The Good
Universities
Guide
  • Courses
  • Institutions
  • Careers
  • Ratings
  • Scholarships
  • Events
  • Study Info
  • Edu Blogs
  • Login
  • Compare your shortlists
  1. Home
  2. Education Blog
  3. Student life
  4. Why it's okay to change your study path

Why it's okay to change your study path

Why it's okay to change your study path

As the closing date for university applications draws closer, many students start to panic about choosing their preferences — but it’s not a once-and-for-all decision. It’s not unusual to have a change of heart, even as you move into the workforce. After all, it’s hard to know where your specific interests and strengths lie until you get started.

Reasons for changing

There are countless reasons why students choose to change their study path — sometimes it’s the course itself or perhaps personal circumstances. Here are a few common reasons why you might decide to change paths:

 

  • You’re using the course as a pathway to a different course or institution.
  • After being exposed to different disciplines in a general course, you’ve found an area you like and want to move to a more specialised course.
  • You can’t see yourself pursuing a career in the area after gaining more experience in it.
  • You want to study in a different location — interstate, closer to home or in the city, for example.
  • You’re concerned about where the course can take you.

 

Why it’s okay

While switching courses may set you back initially, many students find that it is worth it in the long run. Below are some good examples of why changing courses isn’t the end of the world:

 

  • You may be able to gain credit for study you’ve already completed.
  • If you’re unhappy in your current course, it can be a huge relief.
  • You’re more likely to succeed (and turn up to classes!) in a course that you’re interested and invested in.
  • It may save you from having to pursue postgraduate study.
  • It can offer an easier path to future employment in your field.

 

Your options

If you’ve decided that your course isn’t the right fit, there are a few different paths you can take. You may look at an internal transfer, where you change courses but stay at the same institution. Or perhaps you’re happy with your field of study, but feel the institution is the problem. Other students are interested in changing sectors (from a VET course to a higher education degree or vice versa). If you need some time to process your next move, you can always take a break from study by deferring for a semester or two.

What next?

Whether you’re changing institutions or looking at an internal transfer, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve maintained good academic results. Like with ATAR cut-off scores, many courses will only accept you if your GPA is at a certain level — even if you already have a few years of study under your belt from another course or institution.

How you apply will depend on the type of transfer you’ve chosen. For internal transfers, you can usually apply online through your student portal or fill out a form and submit it to the relevant faculty. If you’re looking to change institutions, you’ll have to apply in the same way as commencing students — through your local Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC) or via direct application. Once you receive an offer, you can then seek credit for study you’ve already completed.

Related blogs

Are you choosing a course for the right reasons?


09 Mar 2017

read more

Be an entrepreneur


09 May 2019

read more

Being bi-lingual: The career advantages of knowing two languages


05 Oct 2017

read more

Categories
  • Guest 17
  • Rankings 25
  • Student stories 40
  • Tertiary study 86
  • After graduation 29
  • Education news 47
  • Career guidance 47

Become a member

Already a member? Login Forgot password?

Join the conversation

Tweets by @GoodUniGuide

Search Universities

  • Universities in ACT
  • Universities in NSW
  • Universities in QLD
  • Universities in SA and NT
  • Universities in TAS
  • Universities in VIC
  • Universities in WA

Search TAFE Institutes

  • TAFEs in ACT
  • TAFEs in NSW
  • TAFEs in QLD
  • TAFEs in SA and NT
  • TAFEs in TAS
  • TAFEs in VIC
  • TAFEs in WA

Search by Field of Work

  • Architecture, Building and Planning
  • Create Arts and Design
  • Business
  • Computing and ICT
  • Education
  • Engineering and Technical
  • Health and Community Services
  • Hospitality and Tourism
© 2021 Good Universities Guide
Glossary | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy
About | Media coverage | Contact | Bookshop
Good Universities Guide Good MBA Guide Good Schools Guide Studies in Australia دراسات في استراليا Educar Australia Universitas Australi đại học úc Educacaona Australia Coursen Australie 澳大利亚的课程 Australian Career Services Good Careers Guide ACIR GOOD eDIGITAL GEM 360 Virtual Tours