Open up!Get out there to see for

yourself what higher education has to offer.

NotesChoose wisely...With so many different higher education experiences on offer, figuring out what you want to do can be overwhelming. Choosing where to study is just as important as deciding what to study. However, there’s only so much online research you can do...

If you’re serious about heading to uni or college, sooner or later you’ll need to get out there and see what you’re planning on signing up for. Luckily, there are loads of different ways you can get a real flavour of higher education.

Open days are a chance to get up close and personal with the unis and colleges that interest you. They’re a great opportunity to get a taste of campus life, speak to current students, and meet academic and admissions staff. You could also consider going to a UCAS higher education convention or trying out a uni taster course to get similar insight. And if you’re invited to an interview, it’s worth taking a look around the campus.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you get out there. That way, you can see what higher education’s really like and make a decision that’s right for you – one that will hopefully lead to one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences of your life.

Making a shortlistThere are around 340 unis and HE colleges in the UK – so visiting them all is out. Whittling them down to a shortlist could take a while, but here are a few hints and tips that might help you.

• Online research – uni websites are great for scoping out the courses and campuses you’re interested in; but how do you get to that point? Start by looking at the UCAS course search tool (search.ucas.com) – where you can refine your search by uni, location, course, or even browse what’s on offer by subject.

• Register for an e-card – sign up for your free UCAS e-card (www.ucas.com/ucascard) and you’ll get a monthly advice email giving you the lowdown on life, work, and higher education – including open day information. It’s all useful stuff...plus you’ll also receive on and offline discount vouchers every couple of weeks.

• Search for open days – keen to visit a uni or two? Find out ‘where and when’ using our new open days search tool (www.ucas.com/open-days) and get some dates in your diary.

• Go to an open day – don’t worry; you won’t just be left to your own devices when you attend an open day. Each uni will have planned an itinerary of activities that will run throughout the day – such as tours, talks, meet and greet sessions, and more.

• Take a taster course – why not see if the unis you like the look of run taster courses? Often they’ll include a number of workshops and seminar sessions, led by academic teaching staff at the university, as well as campus and accommodation tours. You might even get to stay a couple of days...

• UCAS conventions – we hold some 50 higher education conventions (www.ucas.com/conventions) each year, right across the UK. They’re an excellent opportunity for you to meet representatives from unis and colleges, as well as recruiters, gap year companies, and of course, UCAS! Check out our UCAS conventions video (www.ucas.tv/events) for a whirlwind tour of a typical event.

• Talk to those who’ve been there – it might sound like the most obvious thing to do, but a good way to get a ‘warts and all’ perspective on higher education is to chat to people you know who’ve been to uni...and come out the other side! Try family, friends, family friends, even your teachers – they’ve been there too.

On campus• Figure out where most of your classes would be

(Same building or around the campus?)• Check out the halls (Ask first)• Find the library (You’ll soon understand why)• Scope out the student union (Worth a look...)• See what else is on offer (Shops? Restaurants?

Leisure centre? Yes, really.)

Off campus• Find out where students live, hang out, eat, drink etc

(Take a walk and see for yourself)• How student-friendly are local businesses? (Discounts?)• Any job opportunities around? (Good place to find work

experience and / or part-time pay checks?)

And perhaps most important of all: do you like what you see?

Getting readyGrab a marker pen – physical or mental. Here’s a list of things to consider before setting off on your first higher education adventure...and a few things to keep in mind once you get to your destination.

Preparation• Who? What? Where? When? (e.g. you + mates; open day;

Cardiff; 25 May) • How? (Train? Plane? Automobile? Train or a lift probably...)• Bring stuff? (Tip: travel light, but don’t forget the essentials

– e.g. portfolio of work if requested)• Day trip or overnight stay? (You need to scope out the wider

town or city too)

Getting there • What time? (Don’t be late!)• Train ticket (True for most visits)• Lift when you arrive (Walk or taxi it? Is there a bus?)• Venue details / campus map (Where is it again...?)• Names of people you’re supposed to meet (Umm...Dr Who?)

The course itself• How is the course assessed – by exam or continuous assessment?• How is the course taught – through lectures, tutorials, seminars, laboratory

work, other?• Is it possible to study abroad for part of the course?• What is the staff to student ratio?• Do departments give help or advice about obtaining sponsorship?• Will I be expected to buy materials or equipment?• Where are graduates from this course likely to find employment?• Would there be an opportunity for me to continue as a postgraduate?• Is the university or college based on one site?

Accommodation• Do students ‘live in’? Can all first years be accommodated?• What’s the accommodation like – are there halls of residence or designated

self-catering flats?• What is the typical cost of accommodation?• Can the university / college help me find suitable accommodation, taking

into account any special needs (such as disability access, mature students, family commitments, single sex, religious requirements)?

• How far away is the accommodation from the university / college, students’ union, sports facilities, shops and nightlife?

• Is public transport available from the halls of residence to lectures? If yes, how much does it cost?

Student facilities• Can you tell me more about... – student services – the students’ union – job shop• What support services are provided (e.g. careers service, counselling,

finance, medical)?• What support facilities are there for students with additional needs?

Questions, questions, questionsIt’s a good idea to have your own agenda in mind when visiting a uni or college. Consider what you’d like to find out more about, which departments you’d like to take a look at – maybe even prepare some questions.

Here are a few for starters; the kind of stuff you might also ask about as part of your wider research – at conventions, taster courses, interviews, or any other opportunity you get to quiz university admissions staff. Well, maybe don’t ask them all at once, and of course they won’t all apply to you...but you get the idea.

Getting on the course• How many course places are there vs. how many applications received?• Are there any subjects or qualifications you won’t consider for your course?• What qualities do you look for in potential applicants?• Are there any special entry qualifications for mature students?• (For art and design courses). Is an art foundation course necessary?• Will I have to sit an admissions test?

Interviews• Is a formal interview part of the selection procedure?• What proportion of applicants do you interview?• What is the purpose of the interview, how important is it,

and what happens exactly?

Leisure• What social activities are available on campus?• What clubs and societies are there?• Are political / LGBT / religious groups represented on campus?• Are the pubs and nightclubs in the area student-friendly?• Are there any sports clubs / teams I could join – either on

campus or in the local area?

Taking a gap year• Is taking a gap year encouraged? If so, is specific experience

sought for any particular course?• Should I apply during my studies for deferred entry, or is

it better to apply during my gap year?

Finding out more• If I have any questions in the future, who should I contact?• What are the arrangements for attending an open day

or making a personal visit?

Notes