Guidance on Course Transfers for Undergraduate Students (including Foundation students)

This page provides guidance on the course transfer process and a link to the course transfer application form for students wishing to transfer to a course owned by the School of Life Sciences only. The guidance contains important information about the criteria for considering applications and the implications of transferring, so please read this page fully before proceeding to the application form.

Please note that the application to transfer form is only for students who wish to change their whole degree course effective in the current academic year. If you wish to remain on your existing course but add or remove a placement or study abroad year, please contact your School Office, School of Life Sciences lifesci@sussex.ac.uk. If you wish to change a module within your course, please contact your School Office.

If you wish to transfer back to the beginning of a new course (i.e. to year 1 or year 0), please contact studentprogress@sussex.ac.uk. Transfers back to year 2 or 3 can be requested via the online form; please contact your School Office for queries on the transfer process; please contact the Student Centre for guidance regarding fee, funding and visa implications.

Guidance on processing transfers for Admissions Tutors and Professional Services Staff can be found here:

Admissions Tutor guidance

CAO guidance

How can I apply to transfer?

Please complete the transfer application form via the link below. Please note that you must apply via the webpages of the school that owns the course to which you wish to transfer. If you are not sure which school owns the course you wish to apply to, please ask your current School Office.
In the section ‘reason for transfer’, write a personal statement regarding why you want to transfer to your chosen degree course and explain why it may suit you better than your current course. This will be shared with members of staff who process transfer applications.

Please note that you have not transferred until the school confirms that your transfer is complete – in the meantime you must continue attending classes on your current course in case your transfer request is declined.

When can I request a transfer?

Course transfers are usually effective from the beginning of Semester 1, or more exceptionally from the beginning of Semester 2 (please note that transfers to a different Foundation course or into stage 1 of a degree course effective from Semester 2 are only possible in limited circumstances – please contact your School Office for further information). Transfers for Semester 1 can be applied for from 1st August 2024. Transfers for Semester 2 can be requested from the last day of the Semester 1 teaching period (6th December 2024).

The deadline to apply for a course transfer is the Friday of the second week of teaching in each semester. For the academic year 2024/25 these deadlines are:

• Friday 4th October 2024 for Semester 1
• Friday 7th February 2025 for Semester 2

Please note that it will not be possible to transfer within the same semester after these deadlines. If you do not wish to continue on your current course and have either missed the transfer window or know you want to restart the stage/start from an earlier stage on a different course, you may be able to temporarily withdraw and return the following academic year to restart the stage/semester on a new course. If you are considering doing this, please seek advice from your Academic Advisor and the Student Centre. If you decide that this is what you want to do, please contact studentprogress@sussex.ac.uk to apply for a transfer.

How will my transfer application be considered?

You will receive an email to let you know whether your transfer application has been accepted or declined. This will usually happen within 2 weeks of submitting your transfer application form.

If your transfer has been accepted, you may then be asked to choose option/elective modules. Please note that spaces on option/elective modules may be limited and some modules may not be available. You will be assigned a new Academic Advisor within your new subject area and your course title and teaching and assessment timetables will be updated. Once you have received your new timetable, you should start attending modules for your new course. If you are in receipt of funding from Student Finance we will inform them that you have transferred course. You should ensure you can receive funding for the duration of the new course before requesting a transfer.

If your transfer request is declined and you require further advice about your studies, you should speak to either your Academic Advisor or the Director of Student Experience in your school. You cannot appeal against a decision to decline an application to transfer course, as decisions are based on academic judgement.

What happens next?

You will receive an email to let you know whether your transfer application has been accepted or declined. This will usually happen within 2 weeks of submitting your transfer application form.

If your transfer has been accepted, you may then be asked to choose option/elective modules. Please note that spaces on option/elective modules may be limited and some modules may not be available. You will be assigned a new Academic Advisor within your new subject area and your course title and teaching and assessment timetables will be updated. Once you have received your new timetable, you should start attending modules for your new course. If you are in receipt of funding from Student Finance we will inform them that you have transferred course. You should ensure you can receive funding for the duration of the new course before requesting a transfer.

Important information for ALL students considering a transfer

• Students on an undergraduate degree may apply to transfer into the same stage of a different degree with immediate effect, or to transfer back to an earlier stage/restart the current stage on a different course.

• You will need to gain 120 credits for each stage of your course to be awarded a degree. If you wish to transfer without restarting your current stage/semester on your new course, you will need to complete all assessments for your current stage/semester to gain the credits required. If you were due to take any trailed assessments from a previous stage, you will still need to take these unless you are restarting the stage to which they originally belonged.

• Students on a Foundation course may apply to transfer onto a different Foundation course, or they may apply to transfer onto a degree course for which they meet the entry requirements. If you transfer onto a degree course for which you have met the entry requirements, you do not need to complete your Foundation course, but may do so if you wish to.

Important information for students considering restarting a current or previous stage on a different course

• Since you will be taking a stage/stages for the second time, you will be asked to sign a Learning Agreement (please see http://www.sussex.ac.uk/adqe/standards/examsandassessment for details). University regulations normally allow a maximum of two years to complete a stage of study (for full-time students), including where you have transferred course. The purpose of the Learning Agreement is to monitor and encourage engagement with your new course.

• Repeating/restarting a stage on a new course may have implications for fees and funding. For further information, please contact the Student Centre.

• You will not be entitled to university housing and will have to make your own arrangements for accommodation.

• Any marks and credits achieved for previous attempts at the stage(s) you will be restarting will not be retained for progression and award purposes.

• Once you are on a degree-level course (i.e. not a Foundation Year) a maximum period of registration applies. For an undergraduate course, this is usually the standard length of your course plus three years.

Important information for Student Route visa students only

• If you are studying on a Student Visa and considering a course transfer of any kind, there may be implications for your visa. Please contact an International Advisor (https://student.sussex.ac.uk/international/visas#contact). If you wish to transfer back to an earlier stage or to restart your stage on a different course, it is vital that you seek advice from an International Advisor before requesting a transfer.

• If you are studying at the University on a Student Route student visa, any transfer will be reported to UK Visas and Immigration. Information on how transfers can impact your visa (including the time limit on studying with a Student Visa) can be found here: https://student.sussex.ac.uk/international/visas/during-studies/changes/changes-to-studies

• If you are applying to transfer back to an earlier stage of study, or to restart your current stage on a new course, you will need to apply for a new visa before starting the new course. This is because you are changing course and you cannot complete your new course within the same timeframe as your old one. You will need to apply from your home country, so please make sure you do this in plenty of time, so that you can arrive in time for teaching for the new academic year.

• If you are changing schools or if the new course is not connected to your previous course, both you and your school will need to provide us with a justification for the transfer for UKVI purposes.

If you have any questions or require further information, please email lifesci-cao@sussex.ac.uk.

Data protection

Your personal data is processed by the University of Sussex and stored by ‘Campus Management’ (on the University’s behalf) in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation; further detail about the University’s processing activities in relation to personal data can be found in our privacy notice. You can also view Campus Management’s privacy notice.

Campus Management’s privacy notice

Important information for overseas fee-payers only

You should note that if you transfer to a degree course in a higher fee band your fees will rise when you begin that course. If your fees are paid by a sponsor, please check with them directly whether the transfer will affect your sponsorship.