Changes to Studies

Recognition of Prior Certified Learning

Should you find you have picked a non-compulsory course you do not like, you can change it yourself in MyCurriculum up to the end of:

• The second week of teaching for 11 week courses
• The first week of teaching for 5/6 week courses and Sixth Century courses (prefix SX)

Please note that during the first term you can continue to make changes to your second term's course selection.

Thereafter if you wish to change a course or withdraw from a course, or get stuck, you can discuss this with the Duty Registry Officer and ask them to make the change to your curriculum.

If you still have an academic course content question to ask, after having consulted the Calendar (Degree Regulations) and Catalogue you should contact the relevant School to discuss.

Within the same degree eg MA to MA (not including MA Education)

If you wish to change degree programme, but remain within the same area of study you must discuss this with the Duty Registry Officer in the Infohub and ask them to make the change to your curriculum.

Non-Tier 4 students in programme years 1 and 2 will be able to transfer programme within the same area of study through the online course selection system (MyCurriculum - when it is open)

Moving to a different type of degree eg LLB to MA (not including MA Education)

If you wish to transfer from one area of study to another within the University eg MA to BSc, LLB to MA, BSc to BEng etc, you must apply to transfer by completing an Internal Transfer readmission form.

When should I complete this form?

If you wish to transfer degree programme at the beginning of the academic year, in September, it is recommended that this form be returned to the University no later than 15 July.

If you wish to transfer degree programme for the second half-session of study, which starts in January, it is recommended that the form be returned to the University no later than 15 November.

There is no guarantee that forms submitted after these dates will be considered.

Moving to MA Education

If you wish to transfer to MA Education, the internal transfer form must be submitted to educationregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk by 5pm on 29 January 2025 for September 2025 entry. Please enclose a Personal Statement (such as that required by UCAS) with your application. Successful applicants will be required to attend an interview.

Transfers are normally into level 1 but may be considered for level 2 if you achieve at least 120 credits at level 1 and achieve at least a C3 in all courses.

Applications will not be considered after this deadline.

Where should I submit the form?
You can submit your form by email to undergraduate.

What happens when I submit my form?
Once we receive your form, it is sent to the relevant Admissions Selector for consideration, and we will notify you of their decision by email. The length of time it takes to process your application will depend on the time of year it is submitted.

'Mode of Study' indicates whether you are a full-time or part-time student.

If you are thinking of changing your mode of study from full-time study to part-time (or vice-versa), you should complete the Mode of Study form, then take it to the Duty Registry Officer in the Infohub to discuss it.

Before then, you may find it useful to speak to Your Personal Tutor who is on hand to help you settle into university life and give pastoral support, if you need some specific advice they can advise you where to go. The Student Support team are on hand to give confidential advice and information on personal matters, financial issues, disability matters and more. Your School Retention and Engagement Contact will also be happy to speak to you, and they could also arrange for you to speak to a Contact from another School if you would like

At the beginning of the academic year some students can make this change themselves. Those who cannot do so:

• Students holding a Tier 4 visa
• Students on a degree programme that does not offer an alternative mode of study.
• Students on an honours degree programme in years 3 and above

Please note:

1. A change to your mode of study will have an effect on how much tuition fees you pay and who pays this.
2. Part-time students are not eligible to receive government funding and are liable for paying council tax.

Scottish students can find further details here.

Students from the Rest of the UK should consult the relevant website for their country.

• Student Finance England
• Student Finance Wales
• Student Finance Northern Ireland

3. Part-time students are liable for paying council tax.

Withdrawing from Study or taking a break (Undergraduate)

We understand that deciding to withdraw from your studies or take a break is not an easy decision. Sometimes circumstances change, and taking time out or leaving may feel like the right step for you.

Before making your decision, we encourage you to speak to someone so you can explore all of your options and feel confident about what comes next.

Support and advice available

There are several people and services who can support you:

• Registry Officer – can advise on your overall academic progress and possible options
• Personal Tutor – can offer general support and help you adjust to university life
• Course Coordinator – can help if you are concerned about a specific course
• Student Support Team – provides confidential advice on personal, financial, or wellbeing matters
• Infohub – can help you find the right person to speak to

If you are unsure where to start, the Infohub team will be happy to guide you.

Important information for Visa students

If you are studying on a Visa, it is important that you speak to a Registry Officer and the Student Immigration Compliance Team before making a decision. They can help you understand any implications for your Visa.

How to withdraw or take a break

If, after speaking to a member of staff, you decide that withdrawing or taking a break is the right option for you, you should:

• Complete the Undergraduate Withdrawal Form as soon as possible.

Please note:

• The date your withdrawal is submitted may affect your tuition fees.  For this reason, it’s important to submit the form once your decision is made
• Unfortunately, we are not able to backdate withdrawals

If you have any concerns about fees, your Registry Officer can talk you through your situation. You may also find it helpful to review the Refund Policy on the Tuition Fees website.

Additional requirements for some programmes

If you are a Medicine, Dentistry, Physician Associate or Education student, you will need to speak with:

• Your Programme Lead (Education), or
• Student Support Lead (Medicine, Dentistry, Physician Associate)

before submitting your withdrawal form.

If you later apply to return (for healthcare and medicine programmes), you will be asked to provide:

• A GP letter confirming you are fit to return
• A completed health questionnaire (via Occupational Health)

What happens after you submit your form

Once your form has been submitted:

• Registry will process your request
• You will receive confirmation by email to the email address provided on the form

Your School or department may contact you regarding the information you provided on your form.

Staying connected and returning to study

After you withdraw or take a break, you may still find it helpful to stay connected with the University. Our FAQs include information on:

• IT access
• Funding
• Resits
• Visas
• Returning to study

We welcome applications from students who wish to return in the future.  If you are thinking about coming back, your Registry Officer will be happy to discuss your options.

Further information on readmission is available on the readmission web pages.

Associate Student Status can only be requested by students who require access to library and computing facilities for the purpose of undertaking reassessments or for extensions to course work. Associate Student Status will be granted for the duration of the academic year in which reassessment is being undertaken. Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Students who withdraw from study are also given Associate Student status automatically until the end of the academic year in which they have withdrawn.   

What access does Associate Student Status provide?
Associate students retain an ID card. They also retain their access to the Library and associated borrowing rights, and to the University's computing facilities, including access to VLE in order to support taking reassessments.

Associate students can also request subject-specific support from academic staff and access to student support/welfare facilities, including support from the Student Learning Service.

Please note: Associate Students are not entitled to receive a student loan or exemption from Council Tax

How do I apply to be an Associate Student?
If you require Associate Student status, please contact undergraduate@abdn.ac.uk to request it.

If you wish to leave the University of Aberdeen and transfer to another institution you will need to follow procedures to withdraw from study. Details on how to do this are available from the Withdrawing from, or Suspending Studies form.

For details regarding admission to other Universities, please contact the admissions department of the institution you are seeking entry to. If required by the other institution, you are able to buy a copy of your University Transcript (your official academic record) via the Online Store.

• Changing degree programme or changing between full-time and part-time study
• Readmission to study

If you are thinking of leaving there is a range of support and advice available to ensure that leaving is the right decision for you and that you know all the options available.

You may find this guide helpful to understand the process

If you are concerned about your progress in a particular course your Course Coordinator may be able to help. If you are worried about your general progress in your programme of study your Registry Officer can give advice on your options and can sometimes liaise with the school to find a route forward.

The Student Support team are on hand to give confidential advice and information on personal matters, financial issues, disability matters and more.

Our friendly Infohub staff are available to point you in the right direction if you are unsure who to speak to.

Your School Retention and Engagement Contact will also be happy to speak to you, and they could also arrange for you to speak to a Contact from another School if you would like.

If you are looking to take a temporary break from your study, with a view to resuming at a later date, you can apply for a suspension of study for a fixed period.

Taught Postgraduates are required to seek the approval of their programme coordinator for suspending study. You should discuss with your programme coordinator what options are open to you and when the most appropriate time to resume studies would be.

Suspensions of study can be sought for a period of up to 12 months maximum.

If you are looking to leave study permanently, or to leave for longer than 12 months, you can complete a withdrawal form and return it to the Infohub or email postgraduate@abdn.ac.uk. Please note that, if you have withdrawn from study, and later decide that you wish to resume study, you can apply for Readmission.

Withdrawing or suspending from study may affect your tuition fees; please see our Refund Policy available on the tuition fees website, or contact tuitionfees@abdn.ac.uk for more information.

If you are a full-time Taught student, you are automatically exempt from paying Council tax. You can ask for a confirmation of your student status at the Infohub.

Associate Student Status can only be requested by students who require access to library and computing facilities for the purpose of undertaking reassessments or for extensions to course work. Associate Student Status will be granted for the duration of the academic year in which reassessment is being undertaken. Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Students who withdraw from study are also given Associate Student status automatically until the end of the academic year in which they have withdrawn.   

What access does Associate Student Status provide?
Associate students retain an ID card. They also retain their access to the Library and associated borrowing rights, and to the University's computing facilities, including access to VLE in order to support taking reassessments.

Associate students can also request subject-specific support from academic staff and access to student support/welfare facilities, including support from the Student Learning Service.

Please note: Associate Students are not entitled to receive a student loan or exemption from Council Tax.

How do I apply to be an Associate Student?
If you require Associate Student status, please contact postgraduate@abdn.ac.uk to request it.

• Changing degree programme or changing between full-time and part-time study
• Changing to off-campus study
• Council tax: apply for council tax exemption
• Extending thesis submission date
• Intention to submit thesis form
• Thesis deposit and declaration check-list
• Opt out of the University's rules governing student intellectual property rights (IPR)

If you are looking to take a temporary break from your study, with a view to resuming at a later date, you can apply for a suspension of study for a fixed period.

Research Postgraduates should discuss with their supervisor as to what options are open to you and when the most appropriate time to resume studies would be. You should also refer to the Code of Practice for Research Students, which provides guidance on the regulations surrounding suspension of study.

Suspensions of study can be sought for a period of up to 12 months at a time.

If you are looking to leave study permanently, you can complete a withdrawal form and return it to the Infohub or email postgraduate@abdn.ac.uk.

Withdrawing or suspending from study may affect your tuition fees; please see our Refund Policy available on the tuition fees website, or contact tuitionfees@abdn.ac.uk for more information.

If you were a full-time student during your supervised study period, and you live in Aberdeen, you can apply for council tax exemption for up to 12 months if you have applied for an extension for writing-up.

Please note that this is an agreement with Aberdeen City Council only, and is for a maximum of 12 months from completion of your supervised study period.