{"id":3819,"date":"2026-05-18T14:39:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T14:39:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stg-carolp-staging.kinsta.cloud\/?p=3819"},"modified":"2026-05-18T14:39:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T14:39:56","slug":"questions-to-ask-university-open-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/findopendays.com\/?p=3819","title":{"rendered":"Questions to Ask at a University Open Day (Subject Checklist)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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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 \u2014 the kind that reveal real differences between two universities offering “the same” degree.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Universal questions to ask at every open day<\/h2>\n

Regardless of subject, ask these:<\/p>\n

About the course<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • How many contact hours per week \u2014 lectures, seminars, labs, tutorials?<\/li>\n
  • What’s the typical class size for seminars or small-group teaching?<\/li>\n
  • How is the course assessed \u2014 exams, coursework, practical, group work?<\/li>\n
  • If there’s group work, how do you stop one person carrying the rest of the group?<\/li>\n
  • How much choice do I have over modules in years 2 and 3?<\/li>\n
  • Is there a year abroad or placement option? How competitive is it?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    About the experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Where will I actually spend most of my time \u2014 which buildings, which campus?<\/li>\n
    • What’s the contact time like in first year compared with final year?<\/li>\n
    • How easy is it to get face-to-face time with a tutor if I’m struggling?<\/li>\n
    • What’s the most common reason students drop out or transfer?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      About outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • What proportion of graduates are in graduate-level employment 15 months after finishing? (Not the headline employment figure \u2014 the graduate-level one.)<\/li>\n
      • What do graduates from this specific course typically go on to do?<\/li>\n
      • Which employers come to recruit on campus?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        About money and life<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

          Now to the subject-specific questions.<\/p>\n

          Engineering & technology<\/h2>\n
            \n
          • What’s the balance of theory vs lab and design work in years 1 and 2?<\/li>\n
          • Which engineering software will I learn \u2014 and is it the same as what industry uses?<\/li>\n
          • Are there integrated master’s (MEng) routes and when do you switch?<\/li>\n
          • Is the course IET \/ IMechE \/ IChemE accredited? Through to what level?<\/li>\n
          • Can I see the workshops, fabrication labs, or design studios?<\/li>\n
          • What’s the typical placement-year salary, and how many students get one?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Medicine, dentistry & veterinary<\/h2>\n
              \n
            • What’s the teaching style \u2014 PBL, traditional lectures, integrated?<\/li>\n
            • When does clinical exposure start? First year, second year?<\/li>\n
            • Which hospitals or practices are placements based at \u2014 how far from campus?<\/li>\n
            • What’s the intercalation policy?<\/li>\n
            • Pass rates for the first-attempt MLA \/ finals?<\/li>\n
            • How is the OSCE structured and what support is provided?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Law<\/h2>\n
                \n
              • Is this a qualifying law degree (QLD) or does it lead toward SQE preparation?<\/li>\n
              • How much is taught by practising solicitors and barristers vs full-time academics?<\/li>\n
              • Is there a moot court, and how often do students use it?<\/li>\n
              • What pro bono opportunities exist?<\/li>\n
              • Which firms come to recruit, and what’s the vacation scheme success rate?<\/li>\n
              • For Scottish law: how does it differ from English law content?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Psychology<\/h2>\n
                  \n
                • Is the course BPS accredited?<\/li>\n
                • How much statistics is included in the first year \u2014 and what software?<\/li>\n
                • When does research participation start, and what’s the lab access like?<\/li>\n
                • Are there clinical, forensic, occupational, or developmental specialisms in later years?<\/li>\n
                • What proportion of graduates go on to clinical training?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Computer science & data<\/h2>\n
                    \n
                  • Which programming languages are taught in year 1 \u2014 and is the syllabus updated regularly?<\/li>\n
                  • Is there a year in industry, and which companies typically host placements?<\/li>\n
                  • How much AI, machine learning, or quantum content is in the curriculum?<\/li>\n
                  • What hardware do students get access to \u2014 GPU clusters, robotics labs?<\/li>\n
                  • Are there hackathons, coding competitions, or industry projects in the course?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    Business, economics & management<\/h2>\n
                      \n
                    • How quantitative is the course? Specifically, how much maths and statistics in year 1?<\/li>\n
                    • Is the school AACSB, EQUIS, or AMBA accredited?<\/li>\n
                    • Are there live consulting projects with real businesses?<\/li>\n
                    • What’s the placement year structure, and which companies host?<\/li>\n
                    • How is the careers service set up \u2014 dedicated business careers team?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      Humanities (English, History, Philosophy, Modern Languages)<\/h2>\n
                        \n
                      • How many contact hours, honestly? (This is where contact hours vary most.)<\/li>\n
                      • How are modules assessed \u2014 essays, exams, presentation, dissertation?<\/li>\n
                      • Is there a year abroad option, and how is it funded?<\/li>\n
                      • What’s the dissertation supervision ratio?<\/li>\n
                      • Are there optional modules across other humanities subjects?<\/li>\n
                      • What do graduates from this specific course typically do for work?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        Creative arts (Art, Design, Music, Drama, Film)<\/h2>\n
                          \n
                        • Can I see the studios, equipment, or rehearsal spaces \u2014 and are they 24\/7 access?<\/li>\n
                        • What’s the materials budget situation \u2014 what’s included in fees, what’s extra?<\/li>\n
                        • How is work assessed \u2014 portfolio, performance, written component?<\/li>\n
                        • What’s the studio space per student in the final year?<\/li>\n
                        • Which industry partners and exhibitions does the course connect to?<\/li>\n
                        • Where do recent graduates exhibit or perform?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)<\/h2>\n
                            \n
                          • How much lab time per week, and which years?<\/li>\n
                          • Are there optional fieldwork or research project years?<\/li>\n
                          • What equipment will I actually use as an undergraduate?<\/li>\n
                          • Are there integrated master’s (MSci, MChem, MPhys) routes?<\/li>\n
                          • Which research groups would I be likely to work with in a final-year project?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            Geography, Environmental Sciences<\/h2>\n
                              \n
                            • What fieldwork is included, where, and is it funded?<\/li>\n
                            • How much GIS, remote sensing, and quantitative analysis in the curriculum?<\/li>\n
                            • What’s the split between physical and human geography?<\/li>\n
                            • Are there year-abroad or year-in-industry options?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              Education & teaching<\/h2>\n
                                \n
                              • Does the course lead to QTS, or is a PGCE required afterwards?<\/li>\n
                              • When does school placement start, and where are placement schools located?<\/li>\n
                              • What age range (primary, secondary, post-16) does this prepare for?<\/li>\n
                              • What’s the employment rate into teaching roles within a year?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                Nursing, midwifery & allied health<\/h2>\n
                                  \n
                                • Which placement settings are used, and how far do students travel?<\/li>\n
                                • What’s the split between university teaching and clinical placement?<\/li>\n
                                • Is there guaranteed registration with the NMC \/ HCPC on completion?<\/li>\n
                                • What support is provided during demanding placement periods?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  Questions for the students, not the staff<\/h2>\n

                                  Save these for student ambassadors \u2014 you’ll get more honest answers:<\/p>\n

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

                                    The phrasing matters. “What was difficult about first year?” gets you a real answer. “Is the course good?” gets you a sales pitch.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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                                    FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                    How many questions should I ask at an open day?<\/h3>
                                    Aim for 5 to 8 substantive ones across the day \u2014 split between academics, current students, and admissions staff. More than that, and you won’t remember the answers.<\/div><\/div>

                                    Should I write the answers down?<\/h3>
                                    Yes. By the third open day, you will not remember which uni said what. Carry a notebook or use your phone.<\/div><\/div>

                                    Can I email questions after the open day?<\/h3>
                                    Most admissions offices reply quickly to specific follow-up questions. They prefer it to general “tell me about the course” emails.<\/div><\/div>

                                    What if I’m too shy to ask questions out loud?<\/h3>
                                    Many universities have anonymous Q&A channels, online chat with current students, or you can email the admissions team directly. Asking in writing is just as valid.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                    The right questions to ask at a uni open day, tailored by subject. Free printable checklists for engineering, medicine, law, arts and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[26,17,27,28,29,30],"class_list":["post-3819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-open-days","tag-course-comparison","tag-editors-picks","tag-open-day-questions","tag-student-checklist","tag-subject-guide","tag-university-selection"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/findopendays.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/findopendays.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/findopendays.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findopendays.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findopendays.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3819"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/findopendays.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3819\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findopendays.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/findopendays.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findopendays.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findopendays.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}