Are university open days worth it?

Check upcoming open days and book your place

Open days are a great tool to help you decide which uni is right for you. Throughout the year, universities open their doors for you to explore the campus and find out more about the subjects you’re interested in. You’ll also get to meet current students and lecturers who will be on hand to answer any questions about studying there. 

As well as in-person events, universities also host virtual events and online meetings. 

Pros of going to an open day 

• Discover more about what you’re looking for 

Reading a prospectus and checking out the website can be helpful, but nothing compares to visiting a uni in person. It’s likely you’ll discover things you hadn’t even thought about, helping you to narrow down your list of options. 

• Get your questions answered 

Lecturers and current students will be on hand throughout the day and ready to chat. You can get all your questions answered, such as what student support is available and what the accommodation is like. You can also chat with current students about their experiences, likes and dislikes. 

• Explore the area 

If you’ve got the time, an open day also gives you the opportunity to look around the local area, check out amenities and work out how far everything is from where you’d be living.  

• Come closer to making that all-important decision 

Wherever you pick will be your new home for a few years. You might have a few unis you’re considering, and it can be hard to know which is the right one. Visiting somewhere in person will help you make that decision confidently. 

Cons of going to an open day 

• The cost 

You’ll need to consider travel costs. Depending where you live, and where you want to visit, train fares or petrol can get expensive. Luckily, most unis also offer virtual open days. So if there’s somewhere you’re keen to check out but don’t have the money right now, you can still get a feel for what to expect.

Another option is to ask the uni if they offer financial support for your visit – more univerisites are offering to cover travel costs from major cities to their campus, so it's worth taking a look on their website to see if they have anything like this.

Your school might also be able to arrange travel to a university if there are lots of students looking to go to an open day at a uni. Try asking around other students in your year and see if you can organise a group trip.

• Travel time 

You’ll also have to think about the time it’ll take to travel there and back. If you want to explore an option on the other side of the country, you might need to take an overnight stay into account. However, as this could be the place you live and study for the next few years, we definitely think it’s worth it! 

So when’s your first open day going to be? 

Where you’ll study is a big decision to make and we’d recommend heading to a few open days to help you choose. Places can fill up quickly, so take a look at all upcoming events and book your spot. 

Still need convincing? Take a look at our guide to everything you need to know about open days.