12. Student transfer

Programme Transfer

Definitions and scope

12.1.    A student is defined here as an applicant who has completed the online registration process. They may request to transfer to a different programme of the University.

12.2.    Applicants may also request to transfer programme before registering as a student at the University. This process is managed by central admissions. 

12.3.    This policy applies to student transfer in both undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes.

12.4.    Transfer to a ‘related’ programme in this policy refers to a programme that is similar in content (in the academic judgement of the relevant Faculty) and within the same academic discipline or logically flows from the previous programme of study. 

Conditions for programme transfer

12.5.    Students may transfer between programmes if they meet all the following conditions: 

a.    there is sufficient space available on the new programme 

b.    it is within an approved transfer period (see 12.8 to 12.9) except as set out in 12.12

c.    the student meets the academic criteria and requirements for the new programme, including the programme learning outcomes. 

There is no automatic right of transfer between programmes.

12.6.    Students who do not meet progression requirements in one programme may request a transfer or be required by an exam board to transfer to a related programme. 

12.7.    International students with a student visa may transfer programme, although the transfer will have an impact upon their visa. Students will only be permitted to transfer programme under their current visa if the new programme:

• is at the same academic level
• is related to the previous programme (i.e. belonging to the same discipline / subject area or justified as a logical continuation of the student’s study)
• can be completed within the current visa.

Students should seek advice from Student Visa Advice Team prior to requesting a transfer.

Approved transfer periods

12.8.    A programme transfer is only allowed within the following periods:

• between years of study where students have met the criteria for entry onto the new programme
• during the start of teaching for the year of study, either

• for first year undergraduate students - by the start of the fourth week of teaching, for example, by the start (i.e. Monday) of week 4 in Teaching Block 1 for students with a standard programme start date
• for all other students - by the start of the third week of teaching, for example, by the start (i.e. Monday) of week 3 in Teaching Block 1 for students with a standard programme start date.

12.9.    A transfer onto programmes with a study abroad year (in an English language) from a related programme is only allowed:

• by the start of the third week of teaching in the second year of study.

The transfer can only be formally enacted once a study abroad placement is subsequently agreed and arranged.

12.10.    Transfers outside of these periods are not allowed as it becomes increasingly difficult for a student to catch up on the content of a new programme, especially practical components. Exceptions to this are set out in 12.12. 

12.11.    To allow time for a programme transfer request to be considered ahead of the deadlines set out in (12.8) and (12.9), a student who wishes to transfer programme should submit their request as early as possible between years of study or the start of teaching and no later than:

• for first year undergraduate students – by the start of the third week of teaching, for example, by the end of Monday of week 3 in Teaching Block 1 for students with a standard programme start date.
• for all other students – by the start of the second week of teaching, for example, by the end of Monday of week 2 in Teaching Block 1 for students with a standard programme start date.

Transfers allowed outside of the approved periods

12.12.    Transfers may be allowed outside the approved periods if: 
(a) the student is not academically disadvantaged by the transfer and is able to meet the learning outcomes for the new programme, i.e. the programmes are ‘related’ (see definition in 12.4), as determined by the relevant Faculty. Examples may include:

• Honours programme transferring to one with a ‘study in industry’
• Joint honours transferring to single honours programme, and vice versa.

and/or

(b) the student has submitted their request in time (as set out in 12.11), but exceptionally a decision has not been made by the school by the end of the period for approving transfers.

12.13.    If the request is approved, the student may be required to suspend studies and start the new programme in the next academic year.

Considering requests for programme transfer

12.14.    A request to transfer is considered for approval by the relevant Faculty Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) or delegate in consultation with the ‘releasing’ and ‘receiving’ schools. 

12.15.    For transfer onto a programme with a study abroad year, a placement must be secured before a transfer can be enacted. 

12.16.    If a transfer is approved, the following will also be confirmed: 

a.    the student’s entry point into the new programme
b.    whether any credit and marks from the previous programme will also be transferred. 

Unit transfer

12.17.    Students may request to change an optional unit in the same teaching block.

Conditions for unit transfer

12.18.    Students may change optional units if they meet all the following conditions:
a.    there is sufficient space available on the new unit and it is in the same teaching block

b.    the student’s teaching timetable allows it 

c.    any pre- or co-requisites relating to the new unit are met by the student

and

d.    it is within an approved transfer period (see 12.21).

There is no automatic right of transfer between optional units.

12.19.    An exam board may also replace a unit with another unit in the programme structure (see 30.15):

where the assessment or unit has substantially changed or is no longer running 

or

in lieu of a failed optional or open unit from outside of a student’s honours subject. 

12.20.    Students are not permitted to withdraw from a unit in the first teaching block and replace it with a unit in the second teaching block, unless there are validated exceptional circumstances.

Approved transfer periods

12.21.    A unit transfer is only allowed before the start of the third week of the unit being taught, for example by the start (i.e. Monday) of week 3 in Teaching Block 1 for students with a standard programme start date.

12.22.    To allow time for a unit transfer request to be considered ahead of the above deadline,  a student who wishes to transfer unit should submit their request by the start of the second week of teaching, for example, by the end of Monday of week 2 in Teaching Block 1 for students with a standard programme start date. 

For units taught over less than eight weeks, the approval deadline is the end of the first week in which the unit is taught with a request deadline of the start of the first week of teaching. 

12.23.    Unit transfers may only be allowed outside of the approved period if the student has submitted their request in time (as set out in 12.22), but exceptionally a decision has not been made by the school by the end of the approved period.

Considering requests for unit transfers

12.24.    Requests are considered for approval by the relevant School Education Director/s or delegate/s.