Changing course at uni where offer received

[millyjay]

My DD has been offered a place at uni starting this Sept, but really would like to do a different course at the same uni.

She applied for 3 courses at the uni, but got an offer from one that was not her preference.

Is her best bet to start on the course that she has been offered a place on and then ask to change or contact the uni now and say she would like to change, or turn down the place and apply again the following year.

The course she has been offered is Occupational Health Therapy and the one she would prefer is Speech and Language Therapy so they are in the same faculty.

You can sometimes "ring" the universities when your results come in and beg ask for a place, but I think you have to apply via ucas before that's an option.

Can't she just contact UCAS and put in another application?

Her first year won't matter-she can do her first year anywhere and then change as university goes like this;

1st year - pass or fail (doesn't affect degree mark)

2nd year- takes 50% of your final mark

3rd year- 50% of final mark.

So she can do her 1st year anywhere before changing, as long as she completes it.

I thought someone more knowledgeable would answer as I'm not that clued up ,but my suggestions would be
ring the Uni and ask
ask on www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=6
go through clearing in the summer.
People do change courses after their first year but I don't think you should bank on it .
Good luck .

miilyjay I'm sorry but I'm going to be negative.

If she's actually applied for the course she wants to do but has been rejected, that is your answer I think. The courses are very different and you'll find that their first years have similairites but significant differences and the chances of her being able to change mid stream are slim.

As for clearning in the summer, you can expect there to be practically nothing avaialbe in clearing this summer for competitive courses like speech and language therapy - there are just too many applicants this year.

So taking a gap year and applying again next year could be her only route.

Well I started a course at uni and changed afte 2 weeks (pretty easy process). Quite often they do have spaces opening up after a few weeks as people don't come or drop out.

Can she get feedback on her application which might make the decision for her about applying again?

IMO there is some misleading advice on this thread.

Nobody on here can tell you the answer as it will vary between courses and unis. For example I was able to change course after 1 year when I was at uni, but on the course I now teach this would never be possible.

I strongly suggest you get some specific advice from the appropriate admissions tutor. They will know the likelihood that a place might become available at various stages.

My ds accepted a non-conditional place at his uni. He then decided that he would prefer to study another similar course in the same department. He contacted the admissions tutor and they quite quickly came back with a positive response.

I don't know if the fact that he already had his exam results made a difference. It was however extremely straightforward.

A word of caution if you have a gap year this next year, you will have to pay the higher fees!

I agree with Muddleduck.

Most people I know who have wanted to change courses have had to drop out of uni altogether & reapply (you can't apply through UCAS while on an undergrad course). Those who haven't eg my brother have had limited options of courses to change to.

SALT is actually very hard to get in to IIRC.