Programme Transfer

1. Have you discussed your plans with your School / supervisor / employer?

We would strongly advise that you check with your School / supervisor /employer before applying for a programme transfer, to ensure that the transfer is possible and that you meet the academic criteria and requirements for the new programme.

2. Do you understand the Visa implications of your programme transfer?

Read through the Visa Implications section of this page to ensure you understand how a programme transfer will affect your Visa, and whether you will require an ATAS certificate for your new programme. Please see our ATAS pages for further information. If you require an ATAS certificate for your new programme, you will not be able to submit your application without this. 

3. Do you understand the financial implications of your programme transfer?

For further guidance please visit our FAQs page.

4. Have you read through the Considerations for Postgraduate Research students section? (for PGR students only)

If you are a Postgraduate Research student, please read through the Considerations for Postgraduate Research Students on this webpage.

International Student Team Checks

All programme transfer requests submitted by Student Route visa holders are referred to the International Student Team (IST) for assessment against the Student Route Sponsor Guidance. The IST must adhere to the Immigration Rules when considering programme transfers and therefore require sufficient time to assess a form and advise a student of the outcome.

We aim to make the assessment within 10 working days. It is therefore important that if you intend to transfer programme, you speak to your School first and submit a request form as soon as possible.

Will I need an ATAS certificate for my new programme?

Depending on the programme you are transferring onto, you may need a new or updated ATAS certificate before we can review your programme transfer request.

You can check whether your new programme needs an ATAS certificate at the government's ATAS page.

If your new programme requires an ATAS certificate, you will be prompted to upload this with your transfer application.

For more information on how to apply for an ATAS certificate, please visit our ATAS webpages.

What happens next?

Following their assessment, the IST will email you to confirm whether:

a) You can transfer programme with no implications for your visa, or;

b) You are required to make a new Student Route application (which may or may not need to be done outside the UK) before you can commence studies on thew new programme you are transferring onto.

Students who need to leave the UK to make their visa application may require up to eight weeks to make the application outside the UK. During term time, this would cause significant disruption to your studies, and therefore you may not be permitted to commence studying on your new programme within the same academic year. It is therefore strongly recommended that you contact the International Student Team prior to requesting a programme transfer, so they can advise you on any potential implications of the transfer. Contact the International Student Team here.

If you are a postgraduate research student, please be aware of the following:

• You will not be permitted to transfer between modes of study (e.g. full-time to part-time) once you have proceeded to the thesis awaited stage.
• Depending on your transfer, you may need to complete additional paperwork before we can review your application. Please complete the relevant checklist below and email this to pgrletforms@contacts.bham.ac.uk before submitting your Self-Service transfer application:
  • Transferring to a Distance Learning Programme: Distance Learning Checklist (Word - 75KB)
  • Transferring to a Split-Location programme: Split Location Checklist (Word - 77KB)

Before applying, use our Before You Apply Checklist to ensure you have completed all necessary steps. Ensure you have discussed your leave of absence with your School / supervisor / employer (for degree apprenticeship students only).

1) Log on and start your application: Log on to Self-Service using your University of Birmingham username and password. Select the Programme Transfers portal and click ‘create new request’. If you have problems logging in please contact IT Services.

2) Check your details: Check that your details are correct. If your personal email address or mobile phone number is wrong, update your contact details in My Details before continuing.

3) Current course and additional questions: Select your current programme of study from the drop-down menu. Complete the Additional Questions section and let us know whether you are planning to complete the current academic year of study you are in.

4) Career goals (international students only): If you are an international student, please explain how your current programme and the new programme you wish to transfer to will support your career goals and aspirations. For more advice on this, please visit our FAQs. 

5) Select your new year of study: Select the Year of Study you wish to transfer onto. Your School can help you with this if you are unsure.

6) Transfer Effective Date: Let us know whether you are transferring now or in the future. Your School / supervisor should be able to advise you on the appropriate date to choose.

7) Select the type of transfer: Most programme transfers will be classed as ‘Transfer to a Different Programme,’ however a select few will be ‘Within the Current Programme’. Your transfer may be classed as ‘Within the Current Programme’ if your new programme has the same major as your current programme. For instance, BSc Economics with Year Abroad to BSc Economics with Placement year. As a guide, if you are transferring to a variant of your current programme try the ‘within the current programme’ option first, and if you can’t see the programme you want, switch to searching under ‘transfer to a different programme’.

8) Select the level of your new programme: To find your new programme, first select the level of study.

9) Select the campus for your new programme: Select the campus which delivers your new programme. Most programmes delivered in the UK will be Edgbaston Campus. For more guidance on which campus to select, please see our FAQs.

10) Search for your new programme: Type in the subject of your new programme into the search field and select your new programme from the results in the drop-down menu. E.g., for law programmes, search LAWS. If you are having trouble finding your new programme, please visit our Programme Transfer FAQs page for more support.

11) Upload your ATAS certificate:

If your new programme requires an ATAS certificate, you will be prompted to upload this. This is only for international students. If you are a home student, select no, as we do not require this from you.

12) Submit your application: Tick the declaration box to confirm that the information you have provided is accurate and complete. Click ‘Submit Application’.

For more detailed advice on completing each step of the form, please visit our Programme Transfers FAQs page.

You will receive an email confirming your application has been submitted.

You can check the status of your leave of absence request by logging into Self-Service, selecting the Programme Transfers portal and clicking on 'Your Existing Requests’. Not sure what your application status means? See our FAQs for more information.

We aim to process the majority of applications within 15 working days. Please note that if your application is complex it may take longer to process, however we will keep the system updated with progress.

If your programme transfer takes effect in the next academic year we will save your application to be processed closer to your transfer effective date.

You will receive an email once your application has been approved, and this will confirm the effective date of the transfer. The transfer will be actioned to reflect your new programme title on the University central record close to the effective date.

If you are currently registered with the Student Disability Service and have a RAP in place, this will need to be reviewed to ensure that adjustments are applicable to the new course and that the relevant contacts are aware.  You can contact the service at disability@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Please visit our Programme Transfers FAQs for more help with your programme transfer application.