when do i need to be going to uni open days and what should i expect from them?

currently in year 12 and i'm wondering when it's best to go to open days?

Reply 1

Encouraged my children to start in year 12. Gives you plenty of opportunity to see different unis and for your ideas on courses to evolve - leave it until year 13 and it could all feel a bit rushed

Reply 2

evsurfer

Original post

by TopBun

Encouraged my children to start in year 12. Gives you plenty of opportunity to see different unis and for your ideas on courses to evolve - leave it until year 13 and it could all feel a bit rushed

thank you!!

Reply 3

totallyfine

You'll find dates will start coming out for the spring/summer.

Reply 4

McGinger

Most Unis will hold Open Days in May/June and again in Sept/Oct - and some will have other dates at other times, but not all. Its a good idea to go to a few in the summer term of Year 12,and then some more in the autumn term of Year 13. You have to book your place on each Open Day on that Uni's website - and you need to do this well in advance as places go quickly.

So - after Christmas is a good time to start investigating the sort of courses out there, and therefore which Unis you might want to visit. Booking for the summer Open Days usually opens around April. If you have 'registered your interest' on the Uni website before this or requested a printed prospectus, Unis usually will send you a reminder email about booking a place.

Reply 5

Coventry University Student Ambassadors

Official Rep

Hi There!

The best time to start attending University open days is during Year 12 and Year 13. This gives you enough time to explore your options and make informed decisions. Most Universities, including Coventry University, hold open days regularly throughout the year, typically in the spring (around March to June), summer (June to July), and autumn (September to November).
For example, Coventry University often organizes open days during these periods, providing a chance to tour the campus, meet lecturers and students, and explore their facilities.

If you are interested, I have attached a link to the website - https://www.coventry.ac.uk/study-at-coventry/visit-our-open-days/

Visiting Universities during these times will help you feel confident about your choices and better prepared to decide which university suits you best.

Good luck!

Kind regards,
Réka - Coventry University Student Ambassador

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 6

EssexOfficialRep

Official Rep

Hi @evsurfer 😄

It may be a good idea to attend some university open days next summer☀️ before you start thinking about applying to university in September for 2026 entry.

However, it really is never too early to start looking around universities if you are keen to!

Open days are an excellent chance for you to chat with students and staff, tour campuses, listen to talks from academics and get a real feel for what studying at university could be like for you.🥳

Our next Mini Open Day at the University of Essex is on Wednesday 16th April at our Colchester Campus, with our larger scale Summer Open Day following this on Saturday 21st June.🏡

Can't make university open day dates in the summer? Please don't panic, as mentioned above open days run regularly throughout the year with many open days going ahead in the Autumn of 2025 too!

You can find out more about our Open Days at the University of Essex, if you are interested, here- Open Days | University of Essex

We would be delighted to welcome you onto one of our campuses soon!🤗

Essex Official Rep- Niamh☺️

Reply 7

TopBun

answering the "what should I expect" question in your title . . .

Expect campus tours, accom tours and possibly labs / department tour - these are usually led by students so a great chance to speak with them. Sometimes its hard to speak with them during the tour but often you can hang around after and chat

Expect talks by the departments, sometimes there will be whole uni talks about stuff, sometimes there are specialist talks about accessibility, finance, accommodation etc

Expect some unis to do annoying things like insist you download their App or have an unreadable or incorrect online map (nearly half of all the Open Days I took my young adults to had errors in the timetable / map / building names)

If you are still undecided about your subject then Information Fairs can be super useful, all (or most) of the departments will have a stand in a hall and you get to speak with staff and students about their subject area.

Expect to plan ahead, find out what is on when and make sure you know how to find it. Have some questions you have in mind, even if you start with 'could I imagine living here?' or 'how much maths* (* substitute your least favourite subject here) is in this programme?'

Expect it to be busy. Parking can be challenging or a long way away. Sometimes trying to get a meal at lunchtime will mean big queue so take a picnic or eat early / late. Likewise Info fairs can get very busy, so go early or go late

Decide if you want to go with or without an adult. Its super useful to go with someone else, for mutual support if nothing else. Many prospective students go with mum / dad / gran / other, some go with friends, some on their own - you decide what works best for you

FWIW we found virtual / online tours etc dont really give you a very good sense of the place. IMO a university isnt it's buildings, it is the staff and students that bring a university to life - and that can vary a lot from department to department even in the same uni. Some unis will try and show off only their best bits, especially online

Expect to enjoy them. Even if you decide its not the place for you then you should learn a bit about what you do like / need in a uni or department or course

Reply 8

De Montfort University

Official Rep

Original post

by evsurfer

currently in year 12 and i'm wondering when it's best to go to open days?

Hey there 😁

In my experience, it’s never too early to start, and giving yourself plenty of time is key. Especially if you’re considering multiple universities. A great time to begin is the summer before your final year. This allows ample time for thorough research, attending Open Days, reflecting on your visits, and diving deeper into any questions or doubts that arise later.

It’s fantastic that you’re already thinking about this because Open Days are the best way to determine if a university is truly the right fit for you. They give you a chance to experience the atmosphere, community, and facilities firsthand. Since this will be your home for several years, it’s important to pay attention to how the environment and people make you feel.

During Open Days, universities often organise taster lectures, provide opportunities to meet current students, and showcase their facilities and amenities. This gives you a comprehensive look at what they offer. There’s no better way to gain the insight and confidence needed to make your final decision than by attending these events!

I hope it was helpful 💪 Feel free to reach out if you have any questions 😉 You can also chat with me or other students directly through The Ambassador Platform.

Take care,

Julia
Psychology student
De Montfort University

Reply 9

LancashireRep1

Official Rep

Original post

by evsurfer

currently in year 12 and i'm wondering when it's best to go to open days?

Hey @evsurfer,

Open days happen at various times of the year, for example we have just hosted one last Saturday! Generally they will be between June and November, so I recommend checking out the webpages of universities you are interested in and seeing their open day dates. Most universities host open days multiple times a year, so don't be too worried if you have missed any so far.

Starting to visit open days from now is an excellent idea as you will be able to cover a lot more campuses. If you can't attend any open days for a university your really interest in, I recommend contacting them and inquiring about a campus tour another day. Additionally, if you have burning questions to ask academics and can't attend an open day, I recommend popping them an email as you can usually find the head of schools email on the university webpage.

I hope this helps, please feel free to ask me any questions,
-Sophia (Business and Management)