Changes of Degree Programme
Please check proposed changes of degree programme within a Faculty to ensure that the student has the necessary pre-requisites for the new programme of study. On a modular programme, late transfers during Level 2 may be subject to the student taking different, or even extra, modules to meet the requirements of the new programme. Where students wish to change programme at the end of Level 1 because of failure in examinations, departments need to be satisfied that the transfer will be in the student´s best academic interests. Transfers to escape the consequences of examination failure, and in an attempt to ensure renewal of statutory student support, should be considered very carefully and in some cases might not be allowed. If permission to transfer and to repeat a year is given the student must complete a Change of Status (COS) Form which should be submitted to the Taught Programmes Office. Any special requirements will need to be carefully recorded and made clear to the student (there is space for special arrangements to be noted in section 5 of the COS Form).
In the case of transfers which involve a change of Faculty, the Taught Programmes Office needs to be able to assure the relevant Faculty Officer/s that pre-requisites for the new programme have been met, or alternative arrangements made. The receiving department should contact the releasing department to ensure that any previous personal or academic problems are known of and taken into account.
For students transferring on to certain programmes in the Faculties of Engineering and Science ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) approval from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will be required before the student can change course. Programmes requiring this approval start with the JACS codes F2, F3, H3, H4, H8, J8. Further details can be found via the FCO’s web pages or from the University’s Web pages.
It is a student’s responsibility to apply for ATAS clearance from the FCO. Students will not be able to attend their new programme until ATAS approval has been received and the change of status form approved.
In line with the General Regulations, students on modular programmes will not normally be permitted to change degree programme after the end of the third week of a semester. If, in exceptional circumstances, a student wishes to make a late application, a supporting statement will be required from the academic department/s concerned before Faculty Officers can consider such an application.
For all programme changes, departments are particularly asked to ensure that section 2B of the Change of Status (COS) Form (unit/module changes) is fully completed, since it will not be possible to update the Student Record accurately if these details are not included. There are three columns to complete: units to be dropped; units to be retained; units to be added. Please ensure that these are completed correctly.