Changes of taught course

A student may request to change from the course on which they are currently registered to another course offered by the University. They may either: 

• Change to the same stage of the new course as they were at on the old course (for example, completing the Qualifying Year of the old course and then beginning Part I of the new course); or

• They may go back one stage (for example, leaving the old course towards the end of the Qualifying Year and beginning the new course from the very start of the Qualifying Year).  

In all cases, in order for the change to take place, the School that the student is leaving must be made aware of the student's request and the school that the student is joining must agree to the change.

Content in this policy referring to ‘students’ applies equally to apprentices unless otherwise stated. 

All changes of course without going back a stage can only occur in the first three weeks of the session, or at the end of the Autumn semester, or at the end of the session (unless module choices for the old course satisfy those for the new course and so no change in module selection is required).

2.1.1   Where a student wishes to transfer at the end of the Autumn or Spring semester of the Qualifying Year without restarting the new course, the school responsible for the student's new course must be satisfied that the student has the necessary prerequisite knowledge to be able to perform adequately on that course.

2.1.2   Where a student wishes to transfer after the start of Part I without going back to the beginning of Part I of the new course, one of the following criteria must be met:  

• The change is agreed in the first three weeks of Part I; or
• The change is to a related course, and the student has already taken all the Part I/II/III modules which they are expected to have have taken by this point in the new course; or
• The student has not taken some or all of the Part I/II/III modules they are expected to have taken by this point in the new course, but they will catch up by taking these modules at a later stage in their new course in place of options (in a manner which the School being joined must indicate in writing to accompany the change of course form); or
• The student has not taken some or all of the Part I/II/III modules they are expected to have taken by this point in the new course, but the supplementary regulations for that course allow the School to waive the need to take those modules.  

2.1.3   If none of the criteria in 2.1.2 are met, but the School still wishes to recommend a change of course without going back to the start of Part I, a case must be made for consideration on behalf of Quality and Standards Committee (QSC). The case must demonstrate that the student has already substantially achieved the learning outcomes of the modules they have missed, or will be able to do so during the rest of their new course.

2.1.4   If the change is made at the end of the Autumn semester, the marks from the old course will be used for progression and degree classification purposes along with the Spring semester marks from the new course (the Part I/II/III weightings for degree classification purposes will, however, be those for the new course). If a year-long module was being taken on the old course, the relevant School must be asked to allocate a mark for the Autumn semester element of the module on the basis of performance during that semester (which may mean placing a semester-long version of the module on relevant systems for this purpose).  

2.1.5   If the change is made at the end of the session, it will be necessary for the student to be in a position to progress under University regulations (though not necessarily supplementary regulations) to the next stage of the old course before being allowed to begin the next year of the new course, 

2.2.1   Where a student who is progressing satisfactorily chooses to request a transfer of course, Schools may, if they wish, agree to accept students who submit a request to leave their old course at whatever stage they have reached and begin their new course from scratch, so long as the student meets the normal admission requirements for the new course.

2.2.2   Schools may also accept a student who is in or at the end of Part I, or in Part II or III, of their old course and wishes to start their new course from the beginning of Part I. Schools must, though, be satisfied that the student has the necessary prerequisite knowledge to be able to perform adequately on the new course.

2.2.3   Where a student in Part II or III of their course wishes to transfer to a new course from the beginning of Parts II or III respectively, one of the following criteria must be met:

• The change is agreed in the first three weeks of Part I; or
• The change is to a related course, and the student has already taken all the Part I/II/III modules which they are expected to have have taken by this point in the new course; or
• The student has not taken some or all of the Part I/II/III modules they are expected to have taken by this point in the new course, but they will catch up by taking these modules at a later stage in their new course in place of options (in a manner which the School being joined must indicate in writing to accompany the change of course form); or
• The student has not taken some or all of the Part I/II/III modules they are expected to have taken by this point in the new course, but the supplementary regulations for that course allow the School to waive the need to take those modules.  

If none of the criteria above are met, but the School still wishes to recommend a change of course without going back to the start of Part I, a case must be made for consideration on behalf of Quality and Standards Committee (QSC). The case must demonstrate that the student has already substantially achieved the learning outcomes of the modules they have missed, or will be able to do so during the rest of their new course.

2.2.4   In choosing options, a student changing course must not select modules which they have previously taken. Where the range of options stipulated by supplementary regulations is so limited as to make this impossible, the arrangements set out in here will apply.  That is, in certain cases, supplementary regulations for a student's new course contain compulsory modules which the student has already taken. In these circumstances, the school may decide either:

(a)   that the module(s) must be taken again, in which case the mark gained at the first attempt (that is, on the previous course) will be the one used for degree classification purposes and the higher of the two marks gained used for progression purposes, or;

(b)   that the student must be registered on agreed modules rather than repeating enrolments on compulsory modules that have been successfully completed. Where (b) applies the compulsory modules will be included in the degree classification and the additional modules will not contribute to the degree award.

2.2.5 In terms of the timing of when the change occurs:

(i)   A change of course involving going back one or more stages can take place at any time in the session. Students can either choose to complete the session on their old course or suspend their registration for the rest of the session. If the session is completed, there is no need for the student to be in a position to progress in order to change course if going back one or more stages.

(ii)   Schools may not, though, accept such a student if the compulsory modules on the student's proposed new course includes more than 60 credits that the student has already studied.

2.3.1   A student who cannot progress after having one reassessment opportunity (including where the student's course has been terminated) may be allowed to change course (going back one or more stages), with the agreement of the schools involved, rather than be required to withdraw from the University. Schools may not, though, accept such a student if the compulsory modules on the student's proposed new course include more than 60 credits that the student took on the course from which they could not progress.

2.3.2   Where supplementary regulations for a student's new course contain any compulsory modules which the student has already taken, the module(s) must be taken again and the higher of the two marks gained used for progression purposes. The mark gained at the first attempt (that is, on the previous course) will, though, be the one used for degree classification purposes.

Students on some Foundation programmes are required to choose the Honours programme they will transfer to if successful at the end of the foundation year.  

Failure to do so may mean a student is unable to start an honours programme in the next academic year.

The ability to transfer to a selected course may be subject to the student’s immigration status.

Where a student on a postgraduate taught course (PGT) wishes to transfer course, such a course transfer can only take place in the first three weeks of either the Autumn Semester or the Spring Semester. If the transfer is taking place in the Spring Semester, the school responsible for the student's new course must be satisfied that the student has the necessary prerequisite knowledge to be able to perform adequately on that course.

If either of these conditions is not met, the school will be required to make a case to Quality and Standards Committee (QSC).

There is no requirement on Schools to agree to a request for a course change, and Schools are free to turn down such requests.

In the case of Joint Honours or major/minor courses, the administering School accepting or giving up a student must inform its partner School of the change.

In some cases, the agreement of the Quality and Standards Committee (QSC) to the change of course is also required.

It is the responsibility of the student to determine whether there will be any difference in tuition fees as a result of the change of course and to check with their funding body whether the change will have any other financial implications.

The ability to change course may also be subject to the student's immigration status. 

Apprentices considering a change of taught course are required to discuss the matter immediately with their employer and their School. There are implications to their current employment contract, their apprenticeship commitment statement and thus contractual arrangement with the University of Nottingham. If considering moving to a non-apprenticeship programme, the apprentice needs to note they would become personably responsible for their tuition fees whether as part time or full time student.

A student who wishes to transfer course must follow the procedural steps outlined below.

4.1 Establish whether the course offers the opportunity to transfer onto it.

4.1.1 UNUK courses

A student must check the following lists to determine course availability for an internal transfer:

• Faculty of Arts 
• Faculty of Engineering 
• Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences 
• Faculty of Science 
• Faculty of Social Science 

4.1.2 UNNC courses

A student must refer to the Academic Services Office page on Moodle to determine course availability for internal transfer:

• Academic Services Office

4.1.3 UNM courses

A student must confirm course availability with the relevant school.

4.2 Establish whether you meet the entry criteria

For all transfers, students must meet the entry criteria for the course. Students must check that they meet the entry criteria on the online course catalogue before requesting a transfer by checking the Online COurse Catalogue (link provided below).

• Online course catalogue

4.3 Complete the necessary paperwork to formally request the change

A change of course form (link provided below) must be completed indicating the support of both Schools.

• Request to transfer taught course form

4.4 Process for change from an undergraduate Foundation year to Honours programme

Where a student who has been successful at the end of a foundation year has been advised that they need to transfer onto the Honours programme, they will be advised when this choice must be made. In these circumstances the student is required to complete the ‘Request to Transfer Taught Course – Foundation Year to Honours Degree only’ form (below) and return it to the Director of the Foundation Programme by the published deadline.

• Request to transfer from a foundation taught course to an honours degree form

4.5 Process for change of a postgraduate taught course

Where a student on a postgraduate taught course (PGT) wishes to transfer course, a change of course form (below) must be completed by the student, obtaining written approval from the school(s) involved.

• Request to transfer taught course form