Once you've applied you may wish to make changes in the following ways:
We understand that applicants often have multiple interests and may decide to change their course after submitting an application.
We strongly recommend researching your preferred course option thoroughly and submitting your request before the UCAS equal consideration date for the best chance of being considered.
Please note that we can only approve one course-change per admissions cycle, so be sure you are confident in your choice and check the requirements for the course, before submitting your request.
Before, and including, the January UCAS equal consideration date:
Waiting for a decision on your application?
If you have applied for one of our courses, are still waiting for a decision, and have decided you would prefer a different course, please log onto your Durham Applicant Portal, and 'Contact Us' to let us know. We will first check whether you meet the minimum requirements for the new course. If you do, we will update your application so it can be considered for your new choice instead.
Already have an offer?
If you already have an offer from us, we can still consider your course change request, but this will be in competition with other applications received by the January UCAS equal consideration date. This may mean it takes longer for us to reach a decision, as your application will be considered alongside others. To request a course change, please log onto your Durham Applicant Portal, and 'Contact Us' to let us know.
If you originally applied for a completely different subject area, you may wish to submit a new personal statement for us to consider substitute personal statement
Please note that if you received an offer for an alternative course rather than your original choice, we cannot consider a change back to the original course. However, if places become available during Clearing later in the cycle, you may be able to apply for your original course through that route.
After the January UCAS equal consideration date:
Following the January UCAS equal consideration date, course-change requests will only be considered for courses with available spaces.
If your preferred course is marked as closed on UCAS, we may not be able to consider your request.
An exception may apply if you are requesting a change within the same academic department. For example, a change from BSc Physics to MPhys Theoretical Physics may still be possible.
If you have been offered deferred entry for the following year, it may not be possible to change your course. In most cases, you will need to reapply for the new course.
Requests to either 'defer' a year (i.e. to start a year later) or to 'un-defer' a year (to start a year earlier) are dependent on places being available. Therefore it is often easier to 'defer' a year than to 'un-defer'. If you're still deciding what year to apply for and aren't 100% sure, then we'd recommend applying for 'direct' entry.
If you'd like to make a change to your year of entry, please log onto your Durham Applicant Portal, select your application and click on 'Request Deferral' at the bottom of the page to let us know. Please ensure you provide a reason for your request and any relevant evidence if this is based on medical grounds.
Which courses are changes of year possible for?We will consider change of year requests for all of our courses. However, for our Law, History and Foundation Year courses a deferral will only be considered if you have mitigating circumstances (such as a significant and evidenced health reason).
Regardless of year of entry, we will assess your application according to the entry requirements and selection criteria used in the year you're applying in. Your application will be considered alongside all other applications for your course in the same application year i.e. applying for deferred entry won't increase your chances of receiving an offer.
When won't we consider a deferral?
If you're successful in gaining a place with us through Clearing, or if we confirmed your place with us after you missed your offer conditions, this will be for the specific year of entry we accepted you for. As such, a deferral would only be considered if you have mitigating circumstances (such as a significant and evidenced health reason), and this would not be guaranteed.
If you'd like to join us the following year instead then you'd need to reapply in the next admissions cycle. Your application would be considered in competition with the rest of the cohort for the new cycle. If you'd missed your original offer conditions, you may wish to consider re-sitting exams to ensure your application is competitive.
Once you've made your firm and insurance replies, you have 14 days to make a change at UCAS and you won't need to contact us to let us know.
After 14 days, approval from each university involved in the change is required. You can contact UCAS directly to request this.
Please note, our view regarding change of replies after 14 days may change later in the cycle (for example if more applicants than expected choose one of our courses as their firm choice). Please check this webpage for updates as the cycle continues.
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