Changing your course, taking time out, or leaving university is a big decision. Please refer to Imperial’s Changes to Registration Status webpage for specifics around the processes and procedures.

Why might I change my registration status?

There are many reasons why you may be considering a change to your registration status. You may want to take time out for personal or health reasons, or to pursue an industrial placement that isn’t aligned to your subject of study. You may want to transfer from a 4-year programme to a 3-year programme, change the academic focus of your studies, or leave Imperial altogether to pursue something else or restart at another university.

How can the Careers Service help me?

The Careers Service can offer you confidential and impartial support through your decision-making process with career planning information, advice, and guidance to help you consider your options and to ensure the best outcome for your personal situation. Whatever your circumstance we can help you to appraise the potential consequences and opportunities that your decisions may present and help you to make a well-informed decision about your future. If you’d like our support, you can book an appointment directly with one of the team through JobsLive or contact us directly to discuss your situation and we can direct you to the best course of action.

Who else can I speak to?

We’d encourage you to discuss your options with a member of staff in your academic department (e.g. your personal tutor), with the Imperial College Union Advice Service, or with the Student Counselling and Mental Health Service. You may want to explore any financial implications of your decision with Student Finance, and if you’re an international student the International Student Support Team can discuss how changes to registration status could affect your student visa and right to remain in the UK. The Student Support Zone also has information around things to consider before interrupting your studies.

Transferring to another degree programme (within Imperial)

If you want to transfer to another programme in your department, or within another department at Imperial, please review the information on the Changes to Registration Status webpage.

Transferring to another degree programme (outside Imperial)

If you would like to study somewhere else, you will need to contact the university you want to move to and discuss your circumstances and familiarise yourself with our Changes to Registration Status webpage. A direct transfer may be possible, or you may need to reapply for the new programme. Within the UK, this will likely be through UCAS for undergraduate programmes or directly to the university for postgraduate programmes.

      • Applying through UCAS: It is likely that you will be applying independently (not through a school or sixth form college) and will be responsible for completing the application yourself. Explore the UCAS applying to university website for information include application fees, references, and relevant deadlines. You can also contact your previous school/college to see if they will let you apply via them
      • Applying directly to a postgraduate course: Many institutions have their own online application system. Contact the university you are interested in to discuss their process

Applying for a higher degree apprenticeship

If you are interested in a specific work area, e.g. finance or business, and would like to combine working and studying, then a higher degree apprenticeship could be an alternative option to a university course. Discover more about apprenticeships via the UCAS Apprenticeships webpage or the Office for Students degree apprenticeship webpage.

Support after leaving Imperial

Our service provision is only available to you as a registered student at Imperial. If you are no longer at Imperial, but want to talk through your options with an advisor, then you can contact the National Careers Service for ongoing support, advice and information.

Additional resources

For further reading around changes to registration please visit (sorted alphabetically):