50 Questions To Ask At University Open Days

Apart from speaking to former students, a university open day is the only way you'll really get a feel for what studying, living and socialising is going to be like for the next three or four years of your life. To help you out, we’ve put together our very own open day guide, listing the top 50 questions to ask at a university interview or open day.

What to ask at a University Open Day

1. How will the course be assessed?
2. How many students will be on the course?
3. What careers have recent graduates gone on to?
4. Is there an opportunity to take a placement? If so, will the university organise this?
5. What does a placement/year abroad mean and what does it do?
6. What sort of student support provision is in place?
7. Do the staff seem knowledgeable and accessible?
8. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living on or off campus?
9. What sports and societies are available at the university?
10. How employable is my degree?
11. What job opportunities are there at university?
12. Are there any hotels, BNBs or apartments near university for my family to stay at when they visit?
13. What grades do you need – and can you still get a place if you don't quite get them?
14. Which qualifications and combinations of qualifications do they accept/prefer?
15. If they use the UCAS tariff, will they count all of your qualifications?
16. Is it worth applying for more than one course?
17. What do they look for in your application and personal statement?
18. How do they feel about gap years and deferred entry applications?
19. Is it an advantage to get your application in early?
20. What will the course be like? Can I talk to a careers advisor?
21. What does the course cover?
22. How many hours a week will I be in timetabled teaching?
23. How much flexibility is there?
24. What assessment methods are used?
25. Are placements or study abroad options on offer? Where are they? How are they organised? Are they paid? How do they affect tuition fees?
26. What are the pros and cons of taking a joint or combined course?
27. How will the course make you more employable? Do they offer or arrange placements?
28. What are my university accommodation options?
29. What proportion of students go on to postgraduate study? Do you need a postgraduate course to get a job?
30. Is a place in halls guaranteed?
31. What university accommodation is available off-campus?
32. How big are the rooms – are some bigger than others? How quiet are they? Are they secure?
33. Do most students stay on campus at weekends?
34. What happens in years two and three?
35. How far do you have to travel to get into university and around town?
36. Can you bring a car? Is there parking available near to the university accommodation?
37. What's on offer here that will provide opportunities for you to develop your employability skills? Are there any connections with local employers?
38. Are there any jobs on campus available for students?
39. Are there any volunteering opportunities?
40. What academic support is available?
41. What sports and societies are available?
42. What are the transport links like? Are most things available on campus?
43. How do the costs actually break down? How much money will you need to survive?
44. To what extent will you need/be able to find part-time work?
45. What bursaries, scholarships or fee waivers are there and how do you apply?
46. How does a placement, year abroad or a year in the industry affect your costs or tuition fees?
47. What are your student fees and finance options?
48. If we are stuck with an assignment, who can we go to for help?
49. Lots of universities offer the subject, so why should we choose you?
50. Is there a university accommodation tour?

University Open Day Guide: How to Plan and Prepare

University open days are a big deal, so you need to take the time to plan and prepare for them. How far away is each university from where you live now? Who will you take with you? Do you need to bring anything? Will you make time to explore the surrounding areas?

As University open days can be held very early on in the academic year - and you’ll likely have at least three or four UCAS choices - you should try and get booked onto each one as soon as possible so you can get the ball rolling and make your decision much easier.

To ensure you get the most out of the day, do some research in advance about what will be available. This way, you’ll know exactly where to be and at what time, and won’t miss anything important. The majority of universities offer campus tours, university accommodation tours, ice breaker social events, specific course seminars, live Q&As and sometimes even activity or society fairs – where you can often pick up a few freebies!

University Open Day Guide: Travel and Accommodation

Once you know more about specific dates and what to expect on the day, it’s time to start making some travel plans.

Firstly, are you planning on going with someone? Taking a parent, friend or guardian with you to your university open day is always a good idea. Not only does it give you a solid support system to help you make the most of your application journey, but having someone by your side means you’ve also got an extra pair of eyes to help you out. After all, they may spot a few things about the campus that you don’t see yourself.

Next, is it worthwhile taking some time out to visit nearby places of interest? When you’re spending the next three years of your life in a place you’ve never been to or aren’t very familiar with, you might want to dig a little deeper to see if it really is the right home away from home for you.

The best way to really immerse yourself in your potential new life is to spend a day or two in the area. It’s also ideal to stay the night if you're trekking across the country or embarking on a long car journey, as you'll want to break the travel time up. Luckily, we’ve got just the solution to make your university open day stress -free, relaxing and convenient. Our range of short stay apartments are in central locations up and down the UK. So wherever you’re heading, you can take your visit to the next step with SACO.

With everything at your fingertips - from a luxuriously comfy bed to a self-catering kitchen with all the facilities - our apartments are the perfect bolthole to explore a new city or town. Available in locations at every corner of the country, you’re sure to find the right one for you. Book a short stay apartment today, and make your university open day even more exciting.