If you have started your course and are unhappy, the University is here to support you.

If you have not yet registered as a student at Bath and want to change your course before starting, you will need to contact Admissions.

What to do if you're unhappy about your course or university life

If you are feeling unhappy on your course, don’t panic. Many students find themselves feeling like this for a number of reasons.

You might feel unhappy because the course isn’t what you expected, or your coursework isn’t going very well. You may feel like your course is fine, but you’d rather be somewhere else. You might feel homesick or find life lonely, preventing you from settling in. You may have health issues that make adjusting to university difficult.

Whatever the reason for your unhappiness, the most important thing is to ask for help from someone at the University as soon as you feel like this.

Arrange a meeting with your Academic Advisor or Director of Studies

If your unhappiness is centered around your course, the first thing we recommend is to talk to your Academic Advisor. Your Academic Advisor will be able to help you understand what the rest of your course will be like. They can help you understand the options available within your current course, which might make you feel happier about it. For example, there might be unit choices you can take that might make the course more interesting or appealing. You can arrange a meeting with your Academic Advisor even if you’ve never met them before.

Find out more about the role of your Academic Advisor.

If you're sure your course is not right for you or if you want to suspend or transfer your studies, arrange a meeting with your Director of Studies. Each degree programme has a Director of Studies who is responsible for coordinating teaching and assessment and dealing with individual student progress.

If you want to leave your course and join a different course at Bath, contact the Director of Studies for the new course to find out whether there are any spaces and whether you can join at this time of the year. You must meet the entry and eligibility criteria for the course you are interested in. Usually, you can find this online. Read information about Bath courses.

Find the Director of Studies for a course at Bath.

Consider what you can do with your degree

You may be worrying about staying on your course because you’ve realised/decided that you don't want a career related to it. If this is the case, know that a large number of graduate jobs don’t require a degree in a specific subject. You might be surprised by the options that are open to you. If you are an undergraduate student, you can see what students from your course have done. Also, consider reading Prospects’ guide on what can I do with my degree?.

Come and talk to Careers

Here in Careers, we can help you when considering changing or leaving your course. Careers Consultants are impartial and are not connected to academic departments.. Any help you receive from Careers is confidential. We will support you with whatever you decide is right for you.

Careers can help you:

• Weigh up the pros and cons of staying, leaving, or changing course
• Understand the implications of leaving/changing on your plans or next steps
• Research alternative courses and universities
• Make applications for other courses, jobs, or opportunities

There are a few areas we can’t help you with. We cannot:

• help with the processes or mechanisms of leaving or changing your course
• tell you if you’re eligible for another course at Bath or elsewhere, or whether you can change at this point in the year
• tell you what to do, but we can help you decide

For help with the process of changing or leaving your course, and to find out if you can join another course, you will need to contact your current Director of Studies and/or the Director of Studies for the course you’re hoping to join.

How to access support from Careers

Come into the Careers Centre on campus during our opening hours to talk to us. You don't need an appointment. For remote support, email the Careers Centre or call us on 01225 386009.

Advice and support centre

The Advice and Support Centre can offer you advice, information and support on many issues affecting your student life. Download their free Guide to changing course, withdrawing or suspending your studies.

Student Support

Contact Student Support for advice on the financial implications of your options.

See the Student Support page on Suspending your studies or leaving the University and Guide to suspending study.

International students

International students should be mindful of the time limit on their visa. You should seek advice from the Student Immigration Service before taking action on changing, suspending or leaving your course.

Further help

Not Going to Uni - offers apprenticeships and other opportunities that do not require a degree. It also includes blog posts and case studies.