University Open Days

What happens at a University Open Day?

Open Days are a great way to discover all about the University of Exeter - our degree programmes, support services and student life. They’re designed to help you with those first steps of seeing whether our university and programmes are right for you.

Undergraduate Open Days typically run from 09:00 until 16:00. Alongside bookable subject sessions, you will have the opportunity to attend a variety of general talks (student life, applying to the University etc) and information/academic stands, as well as taking tours of the campus.

Our friendly and welcoming Student Ambassadors are also always on hand to answer any questions you may have about studying and living in Exeter.

When are you supposed to go to Open Days?

You probably want to research your university options at the beginning of the year, the year before you are planning to start your course. It is then a good idea to check the Open Day dates of the universities you are interested in and attend Open Days for your short-listed University choices, usually between Jan-Sept the year before you enrol. At the University of Exeter, we usually hold our Open Days across a selection of dates in May and October.

February-March are when we normally hold our Offer-Holder Visit Days; these days are specifically for applicants who are holding an offer with us and are designed to help you make a decision on whether Exeter is the right choice for you.

If you can’t wait for an Open Day and are keen to visit our campuses, you can book onto one of our Campus Tours.

Why should I attend an Open Day?

Open Days are designed to provide an opportunity to consider whether the universities on your shortlist (probably your top 5) could be right for you. If you are about to spend at least 3 years of your life there, you want it to be a good choice! What to consider? Look at the course, location, university reputation and any other factors that might be important to you.

If you want to visit one of our campuses sooner, then you can book onto one of our 60-90 minute campus tours or take part in one of our virtual tours. The schedule of tour dates is published on the booking page about 1 month in advance, so look out for these.

Does attending an Open Day give me priority for my application?

Attendance at Open Days will not affect your application to the University of Exeter; we do not prioritise applicants who attend Open Days, so they are certainly not compulsory to attend. Universities may use attendance data to reflect on general engagement of the Open Days to help make future events better.

However, attending an Open Day and perhaps having the opportunity to find out more about the course you are interested in, may help give you inspiration for points to include in your application, such as why you have applied for a particular course. Attending an Open Day can also enable the university to know that you are interested in a specific course and they may follow up with further details about the course you’re interested in, or general information about applying to their university.

Can I just turn up to an Open Day?

Our Open Days can be very popular! Therefore, rather than just turning up, we ask visitors to complete a booking form for open days in advance, so we do not exceed visitor number capacity. This also enables us to provide a better experience for you, including all the relevant information you need to plan ahead for the day.

If an Open Day is fully booked, you can find other available dates on our Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and PGCE Open Days webpages. You can sign up to receive notification of when future booking dates may be available via our expression of interest form.

What if I can't attend an Open Day?

We know how busy life can be, which is why we offer a range of other options for applicants who can’t make the Open Day dates. You can join us for a Campus Tour, run by our fantastic Student Ambassadors, or learn more about studying with us through our Undergraduate and Postgraduate Open Day portals

If you have an offer from us, you’ll be invited to join an Offer-Holder Visit Day on the relevant campus. These run from February to April, and we’ll email you with dates and times.

Don’t worry if you can’t attend an Open Day – it won’t impact your application.

Is there a difference between autumn and summer Open Days?

Personal choice! The Open Days run much the same, so it is up to you whether you would prefer to visit in Autumn or Summer. We usually offer dates through the year, so that you have a greater range of dates to choose from and fit in around any personal commitments you already have.

Where can I park for an Open Day?

We know that making travel plans is an important part of being able to attend an Open Day. We’d encourage you to consider sustainable travel options to visit our campuses.

Dependent on which event or campus you’re visiting there may be different parking options available, and we’d encourage you to check your booking for further information about the options.

If you have a Blue Badge there are a range of accessible parking spaces available across our campuses. On the Streatham campus in Exeter, the majority of accessible spaces are available in car park C (also called "Visitor Car Park" on some signage).

Is there accommodation available on campus for Open Days?

During most of the year, our on-campus accommodation is in use by our current students, meaning it’s not possible to stay on campus for an Open Day.

We do have useful information about places to stay nearby, please see the following links to find out more about hotel and restaurant offers for our Open Day guests:

• Hotels and restaurants in Exeter
• Hotels and restaurants in Penryn

Are there any bursaries for Open Days?

We want our university to be accessible to as many students as possible.

If you are a care leaver or taking part in widening participation programmes such as University of Exeter Scholars and Realising Opportunities, you may be eligible for bursaries to support with travel to Open Days, plus other benefits.

The University of Exeter offers other support to widening participation students for those who may face additional challenges in both accessing Higher Education and throughout their studies.

Is it okay if I go to an Open Day by myself?

It is absolutely fine to attend an Open Day on your own! A number of students do attend alone, and many prefer to do this. Going on your own has the advantage of you being able to set your own agenda and take in the Open Day at your own pace. On the other hand, it can be nice to look around with a parent or friend and have someone to discuss the university with and bounce ideas off.

Can I bring guests or pets with me?

Yes, we do welcome guests – furry, four legged ones included! Guests are welcome to attend the Open Day event with you and they do not require an individual ticket.

However, please be aware that we may need to limit pre-booked subject talks to prospective students only.  If spaces are available in the sessions, guests are welcome to join prospective students.  There is no guarantee that your guests will be able to join those sessions; but this can be a perfect opportunity for your guests to sample one of our many coffee outlets or eateries!

Guests of booked attendees are welcome to join the central activities (such as campus and accommodation tours, general presentations, information fair etc.).

In general, dogs are allowed on campus but only service dogs can enter buildings; other dogs should stay outside buildings, but are most welcome on the grounds.