Changing courses, changing university

tsabo

(i'm sorry if this has been asked before, i'm still pretty new here and have tried searching)

I've got myself stuck and i'm not sure what to do. I'm a first year student and not sure who I can talk to. My personal tutor is away on research leave and I have never actually met him. I hardly know any of the lecturers and i'm not actually back at university untill 25th Jan.

Basically I feel that at 16/17 when I started applying to university I was too young to actually know what I wanted. I'm now stuck in a university that I don't feel is right for me and doing a course which I am starting to view as, quite frankly, pointless.

I am tied in an accommodation contract which is eating up most of my loan and impossible to get out of. I've ended up in expensive halls as rest were full and I thought this was the best option and had nothing but problems. First I was placed with just two males (i'm female) and one was heavily dealing ketamine, took 5 weeks to move me so I think i've felt out on the settling in period. I like my new flat but problems with the roof mean that it floods whenever it rains and I have two industrial dehumidifies on 24/7.

I have found a course I now know I would like to do and I see a future in it, I have the grades to get in and it's closer to home meaning I can live at home and save up the money I have effictively used in this "wasted" year.

My questions are: How would I go about starting this for 2010 entry? - would I have to apply again via UCAS or could I transfer even though they seem pretty unrelated.
What happens to my student finance? Will I still be able to apply for it next year? Do I have to finish this year at uni to qualify for it?

Any help would be appreciated, as you can see i'm at a bit of a loss and don't know where to turn.

x

Oldernotwiser

You will be able to get full funding for another degree but you need to decide whether to leave immediately (before receiving your next finance payment) or to finish this year. If you take the next lot of money and leave you'll have to pay the grant back immediately, I think)

Have you checked with the other university whether you are still in time to apply for this new course and have you spoken to your accommodation provider as to whether they will let you out of your contract?

I'd also discuss the situation with your parents as you'll need their support at this time.

Good luck.

skintassistant

Hey,

You'll be able to get funding for next year as this year would go through as a false start,

I would try and get an apppointment with your student advisory service to see what they suggest or contact the university that you are considering going to and they will be able to provide you with more information. Its possible that if you complete the course this year that you may not need to go via UCAS as the course credits may allow you to transfer into the 2nd year of your chosen course (depending on the type of course your changing to)

Not aware of the closing date for UCAS though vague idea that its mid january so would actually consider applying through them asap just in case you don't get to speak to anyone before the closing date and find out that you'll need to.

Good luck

Kirsty

MrsManda

Contact the university department you want to transfer to and ask if they'd accept you as a transfer or whether you'd have to go through UCAS. Most universities are open for staff on the 4th January.
As SkintStudent says, speak to your university's student services as they should be able to advise you on finance and personal issues involved with transferring courses/universities and ensure that everything gets dealt with properly. Read through your accommodation contract, - having the roof leak when it rains sounds like your flat isn't fit for purpose which should make it easier for you to break the contract. Again, speak to student services/ the accommodation office about where you stand.

tsabo

Thanks for your help guys.
I feel like i'd had no support at all from the university, I don't even know how to go about contacting student services. I have an exam on the 4th so i'll ask around then.

I was also told that I wouldn't get student funding for my first year in a new degree if I've had any funding this year and not completed the year. Is this not true then?

I think I might go back to my college for help with applying again, I don't think I will be able to transfer.

MrsManda

tsabo wrote: »

I was also told that I wouldn't get student funding for my first year in a new degree if I've had any funding this year and not completed the year. Is this not true then?

Direct.gov.uk under eligibility for finance: previous study says:

...often mean financial help for the length of your course - plus, if necessary, one extra year to cover any false starts or transfers.

so you should be OK but you need to make sure you fill out a change of circumstances form for the SFE and any paperwork required by your current university - don't just stop attending.

tsabo wrote: »

I think I might go back to my college for help with applying again, I don't think I will be able to transfer.

Please contact the university admissions department of the course you want to start before going through UCAS. If the courses are different you won't be able to transfer into the 2nd year of the new course but you may be able to get a place without going through UCAS so it's worth checking. Plus you'll be able to find out if the admissions tutor has any advice on how to improve your chances of getting a place if you need to apply through UCAS.

Taiko

Indeed, funding is ok for next year. It's the duration of the new course plus one year, minus any years of previous HE study.

Follow the advice of everyone else about contacting the new university directly though.

lotties_mum

Depending on which degree you decide to do, The closing date for ucas route A is 15th Jan.

eira

My daughter switched universities-she applied through UCAS. She finished the first year at the original university and then transferred to the second-same course/same year-only difference was a switch of universities but

---

Tyhe original university had her down as 'withdrawn' as of May although she completed thge year having done her exams in June. The database at both universities show her as a transfer student. But the Student Loan company had her down as 'withdrawn'-she's been pursued by their'debt collectors' Smith Lawson for £320 of grant and had letters demanding repayment of the loan by next April.

Yesterday the issue was finally sorted. One tip I'd like to pass on is that the Student Loan Company have to record a telephone complaint-this gets you a manager ring back.It took a fight to get it accepte4d but I got a ring back in 20 minutes from a proper hunman being who understood the issues.i got a name and a proper contact number-the LEA spoke to him as to what was needed and the issue seems sorted.

So-check UCAS web site/Times and Guardian websites for ranking/student satisfaction scores of where you want to go and check financial implications

Good luck

RosaBernicia

Hi Tsabo

I haven't any wisdom to add but would second the suggestion of asking the new department how best to apply. They should be able to advise you on funding.

And do go for it if it's what you want - there will be a way. (I should have changed courses and didn't - so ended up spending two years finishing a degree I didn't want in a place I didn't enjoy. I do wonder if it would have been better to take time out and use that funding for a different route; so I hope you don't wind up in that situation.)

Good luck

Rosa xx

Taiko

eira wrote: »

My daughter switched universities-she applied through UCAS. She finished the first year at the original university and then transferred to the second-same course/same year-only difference was a switch of universities but

---

Tyhe original university had her down as 'withdrawn' as of May although she completed thge year having done her exams in June. The database at both universities show her as a transfer student. But the Student Loan company had her down as 'withdrawn'-she's been pursued by their'debt collectors' Smith Lawson for £320 of grant and had letters demanding repayment of the loan by next April.

Yesterday the issue was finally sorted. One tip I'd like to pass on is that the Student Loan Company have to record a telephone complaint-this gets you a manager ring back.It took a fight to get it accepte4d but I got a ring back in 20 minutes from a proper hunman being who understood the issues.i got a name and a proper contact number-the LEA spoke to him as to what was needed and the issue seems sorted.

So-check UCAS web site/Times and Guardian websites for ranking/student satisfaction scores of where you want to go and check financial implications

Good luck

This is actually the universities fault, and not that of the SLC. They will only change it to withdrawn if they receive a withdrawal notice from the university. It would therefore appear that they sent a withdrawal instead of a transfer form, and it was processed by the SLC/LEA as such.