switching courses mid-year and student finance

I started a course in September that I generally enjoy, but after starting, I discovered the university I'm at offers a course that I find much more compelling.

My uni facilitates course transfers in the first 4 weeks of each study block, so hypothetically, I could switch to the new course this month, with the credits from our first study block carrying over, and continue in first-year, going into second year this September like planned. I would still be graduating in the same year.

However, I'm not sure if there would be any problems with this in terms of funding. I previously completed a year of study at a different school, meaning I have used up my "extra" year of funding, and currently have 3 years available to me (including this years). I know that if I were to start a new course, in first year, this September, I would only be eligible for funding in years 2/3. However, since I would not be starting over, would I continue to receive funding for this year, and still have enough to get to the end of the course?

I'm worried that the time I spent studying my current course would be counted as a full year of study, since I would be switching to a different degree, or something like that. The only answers I can find online are about what happens if you drop out of a course, then start another the following year, but that is not what I would be doing.

Reply 1

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Hi there. Just to confirm, you have 1 year of previous study on another course, and you are currently in year 1 of course A and will be transferring to year 1 again of course B in September 2026? Thanks, Leah.

Reply 2

arachred

Original post

by Leah SLC

No, as explained I would not be restarting in year 1 in September. I would be transferring from course A to course B this month, joining the current first-years, and progressing into the second year of course B in September.

Reply 3

Claire SFE

Official Rep

Original post

by arachred

Hi there,

Every student is entitled to funding for the length of their course plus one additional year, minus any previous study. If your new undergraduate course is 3 years and you have done 2 years so far, the calculation would be 3+1-2=2 years left, given in the final years of your course.

If you're entering 2nd year of the new course, then you should be fine for finance. Nothing is definite till you apply and we can check and confirm this.

Thanks,
Claire

Reply 4

arachred

Original post

by Claire SFE

Hi there,
Every student is entitled to funding for the length of their course plus one additional year, minus any previous study. If your new undergraduate course is 3 years and you have done 2 years so far, the calculation would be 3+1-2=2 years left, given in the final years of your course.
If you're entering 2nd year of the new course, then you should be fine for finance. Nothing is definite till you apply and we can check and confirm this.
Thanks,
Claire

Would I continue to receive funding for the current year if I switched course? Right now, I'm receiving student finance for my current course (course A). I know that if I transfer courses mid-year, I need to inform SFE. But is there any reason the funding would be cut before the end of this year?

Reply 5

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Hi there. Would you also be changing your intake if your transferred now during the year? For example you started course A on a September intake and will now be transferring to course B on a February intake, or will you remain on a September intake? Thanks, Leah.