etc - and find out what liability you would have for fees/accommodation etc. Then sit back and think about all the implications before you make any decision.
Thanks for the response. I though law was for me but I'm struggling with the readings and finding them boring and tedious and therefore I lack yje motivation to do them. But on the other hand I fear I'm not smart enough as I spend my whole time studying or spiraling about the course and its been detrimental to my MH.
I only went to the uni I do because they were the highest ranking place the offered me a place for law. However I never wanted to study there and therefore I don't really want to do an eternal transfer because I have the grades for the likes of edi and Glasgow and I really want to experience the historic uni kind of experience and where I always saw myself at.
Reply 6
Original post
by Zesty lemonThank you for the advice. The issue with applying for the 2026/2027 cycle is I'm conscious Scotland isn't going to have free tuition fees for ever and I'm anxious to go to uni before they implement fees. Therefore I was thinking about applying to UCAS now and then re-evaluating in January if I want to drop out or not. I'm unsure though if being actively enrolled at one uni may lessen my chances of being accepted elsewhere.
Hey there @Zesty lemon ,
I know this must be such a stressful time right now and I hope you have people to talk to.
If you are wanting to drop out of your current course, and apply to start a new one in September, this is completely allowed and you should not have a lesser chance of being accepted because of this. However, you would have to 'drop out' of your current course in order to be able to accept a new offer.
I also don't think Scotland will start charging tuition fees - at least not any time soon - based on what they have said about this, so I would not worry about that.
I would also consider the option of maybe taking a gap year to explore things and think about what you truly want and enjoy! But yeah, definitely speak to people and gauge their thoughts before coming to a final decision, to try and avoid regret.
I hope this all helps and that everything goes well for you! ☺️
Rehman, 2nd Year Accounting and Finance
Student Ambassador
Reply 7
Original post
by Zesty lemonI always thought I was going to study law, but now I am Im having doubts. I've come to the realisation I don't want to go into a law profession and the only reason I went to my current uni is because they were best ranked place for law that gave me an offer.
Now I'm unsure and part of me wants to do UCAS again and apply for some abrievation of politics and economics. As I'm not happy at my uni as I failed to get accepted into my dream uni but I feel with a less competitive degree I stand a better chance of getting in.
I live in Scotland so tuition fees’s isn't a problem as the degree I want to do is 4 years and SAAS gives you 5 years. However I'm unsure on the implications for my loan and accomadation leese( I'm in 1st year halls), aswell as if this is even a good idea. Any advice would be massively welcomed
Now I'm unsure and part of me wants to do UCAS again and apply for some abrievation of politics and economics. As I'm not happy at my uni as I failed to get accepted into my dream uni but I feel with a less competitive degree I stand a better chance of getting in.
I live in Scotland so tuition fees’s isn't a problem as the degree I want to do is 4 years and SAAS gives you 5 years. However I'm unsure on the implications for my loan and accomadation leese( I'm in 1st year halls), aswell as if this is even a good idea. Any advice would be massively welcomed
honestly i resonate with you because similarly I chose a uni that was the best ranked that I could get in and do something respectable like law with IR but honestly im hating law im so behind and i just dont like the subject its so hard for me to understand it fully aswell, but I think for year1 I will be ok but year 2 and 3 idk how I'll go through with this uni. and im looking into PPE thinking of reapplying through UCAS aswell! so nervous I really dont know how to do this properly i feel like its such a big decision but there are so many uncertainties
Reply 8
20
Original post
by Uni of Southampton Students However, you would have to 'drop out' of your current course in order to be able to accept a new offer.
I don't think that's true. OP would need to withdraw from their current course before they register on the new course -- but it's fine to carry on with the existing course and complete the year (if OP wants to), not least because successful completion of year 1 might (subject to the university's regulations) entitle them to an exit award -- typically a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE). Also, an offer for a new course elsewhere might be conditional on completing the first year of the current course.
Reply 9
12
Glad to know I'm not alone- what are you thinking about doing for references as I feel no one at my uni knows who I am.
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