Are you looking to apply to university in the next couple of years? One of the most important aspects of the process is going and visiting the potential universities you’re interested in. This gives you a unique opportunity to explore the campus and surrounding areas, meet your lecturers, experience a sample class and make some friends who might end up being on your course!

If you are an international student looking to study in the UK, don’t worry! The demand for remote events means that there are now plenty of virtual open days you can attend via video link too, so you also get a chance to see the accommodation and meet some of the university faculty. 

When to start going to university open days

In the UK, universities have an open day at least once a year, but most have two over the year. They tend to run from October to June of the following year, but this varies with different institutions. They are almost always on a weekend, which means you don’t have to take any time off school or work - and neither do your parents if they want to come with you.

You usually apply to university the year of, or year before you are wishing to attend, so it is good to get a head start on looking around open days in the year before your application is due. You might think you love the idea of going to a particular university, but might have a change of heart once you visit a few so it’s important to go and get a feel for the place before you submit your UCAS application. 

Strictly speaking, you can go to a university open day at any age, you don’t need to be applying to university in the next couple of years to qualify. If you have an older sibling who is going to look around some institutions, why not go with them and get an idea of what you might like when your time comes? 

How long do university open days last? 

University open days can be any duration, it is completely down to your preference how long you decide to attend one for. Many universities will have tours of the buildings and accommodation that you can go to, as well as sample classes for your chosen subject so you get an idea of the style of teaching. 

It is recommended that you spend between 2-4 hours at an open day in order to see everything and get a proper feel for the environment. Having said that, while the building may only be open during business hours, you can spend as much time exploring the campus and surrounding areas as you want.

Sample lectures and accommodation tours usually don’t take more than an hour. If you are in a rush, I would recommend that you make sure you do at least these things, as this is what may make your university choice for you. It’s important to know before making your decision if you’ll be sharing a bathroom with a flat of 17 people, or if you will enjoy the benefits of an en-suite!

As previously mentioned, universities also have virtual tours and most of them have multiple open day weekends throughout the year. So, if you miss one then don’t worry as you’ll be able to do one online or at another time. You can go and visit a university when it’s not an open day by liaising with their admissions team, however you may not get the same experience with tours of the campus and meeting lecturers like you would on an official open day. 

Your University Open Day Checklist 

To help you get ready for your university open day, we have come up with a fool-proof checklist to help you feel as prepared as you can. Make sure to bookmark this page to come back to when you’re making decisions about your university options! 

Is it campus only or city-based? 

It’s important to think about whether you’d rather live in a city or a quieter area. If you enjoy being in a city environment, how good are the travel connections? Are you able to get into the city centre and back to campus easily? 

Take Birmingham, for example, the University of Birmingham is campus-based, and to get to the campus you need to take a 15 minute train journey from the city centre to the campus. However, Aston University and Birmingham City University are both located a 5 minute walk away from the centre of Birmingham. 

The environment surrounding your university, whether it’s campus only or city-based, is really important to consider as this is where you will spend your time when you’re not studying! You need to make sure you feel comfortable there. On your open day you will get a chance to experience the amount of time it takes you to get into the city, and get to know the different bus routes you might need to know if you decide to study there.

Facilities 

The university facilities are just as important to consider when applying to universities and you will be able to explore these on your open days. Is there a shop nearby to the campus and accommodation, or will you have to get a bus to pick up your milk? What is the student life like in the area - is there a big nightlife scene? Questions like this are good to get an idea of what it will be like to live there. If you’re not much of a night club person, you might prefer somewhere slightly more remote which offers a quieter night scene. 

In terms of university facilities, it’s good to get an idea of security, especially on campus and around your accommodation. For example, is the accommodation key card activated? Is there on-site security available 24 hours a day? Knowing information around the safety of the university could be the make or break in your decision making when applying. Some universities may even share the crime rate for the local area, again, influencing your decision on where to study. 

It’s also good to know when considering the facilities whether all the teaching is on-site, including where the different department buildings are that your lectures may be taking place in. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, many universities have taken to a ‘hybrid’ learning style, where some lecturers are online and seminars in person, for example. 

Accommodation 

One of the best benefits of going to a university open day, and one to keep at the top of your checklist, is to look at the accommodation. 

Key things to keep in mind when looking at campus accommodation is how much is the pricing? Different accommodations offer different facilities, meaning the cost can vary significantly, depending on what's available to you. For example, at one university you might get an en-suite in a flat of 5 people, whereas at another you might have to share a shower room with your flat of 15 people. Your student accommodation will be your home for much of the year; you want to ensure you’re happy with the setup available within your budget for a smooth student experience.

Another thing to consider is whether the accommodation is off campus or nearby to your university buildings? This is another bonus of going to the open days, not only can you have a look inside the rooms, but you can time how long it would take you to get from your room to the lecture hall!

Societies 

Universities often have a variety of different clubs and societies. It’s good before you apply to have a look on the university website and see what is on offer. At some university open days you are able to go and speak to members of societies and get an idea of what they involve. It’s also a good idea to try and find them on social media as this may help you get a clearer idea of if you would be interested in joining!

You are able to join as many societies as you like during your time at university, so it’s good to take time and investigate what’s on offer at different universities to see what best aligns with your interests.

Societies are a great way of meeting new people, trying out new things and most importantly - relaxing after a heavy day of studying. Find something you enjoy to make your student experience more rewarding.

Teaching 

When you go to a university open day and are able to attend a sample lecture, you can discuss with the tutor what the teaching on your specific course will look like. How is it assessed? If you’re someone who doesn’t perform well in exams, you might be looking for a course that is primarily assessed by coursework. 

It is good to get as much information about the course as possible, like how many contact hours you can expect to have with your tutors. It can also be helpful to ask whether you are able to access the reading list before you attend the course in September in order to get a head start on the learning. 

Culture 

Whether you’re looking to apply to university in the UK or abroad, the culture of the city and surrounding areas is crucial to know before you commit to the course. Does the city align with your interests and culture? What specific things are important to you about a place to live? This area will be your home for the next few years so it’s really important that you feel like you can fit in and be happy there.

This is especially true for international students; what tools or clubs are available in the city for international students? You might be far away from home so coming to a university already knowing ways you can feel settled will make your moving experience all the more enjoyable. 

Student satisfaction 

There is one fool proof way to know how good a university is and how student friendly a city may be - and that’s to get direct feedback from students who have been there and done that. What have previous students said about their experiences? They might be able to suggest things you hadn’t thought of before - like how they wish there was a coffee shop closer to campus, or how great it is that the university gym is open 24 hours. 

When you attend university open days, you will get a chance to speak to current students; they will be the people showing you around the campus and accommodation. This is the perfect opportunity for you to ask questions about their student experience at the university and in the surrounding area, do they like it? What would they change?

You can also find student satisfaction information through online forums like Student Room which is the UK’s largest online student community. This is the place to ask your questions and speak to students who have experience at the university. It is also an opportunity for you to make some friends before you go in September, which will make your move from home even easier. 

Gain advice and support with your university applications

Melio offers University Guidance to help students aged 16-17 get ready for university and the application process. Within the 8 week course, you will get to know the ins and outs of the UCAS procedure, as well as learning skills such as personal statement writing and how best to manage your time. 

You will be paired with an expert counsellor to support and guide you through the process, who will also have a session with you and your parents at the end of the course to discuss your future options and progress you have made. As you will be working one-on-one with a tutor, this is one of our most personal, bespoke courses and you can discuss with your tutor the specific things you would like help with during the 8 weeks. 

For more information on Melio Guidance and how you can get involved before your university application, visit our website or contact our admissions team.