Is it Worth Attending a University Open Day?

University open days are often recommended as a key step in choosing where to apply. But many students wonder whether they are actually necessary — especially if travelling is expensive, difficult, or simply not possible.

The truth is that open days are not required for admission, and they don’t increase your chances of getting an offer.

What they can do is help you make a much more informed decision about where you want to spend the next few years of your life.

What an open day actually helps you understand

Most students choose universities based on course descriptions, rankings, and online information.

Open days allow you to see something that those things rarely capture: what the experience actually feels like.

This includes the people, environment, and practical realities of studying there.

Meeting the academics who may teach you

One of the most valuable parts of an open day is the chance to speak directly with academics from the department.

At many universities, professors and lecturers who teach the course attend subject sessions and Q&A panels. For example:

• University of Oxford college open days often include discussions with tutors who supervise students in small tutorial groups.
• Imperial College London department open days often involve lab tours and talks by academic staff.

These interactions help you understand:

• how the subject is taught
• what the department emphasises academically
• whether the teaching style suits you

Even a short conversation can give you a much clearer sense of whether you would enjoy studying there.

Talking to current students

Current students often give the most honest insights.

They can explain:

• what the course workload is really like
• how assessments work
• whether the course matched their expectations
• what graduates typically do after the degree

For example, a student studying Mechanical Engineering might explain:

• how group design projects work
• whether internships are common
• which modules students find most challenging

These kinds of details rarely appear clearly on university websites.

Understanding the campus environment

A university can look very different in person compared to how it appears online.

Visiting allows you to see:

• whether you like the campus layout
• how far departments are from accommodation
• what study spaces and facilities look like
• how busy or quiet the environment feels

Some students realise they strongly prefer:

• campus universities (like University of Warwick)
  over
• city-based universities (like University College London).

That kind of preference is difficult to discover without seeing the place yourself.

Practical considerations matter more than people expect

Open days also help you understand everyday realities.

You can assess things like:

• how easy it is to travel to the university
• what accommodation options look like
• whether the city feels comfortable to live in
• how expensive food, transport, and housing might be

For example, studying in London can feel very different from studying in a smaller university town like Durham or Bath. Experiencing the location can make that difference much clearer.

Asking detailed questions

Another advantage of open days is that you can ask very specific questions directly to the people involved in the course.

Examples include:

• “How flexible are module choices in second year?”
• “How much research exposure do undergraduates get?”
• “How do most students find their internships or placements?”

These are questions that may be difficult to get clear answers to online.

Admissions teams often receive many emails, and replies can take time. In person, conversations can be more natural and detailed.

Online open days can still be useful

If travelling isn’t possible, online open days can still be valuable.

Many universities run:

• virtual department talks
• Q&A sessions with academics
• student panels

These can still give insight into the course and allow you to ask questions.

What if you can’t attend at all?

Not attending an open day does not harm your application.

Admissions tutors do not track attendance, and it does not influence whether you receive an offer.

Many students choose universities successfully using:

• course pages
• virtual tours
• student forums
• conversations with current students online

Open days are simply a tool for decision-making, not a requirement.

The real takeaway

Open days are most valuable as a way to answer one question:

Can I actually imagine studying and living here?

If you can attend, they can provide useful insights into teaching style, campus environment, and student life.

If you can’t, that’s completely fine too. Strong applications and good university choices are still possible without them.

The goal is not to attend every open day — it’s to gather enough information to make a thoughtful decision.