What to do if you hate your course in first year
First, figure out whether you hate the course or the adjustment. Many first-years confuse the discomfort of a new environment with disliking their programme. Give it one full semester before deciding. If you still hate it after exams, your options are: apply for a transfer, build skills outside the syllabus, or finish the degree while building your career alongside it.
Is it the course, or is it the adjustment?
First year is overwhelming. You moved away from home. You are learning new systems. The lectures are not like high school. Everything feels unfamiliar. In that haze, it is easy to blame the course for a discomfort that is actually about the transition.
Signs it is the adjustment, not the course:
- You feel lost in all your units, not just the core ones.
- You felt excited about the subject before you arrived.
- You have not yet attended enough classes to know what the course really covers.
- Other first-years in different programmes feel equally lost.
Signs it is the course:
- The core units bore or frustrate you, even when you understand the material.
- You dread specific classes, not university in general.
- You find yourself drawn to completely different subjects.
- The career paths this degree leads to do not interest you at all.
Give it one semester. Attend classes properly, do the assignments, and see how you feel after exams. If you still hate it, then it is the course.
Option one: apply for an inter-faculty transfer
Most Kenyan universities allow course changes in first year, usually before second semester or at the end of first year. The process varies, but typically requires:
- A formal application to the registrar or dean of students.
- Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the new programme.
- Available slots in the new programme.
- Approval from both the current and target departments.
This is the cleanest option if you are sure about what you want to switch to. The downside: you may lose a semester if the new programme started units you missed. Some transfers add time to your degree.
Act fast. Transfer windows are narrow, and slots in popular programmes fill quickly. Talk to the registrar in your first few weeks if you are already certain.
Option two: build the career you want alongside the degree
If transferring is not possible or practical, you can still build the skills for the career you want. Your degree does not have to define your career.
Studying a non-tech degree but want to work in tech? Learn to code on the side. Build projects. Join a tech club. Apply for tech internships. Employers care about what you can do, not what your degree title says.
Studying CS but want to work in business or media? Take electives in those areas. Join relevant clubs. Freelance in that field during holidays. The degree gives you a foundation, but your extracurricular work shapes your career direction.
This is not a compromise. Many successful tech professionals in Kenya studied something unrelated. The degree gets you through the door of graduation. The skills you build alongside it get you through the door of employment.
Option three: finish the degree and change direction after
If you are in second or third year, transferring costs too much time. The practical choice is to finish the degree, even if you plan to work in a completely different field.
A completed degree, in any subject, is better than an incomplete one. It shows you can commit to a multi-year goal and finish it. Employers in Kenya still value the credential, even when the subject does not match the role.
While finishing, invest your free time in the direction you actually want to go. If that means learning to code, freelancing, writing, or starting a business, do it alongside the degree. Graduate with both: a certificate that satisfies the system, and a portfolio that satisfies employers.
The worst option is dropping out with nothing. The second worst is staying and doing nothing extra. The best is staying, finishing, and building what matters to you in parallel.
What to do this week
- Give your course one full semester before making any decisions about changing.
- If you want to transfer, visit the registrar this week to learn the process and deadlines.
- Identify one skill or field you are drawn to and start building in it alongside your degree.
- Talk to a student who transferred courses and ask about their experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I transfer after first year?
- Some universities allow transfers up to second year, but it becomes harder. You may need to repeat units, which adds time. The later you transfer, the more time and money you lose. If you want to switch, start the process as early as possible.
- What if my parents chose my course and I cannot change it?
- This is common in Kenya. Have an honest conversation with your family about what you want. Bring information: what careers the alternative leads to, what the earning potential looks like. If changing is not possible, build the career you want alongside the degree they chose. You can honour their investment while still pursuing your own path.
- Will employers care about my degree if I work in a different field?
- Less than you think. For your first job, skills and portfolio matter more than the degree title. After two years of work experience, nobody asks about your degree subject. They ask about what you have built and delivered. The degree gets you past the HR filter. Your work gets you the job.