Parent Blog

What to look for at a University Open Day

Open Days can be great. A trip to somewhere new, an exciting nose-around and, of course, a day off school. To make sure you get the most out of your visits, here’s a guide to what you should look for when attending a university open day:

Will the course suit you?

The course should be your main concern when choosing between universities (despite what Fresh Meat would have you believe). Ultimately, you are going to university to gain a degree, so try as hard as you can to ascertain whether you will enjoy what you’re studying. Are you really going to be thrilled by studying the Biblical roots of literature? Or the history of Statistics? If so, fantastic! If not – think about going somewhere else.

Another tip is to find out what talks are on regarding the course. Visit your faculty’s buildings. Grill students and staff with questions. Stuck for what to ask? These will get you started:

  1. How many contact hours will you have with your tutors? Get an idea of exactly how intense your course is and how much free time you will have.
  2. What style of teaching will your lecturers use? Some universities such as Oxford and Cambridge may be more traditional than others with their learning styles. Chose a university that caters to your needs.  If you prefer to learn in a more pragmatic way, you may be better suited to a university that focuses less on lectures and more on practical activities.
  3. How does the university select candidates? If you’re able to, get an insight into what it is admissions tutors are looking for at this particular university.

What’s the accommodation situation?

Perhaps the most interesting part of the day. Have a look around the various halls of residence that the university has to offer, as these can vary greatly in terms of size, location and price.  You want to make sure you choose a building that you will feel comfortable in, so if you notoriously favour an early night, try and find out which building is renowned for its party antics and steer well clear of it!  Also, if you are reading a course which has lots of contact hours, such as Medicine, it is perhaps more sensible to choose accommodation nearer to your course building, as you don’t want to be spending the majority of your time walking to and from lectures constantly. And make sure there’s plenty of room for your photo board/posters/biscuit stash.

Credit to The University of Exeter for the photo of this student room

What does the Student Union have to offer?

The SU is the hub of all student activities, so have a look around when on your open day.  You want to get an idea of what facilities the university has to offer: some SU’s boast amenities such as gyms and swimming pools, and others hold regular Student Nights. SUs should have information on the clubs and societies on offer too, and what support is available to students. Its good to get a feel what the SU is like before applying as they can become a key feature of university life.

Are you comfortable in the City/Town?

You will be living here after all, so take time to look around the town or city centre.  Take a look at what sort of facilities the area has. If you like partying you may be more suited to a big city such as Manchester with lots of bars and clubs, whereas if you’re more reserved you may prefer a more quaint setting such as Durham, which offers lots of cafes (and it’s very own Castle!). Either way, since you will be spending at least 3 years there its important that you know whether the place you will be living in suits your personality.

What do the current students say?

Most importantly, make sure you speak to as many current students as you can, as they are the people who can give you the best insight into what life at the university is really like.  Come prepared with questions (Was there anything about the course that bothered you in the prospectus? Ask whether it’s really a concern. Want to how much attention you’ll get from tutors? Current students are best placed to tell you). Its pretty likely the students you meet had exactly the same concerns when they were making their choices and will be very happy to help you out now they’re in the know.

Everyone has a university that is perfectly suited to them. Best of luck as you go out and find it!


Written by Poppy M., an English tutor at MyTutor

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