Open Days — How to Make Them Count

University open days are the single best opportunity to assess whether a university is right for you — but only if you use them well. Most students attend open days passively, following the guided tour, listening politely to the welcome talk, and leaving with a vague positive impression and a free tote bag. This is a wasted opportunity.

This lesson shows you how to make open days genuinely useful for your decision-making.

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When and How to Attend

Type of Visit	When	What You Get
Main open day	Usually June-July and September-October	Full programme: talks, tours, taster lectures, Q&A sessions
Subject-specific visit day	Varies by university	Focused on your course; smaller groups; more detailed
Offer holder day	After you receive an offer (January-April)	Designed to persuade you to accept; often includes student ambassador talks
Independent visit	Any time (by arrangement or just walking around)	See the university on a normal day, not a showcase day

Important: Attend at least one main open day AND visit independently on a normal weekday if possible. Open days present the university at its best; a normal Tuesday in November shows you the reality.

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Before the Open Day: Preparation

The students who get the most out of open days are the ones who prepare. Before you go:

flowchart TD
    A[Open Day Preparation] --> B[Research the course page thoroughly]
    B --> C[Write down 5-10 specific questions]
    C --> D[Identify which talks and tours to attend]
    D --> E[Plan your route around the campus/city]
    E --> F[Check if you need to book specific sessions]
    F --> G[Bring a notebook, comfortable shoes, and water]

Questions to Prepare

Category	Specific Questions
The course	"How much choice do I have in Year 2 modules?" / "What does the final-year project involve?" / "How is the course assessed — mainly exams or coursework?"
Teaching	"How are lectures supplemented — seminars, tutorials, labs?" / "What is the typical class size for seminars?" / "How accessible are lecturers outside class?"
Support	"What happens if I am struggling academically?" / "How does the personal tutor system work?" / "What mental health support is available?"
Employment	"What do graduates from this course typically go on to do?" / "Is there a placement year option?" / "How does the careers service support students?"
Student life	"What is the accommodation like for first years?" / "How active are the societies?" / "What is the social scene like outside of campus?"

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During the Open Day: What to Pay Attention To

The Welcome Talk

Universities usually start with a general welcome talk. This is mainly marketing. Pay attention to:

• Specific claims they make (employment statistics, student satisfaction numbers) — write these down to verify later
• What they emphasise — is it research? Teaching? Student experience? This reveals priorities
• What they do NOT mention — omissions can be telling

The Departmental Talk

This is far more useful than the welcome talk. This is where the academics who would actually teach you explain the course. Listen for:

Pay Attention To	Why
Enthusiasm of the presenters	Are they excited about the course, or going through the motions?
Specific module descriptions	Do these sound interesting to you?
Assessment details	How will you be examined?
Student examples	Do they mention current student projects or achievements?
Honesty about challenges	Do they acknowledge that some parts are difficult? (Good sign — means they are being honest)

The Campus Tour

Campus tours are run by current students, which makes them both more honest and more biased than staff presentations. Pay attention to:

flowchart TD
    A[Campus Tour] --> B[Physical Environment]
    A --> C[Facilities]
    A --> D[The Student Guide]
    B --> E["Is it well-maintained? Welcoming? Accessible?"]
    C --> F["Library: how modern? how many seats? 24-hour access?"]
    C --> G["Labs/studios: relevant to your course?"]
    C --> H["Sports facilities: quality and accessibility?"]
    C --> I["Social spaces: where do students actually hang out?"]
    D --> J["Do they seem genuinely happy? Or just doing a job?"]
    D --> K["Ask them off-script questions"]

The Accommodation Tour

If accommodation tours are available, take one. Look for: