Postgraduate research change of course and mode

Change of course 

You should discuss any proposed change of degree title with your supervisor. Once you have decided that you want to change your degree title, you will need to make a formal request using the online Change of Course/Degree title form, which will need to be approved by your department/school/centre and the Dean.

Change of mode

During your standard period of study, you may request a transfer from one mode of study to another, for example from full time to part-time (including distance learning) or vice-versa. You should discuss any proposed change with your supervisor.

Students are not normally allowed to change their mode of study within the final six months of the standard period.

If you are requesting a change from part-time to full-time, you will need to undertake periods of part-time study in multiples of two terms before requesting a change to full time study (two terms of part-time study equate to one term of full-time study).

If you are a sponsored student, you should discuss any proposed change with your funding body and/or check its terms and conditions. If you are a Research Council-funded student, you should contact the Postgraduate Research Education team to discuss your request to change your mode of study.

Once you have decided that you want to change your mode of study, you will need to make a formal request, using the online Change of Mode of Study form, which will need to be approved by your department and the Dean.

If your request is approved, your standard period of study and thesis submission deadline will be adjusted pro-rata. Students who have changed from full-time to part-time or vice-versa will have any completion period calculated on the predominant mode of study for their standard period. For example, a student who has completed two-thirds or more of their standard period on a part-time mode of study, having switched between full-time and part-time study during their standard period, and is entering a period of completion as a part-time student, will have up to six terms of completion available (the pro-rata equivalent of three terms for full-time study). However, a student who has completed less than two thirds of their standard period on a part-time mode of study or is entering completion as a full-time student, will have up to the full-time equivalent of three terms of completion applied (unless exceptional circumstances exist, which are considered on a case-by-case basis).

Sponsored students (student visa)

If you change your course at the University of Essex, this may affect your student immigration status and you may need to obtain a new Student visa first. Please see our immigration pages for information about changes to your studies.