24th April 2023

Attending university open days in the UK is a great way for students to get a sense of what a particular university is like, and to learn more about the courses, facilities, and student life.

You will often get a 'gut feeling' which is hard to explain, but it just feels right or wrong! Most universities hold open days from May to July and September. We recommend going in the summer if possible, so you can spend the holidays crafting your personal statement to the universities you have chosen to apply to.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of university open days:

1. Plan ahead: Research the universities you're interested in and find out when their open days are taking place. You will often need to register your place. Plan your travel and accommodation if necessary in advance and make sure you have enough time to get to the open day and explore the campus. There may be some specific talks at certain times, so make sure you are there on time to access them. Some are very popular and you may have to queue or be disappointed.

2. Make a list of questions: Prepare a list of questions you want to ask while on the open day. This could include questions about the courses, the application process, and student life. This will help you get the information you need to make an informed decision about which universities are your preferred choices. One key question to ask currently is 'are all first year students offered accommodation?' as this can be a problem at some universities.

3. Attend subject talks and tours: Most universities offer subject talks and tours of their facilities, so you should attend as many of these as possible to get a sense of what studying at the university would be like. Current students and staff will also be on hand to get their perspectives on the university and the courses offered. If you have a particular extra-curricular interest, see if there is anyone available to talk to you - the societies may have some stalls.

4. Take notes and photos: It can be helpful for students to take notes during the open day so they can remember important information. We also recommend taking photos to help you recall what the campus and facilities looked like. This can be especially useful when viewing accommodation as you may forget details, e.g. which kitchens had recently been refurbished or which beds were doubles!

5. Explore the local area: If you have time, you should also get a good feeling for the area around the university. This will give you a sense of what it would be like to live there in your second and third years and whether it would be a good fit for you. This is especially important if you are considering a city university.

6. Follow up: After the open day, we you should follow up with any additional questions you have. You can contact the university admissions office or student services department to get more information.

Don't worry if you can't visit personally - most universities have excellent virtual tours on their websites. You can also visit at other times and do a self-guided tour. These can be very insightful as you will see the university on a 'normal' day. 

For more info: Click here

We will be focusing on campus vs city universities in our next article, so watch this space if you would like some help deciding which is best for you.