Questions to ask at a university open day

There are so many questions that can be asked on an open day so it is easier to split them into categories.

The most important ones will probably be about the course you are interested in itself:

• How is it taught and how will you be assessed?
• How many teaching hours are there per week? Some universities now teach for 2 or 3 full days a week so you have the rest of the time to fit in a job or other things.
• How many people are there in a teaching group?
• What does a typical week on the course consist of?

You will definitely have a few about actually applying for the course:

• Are the entry requirements fixed? Is the university willing to make any adjustments?

  

• What qualities are the admissions tutors looking for in a personal statement?
• Will the application process involve an interview or a portfolio?
• Can you defer if you decide to take a gap year? Many people think that you have a right to defer but some universities don’t let you. This means that you would have to apply all over again the next year.

The point of going to university and getting a degree is to come out with the skills to get a job:

• What jobs can you actually get after graduating from this course?
• Is there a chance to go on work placements throughout your course? Does the university help you find placements? This will help you to make contacts in your chosen industry and will give you that all important experience.
• Do the careers team help you find a job once you have graduated or are you left on your own?
• How many students are now in paid employment? 

Most of you will be living away from home when at university. Choosing accommodation is a big step:

• What accommodation is available at the university?
• Is all the accommodation on campus? If it is off campus, how far away from the main site is it?
• How much does it cost? You will need to know how to budget your student loan to cover the cost of renting the accommodation plus any extra bills that you may have to pay.
• What happens after the first year? Does the university help you find private accommodation?
• What is the best way to travel to the university if you are not living in student accommodation? Do they offer any discounts on public transport?

Make sure you also ask some questions about the facilities at the university and if they have any scholarships or bursaries that you may be eligible for. It will be easy to find some current students on an open day. Ask them what they think of their course and the university and how they find the social side of life there.