We recently blogged about what you need to consider when applying to university, choosing the right university course and writing a UCAS personal statement. The next major step is visiting a university open day. (You can search and find out about all the university open days on opendays.com). But why should you visit an open day?

Now obviously, things are a little different with visiting universities this year but with vaccines being rolled out, there is a glimmer of hope that more and more open days will take place in the traditional way – Some universities, prior to lockdown 3 were already holding physical open days. Attending a university open day is a great way to research and delve a little further and get a real feel for a university. You’ll get to see the location, the facilities and also what other students are like. Open Days are a great opportunity to meet the university academics and ask any questions you may have about the course(s) you are considering.

So, what are the type of things you should consider when visiting an open day?

---

Students

Meet the students currently studying your course, there are very few universities that don’t have Student Ambassadors. They are there to chat with you, answer any questions and give you a feel for what the course entails and offer advice. Have a chat with the student ambassadors during the open day and ask what it’s like being a university student to get a real insight into student life at the university.

---

Question

Before you arrive at the open day, think about the course that you’re applying for; do you have any questions about it? What are the assessment methods? The modules taught and what are the opportunities for field trips or placements? Make a note of these questions and don’t be afraid to bring them with you.

---

Explore

A campus tour is a perfect opportunity to see what facilities the university has to offer. This is likely to be conducted by a student ambassador, so be prepared to ask the ‘tour guide’ any questions about the campus and university life in general.
Don’t forget to visit the Students’ Union. It’s the hub of student life on campus, so make sure you have a look around, grab a pint, if the bar is open, and find out a little more about the clubs and societies at the university.
A massive part of your university experience is immersing yourself in the city culture. So, take a look around the city, and get an idea of what city life is like.

---

How does it feel?

This is a lot more important than you may think. Trust your instincts. How does the university make you feel? Do you think you would be happy at this university? Does it feel safe and comfortable? Could you see yourself living and studying there? No lie, a lot of students we speak to at open days say that as soon as they stepped onto the campus, they knew it was the right one.
So, it’s really important to visit the university (when you can!) before making your final decision.

---

Further reading about open days

Our 5 tips for attending a university open day can be read here. Plus back in lockdown 1 we posted about virtual open days and tours.

---

And don’t forget about the accommodation

While at an open day make sure you check out what the accommodation is like, most Host student accommodation hold open days that coincide with the university ones. So check out what we have to offer near the university you’re considering and then get in touch with our friendly and welcoming on-site teams to see if you can book a tour and get a feel for what we have to offer for yourself. (If due to local lockdowns, etc. we can’t welcome you onsite most of our locations will offer online viewings and 360 tours).