Thinking about changing or leaving your course? Here are a few things to think about while making your decision…
It’s ok to change your mind and decide that you aren’t happy with your current study. Whether you’re in your first year or well into your course/degree, there is always something you can do to make your experience better.
Today we’ll discuss whether it’s too late to change your subject of study to something you’d rather be learning about, and what you can do about it.
Why do you want to change course?
One of the first things to do is gather all of your thoughts and try to find the reason you aren’t happy with your study right now. You’ll be able to identify the problem and find a way to change it.
Here are some things to consider about your course/degree:
- The course: Is it not what you thought it would be? Are you not enjoying the modules? Is it too easy/too hard? Do you just need more academic support?
- The college/uni/training provider: Are you happy with where you are studying and/or uni life? Are you learning well from the tutors?
- Your time: Are you able to keep up with study/assignments? Is the schedule of classes ok? Can you balance your work, life and study? Does studying part time/full time work for you?
- Your health: Do you have a disability/medical condition (including mental health conditions) that is making studying harder to cope with?
- Your life: Do you like living away from home/commuting? Are you struggling with course fees and student finance? Have you changed your mind about your future goals?
If you’re answering these questions and thinking ‘maybe I want to quit university altogether’, read this first!
Is it too late to change my course or degree?
No, it’s not too late to change your course or degree, and even your college/uni. Nobody is going to force you to study something you’ve changed your mind about. However, it’s best to talk to someone who can help (like a careers advisor) as soon as possible so that you can talk through your options.
The ease of changing course will depend on how far through the course you are. If it’s early in your first year, you may be able to change course quickly, but if it’s late or after your first year, you may have to wait until the next academic year to start studying.
That’s why it’s best to talk to someone right away, as soon as you have concerns about your current course of study.
Talk to someone you trust, e.g. a family member, friends, careers advisor, course tutor etc, about how you’re feeling and what your concerns are. While you don’t have to follow their advice if you don’t want to, they’ll provide a fresh perspective about your thoughts and may be able to suggest what to do next.
Think about what you want to be different about your current study situation, and what your options are to change it.
What do I need to do to change my course/degree?
It would be beneficial to talk to your current course tutor if you would like to, and also really helpful to talk to the tutor of your desired course to get some more information and see if you’re making the right choice.
One of the best people to go to would be a careers advisor. Your college/uni should have one on site or be able to direct you to someone you can talk to. They may also be called a careers consultant or careers coach.
They’ll be able to talk through your concerns, your options, and the steps you’ll need to take to move forward with whatever decision you choose is best for you.
Eventually, you’ll need to contact the admissions team and apply for your new course. You’ll be considered for the course and once you get in, you’ll need to contact student finance (if applicable) to update them of the changes.
How to choose a new course
When looking for a different course, you’ll want to ensure that you make the best choice. If you know where you want to study, the college/uni should have lots of information about their courses on their website or from information services.
You can also look online for other options by searching for specific topics and locations e.g. ‘English literature degree course in London’. Another useful online resource if you’re looking for university degrees is UCAS.
Essential things to consider are:
- The course content and modules (what you’ll be taught)
- How you’ll be assessed (exams, projects etc)
- The classes (the schedule and location so you’ll know if you can cope with the study and how to get there)
- The entry requirements (you’ll basically be reapplying, so you’ll need to meet the requirements. There may be exceptions if you already have some of the required knowledge or qualifications and show you will be able to succeed on the course.)
What will happen if I change course? Will it affect my career?
Changing your course shouldn’t have a big impact on your career. If you choose to tell employers about your change of course (which you don’t have to), you can talk about the positives such as the skills and knowledge you gained, and why your new course was the better choice. A careers advisor can help you navigate talking to potential employers.
If you change course, you may be looking at studying for longer which might affect what you had planned for yourself. Everything you wanted can still happen, but it might take more time.
If you change course a couple of months in, you may be able to catch up on the work of another course and join their cohort of students. If you leave later or after your first full year of study, it will depend on your situation.
With enough required knowledge and experience, you could fill the requirements of a similar course and join part way through. However, if you choose something unrelated, you may be looking at starting study from the beginning and redoing your first year, which will affect which year you graduate.
You may also be able to get a qualification for the part of the course you’ve already completed, or be able to do a combined honours at uni so that you can continue your course and explore something else that interests you too.
There are lot of paths you could take and it can be an overwhelming decision to make on your own. Remember that you aren’t alone: your careers advisor/tutor will be key in walking you through what could happen and what you need to do to reach your goal.
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