Held at venues across the UK and attended by lots of universities, UCAS fairs are a great way to get advice and information about your university journey.
If you're thinking about going to a UCAS fair, make sure you get the most out of your visit with the 5 top questions you should be asking.
Contents:
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What courses do you offer?
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Entry requirements and admissions advice
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Bursaries and scholarships
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Ask about the student experience
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University facilities
1. What courses do you offer?
This may sound like a no-brainer but you may have heard a particular university is great for a specific subject - for example, a Mathematics degree. But what if you want to study Mathematics and Accounting or Mathematics and Economics?
Sometimes it’s easier to speak to someone to work out what options are available and which would be best for you.
2. Entry requirements and admissions advice
Picking what subject you want to do is only half the battle. The next thing you’ve got to look at is if you can meet the entry requirements.
Talking to somebody from the university you’re interested in can give you valuable insights you might not find in a prospectus or online. They could even give you some pointers on how to craft the best application for a certain course, helping you feel more confident when it comes to submitting your UCAS application.
3. Bursaries and scholarships
Did you know that most universities offer grants, bursaries and scholarships to help students with the cost of their higher education?
At a UCAS fair you can find out about the financial packages universities offer and, more importantly, whether you are eligible to apply for support.
It's easy to do - just walk right up to someone and ask 'Hey, what kind of financial help can you give me to pay your fees?' You might be surprised with how much help they can offer.
4. Ask about the student experience
If you’re planning on going to university, you want to make the most of your time there. You’re going to be doing a lot of studying, but you’ll also have plenty of time to experience loads of new things as part of your newfound freedom from home.
At Newcastle University there are over 180 societies, and 60+ sports teams to join. When you’re at a UCAS fair make sure you find out about the extracurricular things you can get up to while studying at university.
5. University facilities
A university is more than its lecture halls and libraries. Take this chance to discover more about what you can expect to find on campus.
Is there a great gym for keeping fit? Are there plenty of computers for students to use? Do they have free Wi-Fi on campus to save your mobile data? Is there a union bar on campus? Do they have banking facilities and big-name food chains on site? (The answer to all these questions is yes at Newcastle University by the way).
Chatting with someone from the university you're thinking about studying at is a great way to find out all the best bits about student life there.
