Your educational background

You need to be realistic that the subjects, grades and personal qualities that were required of you for your first course are appropriate for another course.

The course leader and/or the admissions tutor of the new course.

You can find out who this is from the prospectus or online via the courses' database

Mode of study

Do you want to study your new course full-time or part-time?

A careers counsellor can help you explore this option.

Your course tutors may also be able to help you with this.

Students who started in 2011 or before, who start a new course in the first year but change mode of study, could be liable to pay 2012 fees - check your situation with the Student Advice Service.

Level of course

Do you want to study at a different level - for example foundation degree?

A careers counsellor can help you explore this option.

Your course tutors may also be able to help you with this.

Subject areas

Do you have an idea which subjects you would like to study? Does the university offer this subject?

You can discuss with a careers counsellor broadly your options and the career implications of these.

Type of assessment

Would you prefer a course that has more or fewer exams, or more or less coursework?

A careers counsellor can help you explore this option.

Your course tutors may also be able to help you with this.

Which course?

Once you have considered the above, you will be able to create a short list of courses.

You can find out about the courses on offer at the university by looking at the university prospectus or online via the courses' database.

Financial consequences

Some courses have different financial arrangements (e.g. NHS bursaries). There may also be time limits to loans and grants - see step 3 below.

The Student Advice Service should be able to advise you.

Motivation

Why are you interested in this course?

For example, your interest in the subject; your career aims.

Availability

Are there any vacancies on the course?

Some courses have limits to the overall numbers.

Your subject knowledge and skills so far

This will determine whether you enter the first year or go straight into the second year. It will be up to the admissions tutor to decide on this and will be based on your past performance.

Students who have failed an assessment and wish to transfer will be treated as a new student and will start in the first year.

Making an application

This is likely to be via UCAS; but if you are hoping to enter the second year of a course, you may be asked to write a letter and complete a university application form.

Allow plenty of time for this stage.

Information about applying for undergraduate and postgraduate courses including their application proceedures is available at:
www.brighton.ac.uk/prospective/

What will acceptance on the course depend on? How will a decision about your application be made?

Acceptance depends on course results from the year, completion of your first year and discussion with the course admissions tutor.

It is not advisable to leave your current course until your acceptance on the new course has been confirmed. This can have implications for the financial support you are entitled to.

Reference

You will need to get a reference from your present tutor.

For those that started their course in 2011 or before:

If you transfer onto a new course at the same mode - it will up to the admissions tutor or course leader as to whether you will be classed as a new student (starting in the first year and liable for increased fees) or a continuing student (starting in the second or third year and pay existing fees).

If you change your mode of study, for example moving from a full-time to a part-time course, you will be classed as a new student and be liable for the new fees

For those that started their course in 2012:

Your funding will transfer from one course to the other.

Tuition Fee Loans : Previous study is taken into account when making an assessment for student financial support.  The basic principle is that students are eligible for funding for the standard length of their course, plus one year, minus any years of previous study.  Eligibility for the Maintenance Grant and Special Support Grant is linked to eligibility for the Tuition Fee Loan, so students who are not eligible for a TFL are not eligible for the MG or SSG either.   You should also be aware that when calculating previous study, Student Finance England treats 1 day’s study as equivalent to 1 year’s funding.

Loans for Living costs : You should still be eligible for the full maintenance loan to which you are entitled as long as the course is designated.

Gaps between courses

If there is a gap between you leaving one course and joining another you will not normally be eligible for social security benefits, unless you  already have an entitlement.

Students who have failed some or all of their original course

Students in this situation will usually start in the first year of the new course.

If you feel that ill health or other circumstances beyond your control have affected your studies, you may want to discuss the matter with the Student Advice Service.
In addition, see SU Support Service who advocate on your behalf in academic appeal cases, where necessary.

It is important to inform your new course about this process, as it may affect your start date.