Generic open day questions (“what’s the accommodation like?”) get you generic answers. The questions that actually help you choose are the ones specific to your subject — the kind that reveal real differences between two universities offering “the same” degree.

This guide gives you a checklist of subject-specific questions you can take into an open day, plus a set of universal questions that apply to every visit. There’s a free printable PDF version at the end.

Universal questions to ask at every open day

Regardless of subject, ask these:

About the course

• How many contact hours per week — lectures, seminars, labs, tutorials?
• What’s the typical class size for seminars or small-group teaching?
• How is the course assessed — exams, coursework, practical, group work?
• If there’s group work, how do you stop one person carrying the rest of the group?
• How much choice do I have over modules in years 2 and 3?
• Is there a year abroad or placement option? How competitive is it?

About the experience

• Where will I actually spend most of my time — which buildings, which campus?
• What’s the contact time like in first year compared with final year?
• How easy is it to get face-to-face time with a tutor if I’m struggling?
• What’s the most common reason students drop out or transfer?

About outcomes

• What proportion of graduates are in graduate-level employment 15 months after finishing? (Not the headline employment figure — the graduate-level one.)
• What do graduates from this specific course typically go on to do?
• Which employers come to recruit on campus?

About money and life

• Is first-year accommodation guaranteed if I make this uni my insurance choice?
• What’s the realistic weekly rent range, including bills?
• Are there means-tested bursaries on top of the standard student finance?
• What’s the cost of getting from accommodation to teaching buildings?

Now to the subject-specific questions.

Engineering & technology

• What’s the balance of theory vs lab and design work in years 1 and 2?
• Which engineering software will I learn — and is it the same as what industry uses?
• Are there integrated master’s (MEng) routes and when do you switch?
• Is the course IET / IMechE / IChemE accredited? Through to what level?
• Can I see the workshops, fabrication labs, or design studios?
• What’s the typical placement-year salary, and how many students get one?

Medicine, dentistry & veterinary

• What’s the teaching style — PBL, traditional lectures, integrated?
• When does clinical exposure start? First year, second year?
• Which hospitals or practices are placements based at — how far from campus?
• What’s the intercalation policy?
• Pass rates for the first-attempt MLA / finals?
• How is the OSCE structured and what support is provided?

Law

• Is this a qualifying law degree (QLD) or does it lead toward SQE preparation?
• How much is taught by practising solicitors and barristers vs full-time academics?
• Is there a moot court, and how often do students use it?
• What pro bono opportunities exist?
• Which firms come to recruit, and what’s the vacation scheme success rate?
• For Scottish law: how does it differ from English law content?

Psychology

• Is the course BPS accredited?
• How much statistics is included in the first year — and what software?
• When does research participation start, and what’s the lab access like?
• Are there clinical, forensic, occupational, or developmental specialisms in later years?
• What proportion of graduates go on to clinical training?

Computer science & data

• Which programming languages are taught in year 1 — and is the syllabus updated regularly?
• Is there a year in industry, and which companies typically host placements?
• How much AI, machine learning, or quantum content is in the curriculum?
• What hardware do students get access to — GPU clusters, robotics labs?
• Are there hackathons, coding competitions, or industry projects in the course?

Business, economics & management

• How quantitative is the course? Specifically, how much maths and statistics in year 1?
• Is the school AACSB, EQUIS, or AMBA accredited?
• Are there live consulting projects with real businesses?
• What’s the placement year structure, and which companies host?
• How is the careers service set up — dedicated business careers team?

Humanities (English, History, Philosophy, Modern Languages)

• How many contact hours, honestly? (This is where contact hours vary most.)
• How are modules assessed — essays, exams, presentation, dissertation?
• Is there a year abroad option, and how is it funded?
• What’s the dissertation supervision ratio?
• Are there optional modules across other humanities subjects?
• What do graduates from this specific course typically do for work?

Creative arts (Art, Design, Music, Drama, Film)

• Can I see the studios, equipment, or rehearsal spaces — and are they 24/7 access?
• What’s the materials budget situation — what’s included in fees, what’s extra?
• How is work assessed — portfolio, performance, written component?
• What’s the studio space per student in the final year?
• Which industry partners and exhibitions does the course connect to?
• Where do recent graduates exhibit or perform?

Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)

• How much lab time per week, and which years?
• Are there optional fieldwork or research project years?
• What equipment will I actually use as an undergraduate?
• Are there integrated master’s (MSci, MChem, MPhys) routes?
• Which research groups would I be likely to work with in a final-year project?

Geography, Environmental Sciences

• What fieldwork is included, where, and is it funded?
• How much GIS, remote sensing, and quantitative analysis in the curriculum?
• What’s the split between physical and human geography?
• Are there year-abroad or year-in-industry options?

Education & teaching

• Does the course lead to QTS, or is a PGCE required afterwards?
• When does school placement start, and where are placement schools located?
• What age range (primary, secondary, post-16) does this prepare for?
• What’s the employment rate into teaching roles within a year?

Nursing, midwifery & allied health

• Which placement settings are used, and how far do students travel?
• What’s the split between university teaching and clinical placement?
• Is there guaranteed registration with the NMC / HCPC on completion?
• What support is provided during demanding placement periods?

Questions for the students, not the staff

Save these for student ambassadors — you’ll get more honest answers:

• What’s the worst thing about studying here that they didn’t tell you on the open day?
• How easy is it to get hold of a tutor when you’re stuck?
• What do you actually do at weekends?
• Where do most second and third years live, and how much do they pay?
• If you could redo your decision, would you still come here?
• What was the biggest surprise about the course in your first term?

The phrasing matters. “What was difficult about first year?” gets you a real answer. “Is the course good?” gets you a sales pitch.