Is it possible to transfer for my third year?

1

I want to transfer for s number of reasons, I can’t afford the housing so I have to commute and I have developed some health problems making it difficult so I want to move to a uni somewhere in London. I also don’t feel particularly safe at my current university, they have done nothing to support my welfare and I would just really like to move somewhere that is closer to home. I am in my second year of Law currently. There’s not much online about third year transfers although i was looking it up out of curiosity last year and thought that I had read that third year transfer was preferred to second year. Is there any advice?

Reply 1

cksiu

Universities Forum Helper

15

Original post

by Soup3848

I want to transfer for s number of reasons, I can’t afford the housing so I have to commute and I have developed some health problems making it difficult so I want to move to a uni somewhere in London. I also don’t feel particularly safe at my current university, they have done nothing to support my welfare and I would just really like to move somewhere that is closer to home. I am in my second year of Law currently. There’s not much online about third year transfers although i was looking it up out of curiosity last year and thought that I had read that third year transfer was preferred to second year. Is there any advice?

Unis have different curricula and you probably haven't finished the "basic"/"compulsory" modules of other unis. Therefore uni transfer is very uncommon and most students started over at Yr 1 at another uni. If you are so desperate, you could contact your target unis direct to see if it is feasible, and their requirements. Good luck.

Reply 2

University of Salford Student Rep

Official Rep

13

Original post

by Soup3848

I want to transfer for s number of reasons, I can’t afford the housing so I have to commute and I have developed some health problems making it difficult so I want to move to a uni somewhere in London. I also don’t feel particularly safe at my current university, they have done nothing to support my welfare and I would just really like to move somewhere that is closer to home. I am in my second year of Law currently. There’s not much online about third year transfers although i was looking it up out of curiosity last year and thought that I had read that third year transfer was preferred to second year. Is there any advice?

Hey,

In terms of second year vs third year transfers, there’s a lot of confusion because there isn’t one universal rule. In practice, third-year transfers are less common, not more. Most universities are more open to entry into second year than into final year. By third year, many courses expect you to have covered very particular content in second year, and unis can be cautious about whether everything lines up closely enough.

That doesn’t mean third-year transfer is impossible, it does happen, but it’s usually very dependent on how closely your current course matches theirs. That’s why there’s so little generic info online: it’s assessed case by case. This is also why it’s a good idea to contact universities directly rather than relying on UCAS pages or forums.

A practical next step would be to short-list a few universities that offer Law and email or call their admissions teams. Explain clearly that you’re a current second-year Law student, outline your reasons (you don’t need to overshare, just be factual), and ask whether they would consider entry into second year or final year given your completed modules. They’ll usually ask for a transcript or module descriptors to assess credit transfer.

It’s also really worth speaking to your current university’s student services or wellbeing team if you haven’t already, even if you’re set on leaving. Having health issues and safety concerns documented can sometimes help with flexibility around transfers, references, or timelines, and it protects you if there are any funding or administrative questions later.

On the funding side, check your remaining Student Finance entitlement early. Transferring, especially between years, can affect how many years of funding you have left, and it’s much easier to plan when you know where you stand rather than finding out late in the summer.

Overall, your situation doesn’t sound like someone being impulsive, it sounds like someone responding to real constraints and trying to make their degree sustainable. If London puts you closer to home, support, and healthcare, that’s a strong argument. The key thing now is early, direct contact with universities, so you know what your realistic options are, rather than ruling yourself out based on incomplete information.

Good Luck 😊
Arslan – University of Salford Student Representative

Reply 3

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

22

Generally it's very unusual if even possible to transfer above second year.

Uusally even transferring into second year is not guaranteed, and as third years they need to make arrangements for e.g. thesis/dissertation/project supervision etc, unless it's e.g. a "BA/BSc (hons) top up" style course I would not usually expect to be able to do so. Essentially, even where transfers are possible they typically are for second year.

However given in the event of a transfer you'd need to contact the uni in advance to find out if they would consider a transfer before submitting a UCAS application, so there's no harm in contacting unis to ask but I would brace yourself for the possibility that at most you may need to transfer to second year if at all.

Reply 4

ARU Graduate

Official Rep

7

Original post

by Soup3848

I want to transfer for s number of reasons, I can’t afford the housing so I have to commute and I have developed some health problems making it difficult so I want to move to a uni somewhere in London. I also don’t feel particularly safe at my current university, they have done nothing to support my welfare and I would just really like to move somewhere that is closer to home. I am in my second year of Law currently. There’s not much online about third year transfers although i was looking it up out of curiosity last year and thought that I had read that third year transfer was preferred to second year. Is there any advice?

Hey!

Firstly… I just want to say it sounds like you’ve really thought this through. That’s not an impulsive decision. Housing stress, health problems, feeling unsupported and unsafe… that’s a lot for one person to carry. The fact you’re even looking at your options and advocating for yourself is genuinely brave.

I haven’t transferred myself so I can’t speak from personal experience on the exact process, but from what I’ve seen around uni, it’s definitely something that does happen!

The first people I’d speak to are your current university’s academic advisor, course lead or student services. Even if you feel let down by them welfare-wise, they’re still the ones who can clarify your academic standing and what credits you’ve completed and exactly what that process looks like.

Then I’d contact the admissions teams directly at the London universities you’re interested in. Don’t just rely on websites… email them or call if you can! Ask specifically about third-year entry into Law, what criteria they use, whether they assess on a case-by-case basis, and what documentation they’d need etc. Basically try to find out as much information as you can!

It might also be worth speaking to student services or wellbeing at your current uni, even just to document your concerns. If you’ve felt unsafe and unsupported, having that recorded could potentially support your case if needed.

Financially and health-wise, wanting to be closer to home makes complete sense. Commuting is draining enough without extra stress layered on top. And if you don’t feel safe where you are, that’s not something to just push through for the sake of finishing where you started.

Transferring in second year isn’t unheard of, and I’m sure transfers in the third year aren’t either! Could be slightly more complicated but every uni is different, so don’t rule anything out until you’ve had direct answers.

Honestly… Uni is important, but so is your health and safety. You deserve to feel secure and supported while you’re studying.

You’ve already done the hard part which is admitting this isn’t working for you. Now it’s just about getting clear information and seeing what’s realistically possible. Whatever happens, you’re not failing by considering a move. You’re being proactive about your future, and that’s something to be proud of!

Good luck! Sophie 🙂

Is it possible to transfer for my third year?

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