11 ways to get the most out of a uni open day

An open day is your chance to get a feel for what a university is really like. It’s important to do research online beforehand, but nothing beats visiting in person. It’s the perfect way to see the campus, meet people, and imagine yourself as a student there.

When you do make that important booking for the big day, we've put together some top tips to help you get the most out of your university open day visits.

1. Plan your journey

Will it be easy to get to? Is there parking? Some universities offer travel voucher schemes, so see if you can claim this too. Is the subject you want to do based at a different campus to the main one? Make sure you have time to get to the part of campus you need to be.

Make a note of the postcode for your maps app so you don't have to worry about getting lost whether you drive or go by public transport. You’ll want plenty of time to arrive and settle in before you start any activities you've signed up for.

2. Plan your day

University open days are generally busy with lots to do and see, as well as lots of people. Plan ahead by finding out if they do campus tours, talks or tasters.

With so much happening it can be easy to forget to have a look at a particular facility, find out about student loans, or anything else you might have thought about beforehand. The easiest way to make sure you remember to do everything you want to do is take a checklist with you. It's pretty lo-fi, but it'll help focus your mind amid all the excitement. To help you out, we've put together a checklist.

Download our open day checklist

3. Sign up for subject talks

Some unis allow you to sign up before you arrive, so you can get a place before the day. This will help you make a schedule too, in case you want to go to more than one talk and make sure they don’t clash.

Going to a subject talk is the best way to find out if the course you're looking at is right for you. They will usually talk about how the course is structured, what a typical week is like, opportunities for work experience placements, and what career you could consider after graduating. This is your opportunity to ask lots of questions, either to the academics themselves or students on the course, so you can ask them what it’s really like.

4. Do a campus tour

A general campus tour is a great way to have a good look around and get a proper feel for the university you're visiting, not to mention get your bearings if it's a large campus! You’ll be able to see the facilities for the course you are thinking about, as well as important areas you might spend a lot of time such as the library, sports facilities, student support, places to study and - very important - where you can get coffee and snacks!

5. Go to general information talks

Most universities will offer general information talks at open days. These usually cover things like student finance, accommodation, and student support services. All things you need to know about, and which could help influence your decision when choosing a uni. Some are also tailored for parents and supporters so they can get involved too.

6. Check out the student residences

If you are thinking about living away from home, take the opportunity to look around the accommodation on an open day. This is where you'll likely be living for at least your first year, so it's important you think you'll feel happy there.

Some student halls might have floors or blocks set aside for those who prefer a quieter environment. Some might have en-suite rooms. Some might have better kitchens than others. Some halls may be further away from the main campus than others. Make sure you see as much accommodation as possible. Also, definitely check out how much it'll cost. And another good tip: is there a supermarket nearby?

7. Ask questions

We've mentioned this a couple of times already but, ask questions! If you're not sure about something or if you want to find out more about a course, subject, or general uni life, ask – staff and students don't mind. Staff are great at helping you with questions about courses and support available. And usually there are lots of keen student ambassadors at open days - they're great at giving you a real insight into the university you're visiting.

All the people working at an open day want you to go away with as much information as possible to help you make the right decision.

8. Check out clubs and societies

Choosing the right uni for your course is a top priority, but what about the other things it can offer you? All unis will have clubs and societies, normally run by the students' union, that cover a wide range of interests. Keep an eye out for any that fit with what you like to do or want to try.

9. Visit the facilities related to the course you want to do

A campus tour should take in all the general facilities the university has to offer. But, if the subject you want to do uses more specialist facilities, like media technology, music, or engineering, make sure you go back to see these facilities in more detail. In many cases you'll be able to have a go on some of the kit.

10. Talk to current students

Most courses will have student representatives at an open day; they might be in the course talk, or around the campus. So, ask them questions (yep, that again). Find out what they think about the course. What was the course interview like? Have they been able to get hands-on experience? What's the timetable like? Do they like the facilities? Does the university have a nice community? What's the town or city like?

11. Explore the town or city

Whatever you want out of where you'll be living for at least the next three years - lots of shops, great music spots, nightlife, open spaces, sport venues - have a good look around to see if you think you'll like living there.