UCAS - Open days

How to get the most out of open days

When you invest in something, you always check that it's what you expect before you buy it. Choosing a university or college is just the same - you need to make sure it's what you want before agreeing to study there. Attending an open day lets you see it first-hand and confirm that you're happy with it.

When are they?

Dates are listed in the list of universities and colleges - click on the university or college you are interested in to see what open days are available, or contact the university or college direct.

We also produce a publication each year, Open Days, priced £3.50, which you can order from our online bookstore. It contains advice and listings of open days, taster courses and our conventions and exhibitions. You can usually pick up a free copy at most of our conventions and exhibitions.

What do they involve?

During the open day, you'll be shown round, have a chance to look at the facilities, like the accommodation and student union, and ask questions. You can ask almost anything at an open day. You will be meeting people, usually current students, who can tell you first-hand about both the course and the university or college. This can be far more revealing than reading a prospectus.

Most students agree that open days helped them to make an instinctive decision and confirm what felt right for them. By making an effort to do this sort of research, you can avoid the disappointment of starting a course and finding that it is not what you expected.