How to Navigate a Virtual Open Day

Virtual open days are a way to learn about a prospective university if you aren’t able to attend in person. During the time that Covid was rife, these were much more common. However, many universities have retained some aspects, if not the full virtual open-day experience.

For example, virtual tours, taster lectures and UCAS events are all aspects offered by most universities, as well as the ability to speak to current students via the new Unibuddy programme.

So, you’ve booked onto a virtual open day at a university that you are interested in attending, but what happens next? It is really easy to log on and have a quick look around before signing back off and making your decision, but a virtual open day can offer you so much more than that; use our tips to help you navigate your way through the day.

Plan your virtual open day

Take the time to plan what you want to achieve. Maybe you are keen to see how the faculty organises seminar study, or want to find out if there are any research centres that you can get involved with. Many students are also keen to check out the location of the campus and work out the travel distance from halls to lectures.

Take time to jot down what you want to know and use this to plan out your day. And don’t forget to check out the social side of university, the clubs and societies on offer.

When the virtual event is listed, you may need to book into specific events so take the time beforehand to check out the itinerary and secure a place on any of the bookable events that appeal to you. This may include online seminars or question-and-answer sessions with faculty staff and current students.

On the day

On the day, have your itinerary and questions to hand so that you find out everything that you are looking to learn. In between bookable sessions, you can use your time to explore interactive maps and virtual tours of accommodation and student facilities as well as learn about job opportunities for students in the local area.

Ultimately, a virtual open day is only as good as you are willing to make it and can be a really informative way of learning about a place of study. Plan in advance and navigate the day with thought so that you end up with a real sense of what a university can offer you.

For more helpful tips for students read our post on What Should I Pack When Going To Uni?.