Thinking It Through
There are lots of factors you could consider when deciding whether to drop out of university or college.
Although we’ve covered some of these below, you may also decide that dropping out simply feels right for you.
Career pathways
Do you have a career pathway in mind which requires a particular qualification? For example, if you want to become a vet you’ll need to complete a veterinary degree approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). Dropping out of a veterinary degree would directly impact your ability to become a vet. However, there is often more than one way to get into an area of work and you may find that there are related roles which also interest you.
Timing
Depending on how far you’ve already progressed in your course, you may be able to receive for a qualification in recognition of the work you’ve done to date. For example, you may be eligible for a certificate of higher education (CertHE) if you complete your first year of a university degree, or a diploma of higher education (DipHE) if you complete your second year.
If you’re thinking of moving to another university, you should find out whether you can transfer credits as this may influence your decision about whether to complete the academic year.
Do you have any assessments coming up? If you are already struggling and know you want to drop out, you may not want to go through the stress of preparing for an exam or working on a piece of coursework. Alternatively, if you’ve already started preparing for a deadline you may want to submit your work before leaving.
Location
If you moved to a different city or country to study, do you want to stay there after dropping out or move back home? This may be easy or difficult to decide depending on your reason(s) for dropping out, and your personal circumstances. It may help to consider where there are more employment or training opportunities, the cost of living in both locations, and whether you’re in student accommodation.
Accommodation
If you’re living in halls, you should find out when you will need to leave before you’ve officially dropped out. If you’re in privately rented accommodation and planning to move out, you will need to notify your landlord and either give the required amount of notice or find a new tenant. For more advice on leaving a privately rented house or flat, head over to our housing guides.
If you’re planning to move out, you should tell your flat/housemates but you don’t need to justify your decision to drop out. They may be able to help find a new tenant, so that you’re not paying rent for an empty room once you’ve moved out.
Work
Do you have a part-time job, and do you want to keep it? If not, you’ll need to tell your employer and hand in your notice.
If you’re not moving away from your part-time job, do you want to take on more hours or apply for a promotion? This could provide you with financial stability while you figure out your next steps.