It can be hard to know how to make the most of university Open Days. Fortunately, we’ve pulled together a list of the most important things to do before you attend and while you’re at the event.
So, grab a notepad and pen, and dive in to your Undergraduate Open Day checklist…
Contents:
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What is an Open Day?
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Planning a university Open Day
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What questions to ask
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Meet the experts
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Go on an accommodation tour
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Explore campus
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See the city
What is an Open Day?
An Open Day is usually a one-day event when universities invite you to take a look around their campus, attend informative talks and lectures, and explore the areas of study you're interested in.
There are a range of Open Day benefits, but more than anything they're a great opportunity for students to get a feel for their prospective university, and see if they can imagine themselves studying there.
Planning a university Open Day
Many prospective students make the mistake of not preparing for Open Days, so it's a good idea to take time to digest the Open Day programme, and plan out a schedule for the day (if you’ve booked a place you will be sent a programme by email as soon as it’s ready).
Open Days are organised so prospective students and their families can attend as many different activities as possible. There might still be the need to prioritise some activities over others, so choose the ones you have the most questions about.
If there’s still too much to do in one day, we offer multiple Open Days during the summer and autumn, giving you more chances to get to know us better.
What questions to ask
Before you attend, write down a list of questions to ask at university Open Days.
These could range from how many lectures there are per week for a particular course and how courses are assessed, to what gigs and events happen in the Students’ Union each month. If you’re attending lots of Open Days you can ask these questions multiple times and compare the answers to see which university most appeals to you.
Asking questions means you also get the opportunity to meet academic staff and staff from Student Services.
Meet the experts
Subject experts will be running talks throughout the day. The format of the talk will depend on the subject, but you might get a chance to experience a mock lecture and hear current students talk about what they think of the course. These talks are great ways to make the most of a university Open Day.
There’ll also be chances to speak to staff from Careers, Finance, Admissions, and more throughout the Open Day. Staff are at the event to give you the best idea of what your academic experience could be like, and to reassure you about the support you could access, so make the most of the opportunity to find out as much as you can.
Go on an accommodation tour
First-year students are guaranteed accommodation at Newcastle University (criteria apply), but how do you know which accommodation type to choose?
Student residences can range from traditional student halls to modern city-centre apartments and vibrant student villages. But how many students share a flat? How far is each residence from campus? And what, exactly, is a washbasin room?
Making decisions about the accommodation you would prefer is a lot easier after going on a tour and seeing the flats, apartments, and rooms for yourself.
Explore campus
This is your chance to visit all the fantastic buildings and facilities you've previously only seen in photographs...and at Newcastle, there's a lot to see - from our stunning quadrangle and Students’ Union to our subject-specific buildings, libraries, sports facilities and research centres.
You can also grab a bite to eat from one of the cafés, or food outlets on campus, or spend a quick half an hour browsing the collections at our on-site natural history museum and art gallery.
See the city
Visiting an Open Day is the perfect opportunity to find out more about the city or town you’ll be living in.
From shops, cafes and restaurants to the local culture, sport, parks and open spaces, find out what the city has to offer.
Larger cities often host festivals or events, so why not find out what’s going on and attend one while you’re visiting? At Newcastle, you could stay overnight and experience music at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, or see a play at our on-site theatre.
