Transfers

Please see the link below for the full list of programmes on offer in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology. Please be aware that not all programmes are available to join: some degrees are being phased out and cannot be joined unless there is an existing cohort. Please email the student support and experience team for more details if you are unsure if a particular programme is available for you to join.  

DPTS ​​​​​

Before proceeding with a transfer, please arrange to meet with your Personal Tutor or Student Advisor to discuss your current degree studies and any problems or other options that may be available to you.  If after meeting with your personal tutor and considering your options, you still wish to transfer, please carefully read the important information below before submitting your request.

Requests to transfer for the academic year 2023/24 have to be submitted by our deadline in July (exact date to be announced). Requests submitted after this date will not be considered unless there are very exceptional circumstances affecting a timely application. 

Further queries can be sent to the Undergraduate Director, Dr Joanne Rowland. 

The transfer request form is currently unavailable as we are not accepting transfer requests at this time. The form will become available in semester 2, in early April 

If you have submitted your transfer request, you will not hear back until after the deadline. We aim to respond to all transfer requests by the 1^st August. 

• Transfers are not automatic or guaranteed and are at the discretion of the School. 
• Some transfers are not possible, particularly where there are tight subject limits and minimum entrance grades for degree programmes. 
• Transfers into a different degree must normally begin at the start of the next academic year, not part-way through an academic year. 
• Transfers into the fourth year of a different degree are not possible unless there are very exceptional circumstances. 
• Course selection for the new academic year will be done later for transfer students. Please be aware that you may not secure a place on very popular courses if you have transferred programmes. 
• If your progression decision is deferred, we will not make a decision on your transfer until after the August re-assessment period has finished. 
• Transfers in year 1 of a degree programme: 
  • In year 1 transfers are only possible before the end of week 2. 
  • You must contact the College Admissions Office to enquire about changing your degree before the end of week 2.
  • If you miss this window, applications for transfers into second year will be considered after the end of the academic year. 
• Changing degree programme may affect your tuition fees, funding arrangements, and visa status. It is your responsibility to investigate the implications of a transfer and it is assumed that you have made yourself aware of the implications before you submit your application. Please consult: 
  • Fees and Student Support Team - fees@ed.ac.uk ·  
  • Scholarships and Financial Support Team - studentfunding@ed.ac.uk  
  • Student Immigration Service, concerning visas - StudentImmigration@ed.ac.uk 
  • Your own funding body 

Transfer into year 2 of a single or joint-honours degree programme: 

• Capacity must be available on the programme you wish to join. 
• The number of spaces will be set on an annual basis by the Subject Area. For transfers into History, if there are more applicants than spaces, students will be ranked according to their average in 40 credits of (their best) History courses. Students who have taken The Historian’s Toolkit will be given priority.  
• For History transfers, students must have passed all History courses in first year at first attempt. 
• The school looks for students to have completed as many of the compulsory courses as possible for the programme they wish to join. Transfer requests from students who are missing more than one compulsory course will be considered but approval is not guaranteed. Particular attention will be paid to evidence of some aptitude for the subject demonstrated by the results on one or more relevant courses.  
• Concessions to the above rules may be granted at the discretion of the relevant Head of Subject. 

Transfer into the third year of a single or joint-honours degree programme: 

• • Students will be considered for transfer into the third year of a degree programme only if they satisfy all of the requirements for entry to Honours on the new programme. You can find more information on this at the link below.  
  • The number of spaces will be set on an annual basis by the relevant Subject Area. For transfers into History, if there are more applicants than spaces, students will be ranked according to their average in 80 credits of (their best) History courses across years 1 and 2 

If you do not meet the above transfer criteria and cannot progress in your current degree programme, speak to your Personal Tutor and/or Student Advisor (for your current degree programme) who may liaise with the HCA UG Director.

Degree regulations & programmes of study