[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-297141-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-297141-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","open-day-tips-university-open-day-tips","Open-day-tips - University Open Day Tips","","University open day tips covering planning and decision making for students applying to university. The guidance explains when open days typically run, how to book attendance, and how to manage clashes across terms, including UCAS deadlines and available offer-holder days. It also outlines practical questions to ask about teaching, assessment, modules, admissions criteria, and study options abroad or industry placements. It includes advice on evaluating promotional material and key accommodation cost factors.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/open-day-tips-university-open-day-tips/297141/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/open-day-tips-university-open-day-tips/297141.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Levi","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-04","2026-09-18",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",8,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"When do university open days usually take place, and how should students plan visits?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Open days generally run in June and July and again from September to November. Students normally need to book, universities release dates January to March, and it’s advised to visit a couple of universities in the summer because Year 13 gets busy and dates can clash.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What UCAS application deadlines are mentioned for different applicants?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"The document states the UCAS deadline will be 15th Jan 2026. It also notes that Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine have an earlier deadline of 15th October 2025, with applications possible from September 2025.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What accommodation cost issues should students consider before choosing a university?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Accommodation costs vary widely, with room rent ranging from about £125 to £250+ per week in shared self-catered flats. The tips advise checking whether rent is required for 35, 40, or 44 weeks, understanding the impact of ensuite rooms, London pricing, and whether halls are self-catered versus catered.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},297141,1790704998,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,95,100,105,110,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":96,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144},7971461740909,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","UNIVERSITY OPEN DAY TIPS  \nGeneral Information  \n• Open days are generally in two periods: June and July and September to November.  \n• You will normally need to book a place to attend an open day, and universities generally release the dates January to March; have a look at their websites and start planning.  \n• It is best to try to visit a couple of universities in the summer of Year 12 as your autumn term in Year 13 will be very busy. Plus, open day dates often clash, and you may not be able to visit all your favourite options in the autumn.  \n• The deadline for UCAS applications will be the 15th Jan 2026 but you can apply any time from September 2025 (Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine deadlines are the 15th October 2025) .  \n• Some universities offer only 1 to 2 open days per year and others 6 to 8.  \n• Most universities also hold Offer Holder/Visiting Days for students who have had offers.  \n• Most open days are Saturdays or Sundays, but some are mid-week. Mrs Elgood will usually give you permission to attend / travel to an open day on a school day if you ask.  \n• There is often financial support available for those on low incomes to pay the costs of attending open days - check the relevant university website, or ask Mrs Elgood about possible financial support from school (e.g. Lillian Bell Trust) .  \nRemember  \n• You are there to ask questions and find the best fit for you; don’t be shy, ask staff about what makes their course special/different, ask students what the best and worst things are about that university.  \n• Every university is there to sell itself over the others you may visit. It should be an enjoyable day but don’t take everything at face value. Free ice cream, tote bags and pens are lovely but don’t let them influence you.  \n• Just about every university is top of some sort of ‘Best List’; don’t fixate on this.  \n• Overall, the most important thing is that you like the overall feel and atmosphere and this can be difficult to predict until you actually visit. However, there is lots of very practical information that you also need to gather during the open day before you can decide if it’s the right place for you.  \n• You don’t have to rush into making your choices and it’s always a good idea to come back and visit again for an Offer Holders’ day a few months later.  \nThings to ask about  \nTeaching, course structure, module choice and assessment  \n• What is the face-to-face contact time on the course? Humanities is typically just 6-10 hours a week; science and engineering is 14-20 hours a week; vocational degrees, such as Nursing or Theatre Technician, can be 30+ hours a week.  \n• Are lectures recorded and available to students afterwards? Some universities are now moving away from recording lectures as they feel it negatively impacts attendance and motivation. Others take lecture videos down after one week.  \n• What are the core/optional modules and what is the overall degree focus? Look at them carefully and compare them to your other potential university choices. The same subject can be taught very differently at two universities of a similar ranking e.g. Computer Science is much more Maths-based at some institutions and much more Engineering-based at others.  \n• Do the 2nd and 3rd year modules appeal to you? Look beyond first year (where there is often less flexibility in terms of modules) and have a think about which specialisations you might like to study.  \n• How is the course assessed? Written exams, ongoing coursework, group projects, practicals? What is the percentage for each kind of assessment?  \n• What are the penalties for late submission of assignments? Common policies include taking off 1% for every hour work is late, or 20% for every day.  \n• What happens if you fail a module? Are there re-sits? Do you have to re-take the year?  \n• Can you take a semester / year abroad? Check if this genuinely available as part of the course or do you just have the opportunity to","cbCain6pDP2AeXfj","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCain6pDP2AeXfj","pdf",214171,"English","# General Information\n# Remember\n# Things to ask about\n## Teaching, course structure, module choice and assessment\n## Admissions\n## Accommodation","[{\"question\":\"When do university open days usually take place, and how should students plan visits?\",\"answer\":\"Open days generally run in June and July and again from September to November. Students normally need to book, universities release dates January to March, and it’s advised to visit a couple of universities in the summer because Year 13 gets busy and dates can clash.\"},{\"question\":\"What UCAS application deadlines are mentioned for different applicants?\",\"answer\":\"The document states the UCAS deadline will be 15th Jan 2026. It also notes that Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine have an earlier deadline of 15th October 2025, with applications possible from September 2025.\"},{\"question\":\"What accommodation cost issues should students consider before choosing a university?\",\"answer\":\"Accommodation costs vary widely, with room rent ranging from about £125 to £250+ per week in shared self-catered flats. The tips advise checking whether rent is required for 35, 40, or 44 weeks, understanding the impact of ensuite rooms, London pricing, and whether halls are self-catered versus catered.\"}]","Open-day-tips - University Open Day Tips | PDF",1789741098,13]