also known as an external transfer
Changing university is a big decision and the process can be complicated. You will need to make arrangements with your current and new institution. Exactly what these arrangements are can vary depending on your choice of institution as each will have its own rules and guidelines. At Brighton, there is support available to help you make a smooth transition if you decide to change university.
Keep in touch with your current course
Please remember that non-attendance does not count as notice that you intend to leave your course at Brighton. It is important that you try to keep in touch with staff on your current course, even if you think you don't want to do it anymore. Your attendance can effect your student finance, references and your qualifications, all of which could be important for your next steps.
It is a benefit to you to have the support and help that teaching or support staff on your course can offer you. If your attendance is already less than it should be, get in touch sooner rather than later. Course staff and student advisers can help you to get where you need and want to be.
Who can I ask for help?
- Approach any member of staff you feel comfortable talking to, this could be your personal tutor, course leader or other member of course staff. Our list of useful contacts includes details of how to contact a student advisor and for many courses, student support and guidance tutors.
- Talking through your ideas and concerns with family or friends is a good idea too.
- The chaplaincy and the counselling and wellbeing service are available to all students.
- If you are an international student with a Tier 4 or Student visa you should consider the effect changing your university will have on your visa. For example, will your new course finish after your current visa expires? If so, will you be able to successfully apply to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) for permission to stay in the UK for more time? Do you know the requirements of this application? For help with these questions you should contact the International Student Adviser in the Student Advice Service
- The Students' Union or the Careers Service
How will my student finance be affected by changing university?
How your student finance is affected by changing your course depends on several factors including when you started studying, what you are studying and for how long.
Content on this site outlines the effects that changing course and changing university might have on your student finance and contact details for student advisors who can advise you on your personal situation.
If you want to find out more about other courses available at other university's, start with the UCAS website. The site includes information on how to choose a university and how to chose a course
The Careers Service offers information and advice on career planning and career paths and how your course can assist you to achieve your goals. You can book a one to one appointment.
Things to consider
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. Speak to the course leader and/or the admissions tutor of the new course
Do you want to study your new course full-time or part-time? A careers counsellor can help you explore this option. 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.
Would you prefer a course that has more or fewer exams, or more or less coursework?
Some courses have different financial arrangements (e.g. NHS bursaries). There may also be time limits to loans and grants. The Student Advice Service should be able to advise you.
If you are an international student with a Tier 4 or Student visa you should consider the effect of changing your course at the University will have on your visa. For example, will your new course finish after your current visa expires? If so, will you be able to successfully apply to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) for permission to stay in the UK for more time? Do you know the requirements of this application? For help with these questions you should contact the International Student Adviser in the Student Advice Service.
It is a good idea to speak to your current course leader and the course leader from your new course/insitution as soon as possible. Both can offer you advice or contacts and information that will be of use to you.
The decision to accept a new student onto a course is made by the course leader, on an individual basis. You can only be offered a place on a course if there is a vacancy. The course leader will then consider your suitability for the course, including your previous study, committment and qualifications.
The new course leader will be able to answer your questions about the course and will inform you of;
- What level of tuition fees you will need to pay. If you started your course in 2011 or before, transferring could mean that you are liable to pay increased tuition fees.
- When it would be suitable to leave your current course. This is something you should negotiate with your current course leader and your new course leader. You may be required to complete any forthcoming assessment periods. It is not advisable to leave your current course until your acceptance on the new course has been confirmed as this can have implications for the financial support you are entitled to.
- How to apply for this course. 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.
- Whether you need a reference from your current course.
- At what point you enter the new course (whether you enter the first year or go straight into the second year) - this will depend on your subject knowledge and skills so far, your academic performance.
Things to note
Once you have confirmed your leaving date with your course leader, they will contact the school office and you will be provided with an official leaving date. This date is important because it can affect the amount of tuition fees you owe and your entitlement to future funding.
It is very important to avoid unspecified periods of non-attendance on your course wherever possible and non-attendance does not count as notice that you intend to transfer.
If you started your course in 2011 or before and are applying to study at another University it is important to ensure the University records you as 'transferrring'. Provided you aren’t also changing your mode of study this will ensure that you aren’t charged the 2012 fees at your new university.
If you are an international student, please contact an international student advisor as soon as possible to discuss your situation because any change to your study will affect your visa.
You will also need to manage the process of changing your student finances and finding new accommodation. A Student Advisor can assist you with advice and information to help you with this.
The regulations for student funding and transferring from one university to another are complicated. We recommend that you see a Student Advisor before making any changes to your study to discuss your individual situation.
How your student finance is affected by changing course can vary between one student and another because it depends on several issues. These include your previous study, your current stage of study and institution you have chosen to transfer to.
If you started your course at Brighton in 2011 or earlier, the changes made by government to fees and funding in 2012 are likely to mean that you will need to pay higher tuition fees if you change course. You should check if this would apply to you by talking to a Student Advisor and the institution you are transferring to.
Further Funding
Student Finance England (SFE) will carry forward your existing student finance account if you transfer to another institution. It is important that you keep Student Finance England up to date with any changes you make to your study. A Student Advisor at Brighton can help you with this process.
Currently, Student Finance England offer funding support for the length of your course, plus one additional year, minus any previous study. This applies in even if you change where you study. Student Finance England counts a single day of study as a year of support. Therefore if you transfer after enrolling and at any point during the academic year, you have used one years worth of finance support.
As an example, you could potentially complete one year of study and still be entitled to three further years of support, to complete a degree course from year 1 to year 3. If you have transferred during your second year or later and wish to begin another course of study, you may find that you have to self-fund part of it. This is dependent upon individual circumstances and a Student Advisor will be able to discuss this with you.
Tuition Fee Liability
The Tuition Fee Policy contains full information about fee payments at Brighton and the information here is based upon this. You will also need to check what your new institution requires from you.
For all students at Brighton
- If you withdraw from your course during term one you will be charged 25% of the annual tuition fee.
- If you withdraw from your course during term two you will be charged 50% of the annual tuition fee.
- If you withdraw from your course during term three you will be charged 100% of the annual tuition fee.
If you receive a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance England they will pay the university directly. You will be required to repay the money to the Student Loan Company according to the terms and conditions that applied to you when you took out your loan.
If you pay your fees directly, the calculation is made in the same way, only the method you use to pay changes.