To start, you’ve successfully completed your first year at university – congratulations! Passing that first year is a huge accomplishment. Now, as you take the next step of university, a new challenge may be weighing on your mind: what happens if you fail your second year at university?
The transition from first to second year can be hard. In many courses, the material covered in the second year builds upon subject matter introduced in the first year but goes into greater depth. Professors may expect their students to have a solid foundation from their first-year courses and introduce more complex topics and assignments as well as grading more harshly. There is also the added stress of the year counting towards your degree classification.
It makes sense to worry about your second year but if you have failed a module or multiple modules it is not the end of the world. There are many reasons people fail modules and this does not mean your academic journey is over. Knowing and understanding the options you can take advantage of is crucial.
Let’s explore what happens if you fail your second year at university and look at the steps to take.
1: Ask About Retaking your Exam or Redoing an Assignment
Universities often offer resit exams or opportunities to submit remedial assignments to improve grades. Check your university’s reassessment policy for the opportunity to retake your exam and reach out about failed coursework. If you are eligible for a resit, pay close attention to when resits will happen, (often over summer), and begin preparing as soon as possible. You could also be required to retake the module in the following year to be eligible to receive your degree.
Take advantage of these opportunities to demonstrate your commitment and capabilities. In many cases, your university will offer you the ability to take your exam again. Your university wants you to succeed and often provides second chances. However, be aware that there may be limitations on both how many resits you are allowed and on the grade you can achieve in a reassessment – which could potentially impact your grade classification.
2: Look for Support Networks
Explore the support networks offered by your university. Failing an exam can be demoralising, but this does not define or necessarily reflect on your abilities. Give thought to why you may have failed and look for resources your university offers to help you address this. Seek support from academic advisors, tutors, or counselling services offered by your university. They can provide guidance on study strategies, time management, and overcoming academic challenges. If you are dealing with mental-health issues or a learning disability, like dyslexia or ADHD, reach out to your university to see which accommodations and services they can offer you.
Struggling with academics can feel isolating or embarrassing, so don’t forget to reach out to friends or family. Having someone to support you emotionally during a difficult time can help your performance and make the entire process less overwhelming. This may be a difficult time so prioritise your mental health and try to reduce your stress the next year.
3: Research Appealing Your Result
Familiarise yourself with your university’s appeals process. If you faced extenuating circumstances or believe your grades are an unfair reflection of your work you can appeal the results. You are not the first person to be in this position and your university can offer avenues to help you. It is worth reaching out to your university to explore these options. Do, however, consider that oftentimes a university will question why you did not reach out earlier. So, if you find yourself struggling greatly during the year, reach out before exams or important coursework are due as it is much easier to find solutions before final results are released. This may not always be possible and that is when appealing your result is an avenue to consider. Do not hesitate to reach out to your university if you experience challenges like illness, family, or mental health struggles.
4: Think About Repeating the Year
If resitting is not feasible or you failed coursework, retaking your second year may be necessary. You might have the option to retake the failed year, depending on your university’s policy. This would allow you to catch up on missed credits and improve your grades. Repeating an academic year is likely not what you expected when you began your university journey, but it happens more often than you think. Remember, there’s no shame in needing more time to succeed. Many other students have gone through the same situation. Repeating the year will help you strengthen your academic skills and better prepare you for your third year.
If you do end up repeating the year, try to make it an advantage. Refine your academic strengths and learn as much as you can about your study methods and what motivates you. An extra year to mature and develop your skills could very well help you in the future.
5: Consider Your Chosen Degree
Reflect on whether your chosen degree aligns with your interests and strengths. Often, people struggle when they are in a degree that is not the right fit. This could be because the subject matter is uninteresting to you or the coursework doesn’t suit your academic strengths. If you feel disconnected from your studies, exploring other degree options could be beneficial. Starting over may seem scary or out of reach, but it’s worth it to reassess and pursue a degree path that better suits you. Reach out to an academic advisor, friends doing other degrees, or look at a module catalogue. Start to think about if there is something else you find interesting.
Many people choose a degree based on the job they want to do in the future. Unless it’s a specialised degree, like medicine, there are likely avenues to that job from degrees you may not have considered previously. Start thinking about the career you would like in the future, and how you plan to achieve it. There are infinite career paths and it is highly unlikely that the path you expect to take from your first year onwards will remain the same. Life is unpredictable and planning for predictability can cause problems. What happens if you fail your second year at university can ultimately be positive, so be open to the opportunities it provides.
6: Look at the Financial Aspects
Failing a year can impact scholarships, funding, and loans. Contact your university to understand the financial implications of failing and seek solutions to mitigate any challenges. In many cases, there will be simple solutions to these problems. Try not to worry too much and reach out for help and advice as soon as possible to prevent any financial barriers from becoming seemingly insurmountable or overwhelming.
7: Explore Alternative Pathways
Remember that university is not the only path to success. Getting a degree may be a requirement for many jobs, but there are lots of other opportunities without a degree. If you find that university isn’t the right fit for you, consider alternative vocational or career pathways that align better with your goals and interests. Societal pressures make it seem like to be successful you need a degree, but do what feels right for you. Take this setback as an opportunity to reassess your academic and career goals. Consider how you can use this experience to strengthen your skills, resilience, and determination
8: Make a Plan
The final thing to do if you fail your second year of university is to make a plan. Create a plan to address your academic challenges and set realistic goals for improvement. Break down your goals into manageable steps and track your progress over time. Think about each of the previous sections and consider which of them are most relevant to you. Next start to create a timeline for how you are going to address each of them. For example, if you failed a year and are most worried about your financial situation, immediately reach out to your university to learn more about the impact of failing a year. Determining the steps you want to take early on will help you control the impact. What happens if you fail your second year at university is largely up to you.
Summary
If you don’t take the time to reflect and plan for how to get a better result the next year, there is a decent chance you could fail your second year again or even your third year. Make sure you are making changes which will set you up for success. Bring other people into the process as outside opinions could help you see the barriers to your success in a different way. Navigating the challenges of what happens if you fail your second year at university can be daunting, but with the right support and mindset, you can overcome setbacks and move towards success.
Focus on what you want and need to set out to create the future and results you want for yourself. Graduate Coach can help you determine what you need to do to achieve your goals and the pathways you can take with your degree. Reach out to our highly trained coaches to see how they can assist you during this daunting time and help you chart a path to a fulfilling career.
Featured photo by George Dolgikh from Pexels
Written by: Greer Hansen
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