A Guide to Navigating Uni Open Days (From Someone Who’s Been There)

As the end of the school year is fast approaching, that also means that, for those students in Year 12, university open days will soon begin. Although this is definitely a really exciting time, as someone who has been there, I also know that it can be so overwhelming to figure out how to navigate these open days. Between course talks, accommodation viewings and tours of the university and its city, there is a lot to get done in just one day. But, with a little bit of planning and this guide, you can plan ahead and make the most of your uni open day experience.

Attend as many open days as YOU want to

You might find that your teachers, your parents, and your friends all have a different idea of how many university open days you should be attending. In reality, there is really no right number – it all comes down to what you feel will help you make a confident and well-informed decision next year. My main advice would be to go to too many rather than too few; each visit gives you a clearer picture of what you do and don’t want from your future uni experience. Of course, you can’t attend every uni open day, but if you think there’s realistic a chance you will like the university, and it has your ideal course, it’s better to go – you never know how a place will feel until you’re actually there.

Go for the whole weekend and explore the city

If you have the time, I would recommend staying in the city for the whole weekend. By doing this, you will have time to explore the whole city, not just the university. This will give you a feel for what it would be like to live there, from the cafés and shops to the nightlife and local transport, all of which are just as important as the course itself when choosing where to study. In doing this, you can find out if the city aligns with your lifestyle preferences, which is crucial as you’ll be living there for upwards of three years.

I would also recommend going as early as possible as although some universities offer open days in September, October, and November, Year 13 is really stressful, and, trust me, you won’t want the added hassle of trekking up and down the country during this time if you can avoid it.

Go to as many talks as you can

The main part of uni open days is attending the talks that they organise. If you’re not completely sure about what course you want to study, I would definitely recommend attending talks for all of the courses you are considering.  Additionally, I would advise that you attend talks about accommodation, as they are especially useful for understanding what your living conditions will be like in first year. Depending on your interests, it can also be interesting to attend talks about clubs, societies, student life, year abroad options and future career opportunities.

Universities will also sometimes offer taster sessions, drop-ins, and fairs, all of which can be useful in informing your decision about what university and what course if right for you.

Check out the accommodation (and not just for first year)

As well as providing talks about accommodation, most universities will also have a flat at a couple of different blocks open to view. Although each accommodation is not exactly the same, viewing even one flat will give you a feel for what that universities accommodation is generally like – and it will give you a feel for what your priorities will be when applying for accommodation (sharing bathroom vs ensuite, living on campus vs living in the city centre, or having a quieter space vs a more social environment). It will also give you a chance to ask questions about accommodation to the people who know it best.

I would also suggest that you do a little bit of research into accommodation beyond your first year. A lot of universities can guarantee accommodation for first year, but after, it is up to you to find accommodation for second year and beyond. It is important here to note that many of the big university cities, such as Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, and Nottingham are facing a housing crisis. This shortage of university housing is meaning that students are forced to live outside of their university city and then commute to their classes or sometimes even that they have to live in temporary accommodation such as hotels. Universities, private student accommodation companies and other private rental companies are working to combat this problem, but it is definitely worth doing a bit of research into this, especially in consideration of your own budget for accommodation, before choosing your university.

Ask questions

My main piece of advice would be to ask as many questions as you need to in order to be sure whether to rule in or rule out a university. Remember, this will be where you spend the next three, four or five years, so it is best to get all the answers you need now to make informed, confident decisions next year. At the open days, there will be hundreds of staff and students on hand to answer all questions, whether it be about courses, accommodation, internship opportunities, year abroad options, career prospects, societies, student life (and more!) – whatever question you have, I’m sure that they will be able to find the answer for it. I would also suggest making a list of questions before you go to an open day, so that you don’t forget the most important questions.

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Guide to Uni Open Days

So, university accommodation days can be tricky to navigate. I went to about seven open days, so I know that they can be extremely long-winded and tiring – but they are definitely worth the hassle. Had I not gone, I wouldn’t have been able to see the real differences between campuses, courses, and cities, and I probably wouldn’t have felt as confident making my final choice as I did when I chose Edinburgh. Most importantly, just have fun and enjoy the journey of finding the uni that feels just right for you!