Choosing a university is one of the most important steps in shaping your future. While online research, university rankings and prospectuses provide valuable information, nothing compares to visiting a campus in person. Open days give you a unique, first-hand experience that goes beyond marketing materials and glossy photos.
They allow you to walk through lecture halls, explore accommodation, meet lecturers, and speak directly to students, helping you make a confident, well-informed decision about where you’ll spend the next few years of your life.
1. Experience Your Future First-hand
A university open day is more than just a campus tour. It’s an immersive experience designed to help you picture what your life could look like at that institution.
During an open day, you can:
- Attend sample lectures and workshops.
- Visit facilities such as libraries, labs and sports centres.
- Meet academic staff from your preferred course.
- Ask questions about modules, assessments and teaching styles.
- Talk to current students about their real experiences.
These activities provide a genuine sense of what studying there would be like, something that can’t be captured through websites or brochures.
2. Understand the Course Beyond the Prospectus
Every university offers enticing course descriptions online, but these often use similar language. Visiting during an open day gives you the chance to uncover the real differences between courses.
You’ll be able to:
- Ask course-specific questions: Find out about specialisations, research opportunities and practical components.
- Clarify entry requirements: Understand what qualifications, subjects or portfolios are truly required.
- Explore career outcomes: Ask how graduates from that programme perform in the job market.
- See teaching quality first-hand: Attend mini lectures or meet lecturers to gauge teaching styles and enthusiasm.
A short conversation with a lecturer or student can give you more insight than hours of online research.
3. Assess Campus Life and Facilities
The environment where you’ll live and study for several years matters just as much as your course. Open days let you see if the atmosphere suits your personality and learning style.
Pay attention to:
- Campus layout: Is it compact and easy to navigate, or spread across a large city?
- Study spaces: Are libraries and study rooms comfortable and well-equipped?
- Student union and social clubs: What opportunities exist for joining societies, volunteering, or leadership roles?
- Accommodation quality: Are the halls clean, affordable, and close to key facilities?
- Food and transport options: How easy is it to get around or grab meals between lectures?
These small details add up to create your overall university experience, as this is something only visible during an in-person visit.
4. Learn About Support Systems and Student Well-being
Student life can be exciting, but it also comes with challenges. Open days are the ideal opportunity to understand the types of support available.
Ask about:
- Academic support: Tutoring, study skills workshops and writing centres.
- Mental health and counselling: How accessible and confidential are these services?
- Career guidance: Internship placement, job fairs and career coaching.
- Financial aid: Scholarships, bursaries, and payment plans for local or international students.
Knowing these services exist and how to access them can make a huge difference to your comfort and success at university.
5. Compare Universities Effectively
If you’re visiting multiple universities, open days are your best chance to make fair, side-by-side comparisons.
Here’s how to maximise your visits:
- Take notes on everything that stands out, such as the facilities, course structure, accommodation, and atmosphere.
- Ask the same questions at each university to make direct comparisons.
- Bring someone along. It could be that your parents or friends can help you spot things you might overlook.
- Use your instincts: Sometimes a university “feels right” because it aligns with your values, goals or personality.
When you later review your notes, you’ll see which campus and course resonate most with your long-term plans.
6. Get Real Insights from Current Students
Current students are the most authentic voice of any university. Their opinions reveal what life is truly like behind the marketing campaigns.
Here are some good questions to ask them:
- What’s the workload like compared to expectations?
- How approachable are the lecturers?
- What’s the social life like on and off campus?
- How do they manage living costs and accommodation?
- Would they choose the same university again?
Their honest feedback can highlight both the strengths and the challenges of student life at that university.
7. Virtual Open Days
If travelling to campus is not possible, virtual open days offer a convenient way to explore from home. Many universities now host live streams, 360° campus tours, and chat sessions with lecturers and students.
Advantages of virtual open days include:
- No travel costs.
- Flexible timing.
- Access to recorded sessions.
- Opportunities to ask questions in live Q&A chats.
However, while online tours are useful, they cannot fully replicate the atmosphere, energy, and personal connection that come from visiting in person. If possible, attend both by starting online, then confirm your impressions in person.
8. Tips for Making the Most of Any Open Day
A little preparation goes a long way.
Before the visit:
- Register early and check if any sessions require booking.
- Review the event schedule and prioritise key talks.
- Prepare questions about course content, facilities, and student life.
During the visit:
- Join both course-specific and general campus tours.
- Talk to multiple students from different years.
- Visit the accommodation and nearby amenities.
- Take photos or short notes to help you remember details later.
After the visit:
- Reflect on how you felt at each university.
- Compare pros and cons objectively.
- Discuss your impressions with family, teachers or counsellors.
9. Open Days for International Students and Malaysians Studying Abroad
If you’re based in Malaysia and considering universities overseas, attending open days, whether virtually or through local events, can be particularly valuable.
For Malaysian students:
- For Malaysian students exploring options to study in the United Kingdom or Australia, many universities from both countries hold open days in Kuala Lumpur or Penang to connect with potential applicants.
- Local university representatives can explain scholarships, visa requirements and accommodation options.
- Virtual open days often cater specifically to international applicants with sessions about admissions and cultural adjustment.
Taking part in these events helps you plan early and avoid surprises when applying abroad.
10. Why Open Days Matter for Your Final Decision
Open days transform your university search from theoretical to practical. You gain:
- Clarity about what each course and campus truly offers.
- Confidence that your choice suits your academic and personal goals.
- Direct evidence instead of relying on second-hand information.
By attending open days, whether in person or virtually, you can make an informed, thoughtful decision about where to invest your time, effort and money.
Make Every Open Day Count with Expert Guidance
Choosing the right university is a major life decision, and open days give you the insight you need to make it wisely. But with so many universities and programmes available, it can be overwhelming to shortlist the right options, manage applications, and prepare for admissions.
As a trusted educational consultant in Malaysia, Inquota specialises in guiding students through every step of their higher education journey, from identifying suitable universities to helping with applications, scholarships, and visa requirements.
Our experienced consultants work closely with students and parents to match aspirations with the best institutions, ensuring each decision is informed, strategic and stress-free.
Ready to find the right university for your future? Contact us today and let our expert advisors help you navigate open days, admissions and beyond with confidence and clarity.
FAQs
A university open day is an event where prospective students visit the campus to learn about courses, meet lecturers, tour facilities, and ask questions about student life, accommodation, and support services.
Yes. They offer first-hand experience that no brochure or website can match. Visiting lets you confirm whether a university’s environment, teaching and culture suit you.
Ask about course structure, class sizes, assessments, internship opportunities, and support services. Speaking to current students also gives honest insight into life on campus.
Open days don’t directly influence admission decisions, but they can improve your understanding of the application process and increase your confidence in interviews or personal statements.
Most universities now offer virtual open days with live Q&A sessions, online campus tours and downloadable course information. They’re a great alternative if you can’t travel.
