Transfer course

Before you apply to transfer to another programme of study it is essential that you get advice and understand all the implications. You should talk with your supervisor in the first instance, and may also find it helpful to talk with a Student Adviser about the financial implications of transferring.

If you are an international student, transferring programmes of study may affect your immigration status. You should therefore consult a University Immigration Advisor before submitting a transfer request.

Additional advice and support on the actual procedure for a transfer is available from your departmental administration team.

Joining York from another university

If you want to transfer from a course delivered by another university to one of our programmes for which you meet the entry requirements, this can be considered through our admissions process. We will take completed credit and other study into consideration as appropriate in line with our policies on recognition of prior learning.

• Learn more about credit transfer

Leaving York to transfer to another university

If you wish to transfer to another provider, or if a transfer is needed arising from our student protection plan arrangements we will provide you with advice. For example we will confirm what credit you have accumulated, level of study undertaken and your academic achievement through providing you with a student transcript.

Considerations

Approval criteria and conditions

There is no automatic right to transfer programmes. You can only transfer into a different department or programme if there is sufficient space and they are willing to offer you a place.

The initial decision on whether or not a transfer is possible is made by the Admissions Tutor for the new programme, who will also consider whether or not there is space on the programme you wish to transfer to, whether you meet the entry requirements for that programme, and what your academic standing is on your existing programme.  

If you are applying to transfer to a new department, your application must be approved and signed by your original department and your new department.

You will need to complete the academic requirements of the new programme in full. It is possible that previous credits can be transferred in certain cases and the new department will make a decision on whether or not this is appropriate.

If you are transferring to a similar programme, repeat study will be avoided where possible. This means you may need to replace modules you’ve already studied with other modules.

University Special Cases approval is required for any transfer request where you are transferring into a new programme after the first five weeks of that programme, if the transfer would result in any:

1. repeat study (ie repeating any study/content that you have already studied on your original programme);
2. exemption from assessment (assessment(s) that were due to take place imminently are now avoided due to the timing of the transfer);
3. missed essential teaching (essential teaching as defined in the programme specification for the new programme has been missed and will not be repeated);
4. waiving of credit (you are going to have credit waived as a result of the transfer).

Special Cases approval is normally also needed where the transfer is taking place after the end of Stage 2 of a taught programme, although there are some exceptions to this where the possibility for transfer within your own department is built into the design of the degree programme.

If your transfer case needs to go to Special Cases, the relevant forms will be sent on by your new department for consideration. Special Cases approval is not automatic however so you should not assume the transfer is going ahead until you have had the Special Cases decision confirmed.

It may not be possible for you to start your new programme until the next available opportunity (usually Autumn Semester). In this case, you’ll need to take a leave of absence for the rest of the session or successfully complete the academic year in your current course. You must check if this will affect your entitlement to Student Loans and other funding with the Student Advisers.

How to apply

1. Talk to your supervisor about the options and implications. 
2. Contact the relevant departmental administrator for the new programme if you are wanting to move departments.
3. If your original and new department (where applicable) agree to the programme transfer, you should request the transfer through e:vision.
4. Your new department will forward the transfer request to the Chair of the Board of Studies or Chair of Graduate Schools Board for approval.
5. When the transfer is approved, it will be sent to the Student Records team to update your student record or, it will be sent to the Special Cases team if Special Cases approval is needed.
6. Once your student record has been updated, notifications will be sent to your department, the fees office, Student Finance England and the UKVI (where changes to your course may result in your tuition fees or Student Finance being reassessed).

Students studying in the Hull York Medical School or the Centre for Lifelong Learning should still use the paper form below.

You must include your current student identification number (which can be found on the back of your student card).

The form must be sent from your York email address. 

Until formal approval is given, you will remain registered on your current programme and are expected to comply with all its requirements, including attendance at all classes.

If your application is successful, your e:Vision account will be amended to show the start date of your new programme and any conditions required.

• Programme Transfer Form (MS Word , 27kb)