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Course Transfer Guidelines

Transferring to a Degree in the School of Engineering and Informatics

 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 Engineering and Informatics 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 the School Office: ei@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, please contact your School Office for queries on the transfer process; please contact the Student Centre for guidance regarding fee, funding and visa implications.

How can I apply to transfer?

Please complete the transfer application form and return it to the School Office by email (ei@sussex.ac.uk).

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 1^st August 2024.  Transfers for Semester 2 can be requested from the last day of the Semester 1 teaching period (6^th 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 4^th October 2024 for Semester 1
• Friday 7^th 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?

The Admissions Tutor(s) for your requested course will review your entry qualifications and your academic record so far at Sussex.  They may approve your application based on this information and your form alone, or they may ask to meet with you to discuss the transfer. 

You must meet the entry requirements of the new course and your transfer application may be declined on academic grounds.  Your transfer may also be declined if the course you have requested is full. Transfers requested for Semester 2 may be declined where the structure of either your current or the new course would not enable you to complete 120 credits in the stage (i.e. where the course structure includes year-long modules).

If the course you have applied to transfer to has any additional entry requirements (e.g. a criminal convictions disclosure or health check), you will be contacted with further information on what is required.

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 modules.  Please note that spaces on option 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.

Important information for students considering a transfer

All students

• 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.

Overseas (non-EU) students 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.

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