What to do at an Open Day if you don't know what course you want to study

It can be hard to decide which course to choose to study at university. There are lots of factors that go into choosing a degree - your future career aspirations, what you're good at, and most importantly, what you enjoy! So, how does an Open Day fit in with all of this? Let's run through a few things to do at our Open Day that will help you pick a course.

Steps to find the right course for you at an Open Day:

1. Research

Before you go, do a little bit of research about the courses on offer. To narrow it down to a few courses you might be interested in, ask yourself:

• What subjects do I enjoy at sixth form or college and do I want to continue studying these?
• Do I have any hobbies or interests that relate to university courses?
• What am I good at? What are my strengths? What do I want my future career to be?
• What are my predicted grades for my A Level or BTEC course?

There are lots of subjects available at university, so as long as you meet the entry requirements you don’t have to stick to subjects you’ve studied before. For example, if you’re fascinated with true crime then consider Criminology or if you’ve always liked cars, explore Engineering. University is your chance to do what you love!

2. Make a plan for the day

If you book your place at our Open Day, we’ll send you a programme for the day. This will include timings for all of our course talks and locations for your chosen subjects so you can create a schedule of where you want to go and when to make the most of your time on campus.

3. Meet lecturers and staff

Meeting our friendly staff and asking them your burning questions is a great way to decide on the right course for you. Lectures will be available all day to discuss the ins and outs of different courses with you. To see if the course is right for you, ask them:

• How will I be assessed on the course?
• Are there placement and work experience opportunities available on the course?
• Where have previous students completed their placements?
• How many hours a week will I have timetabled teaching?
• What group sizes will I be taught in? What facilities will I use regularly?
• Is there any support if I am struggling with my assignments?
• What are graduates from the course doing now?
• Are there any scholarships or bursaries available?

4. Take part in interactive sessions

We put on a wealth of talks and workshops where you can experience what it’s like to be in a lesson at BCU. Taking part in our hands-on sessions is a great way to explore which course you enjoy the most. After taking part in the session, ask yourself:

• Was that session interesting and enjoyable?
• Were the teachers engaging and supportive?
• Do I find this subject interesting enough to learn about it for three years or more?
• Were the facilities good? Will this course help me reach my future career goals or help me learn the things I want to learn?

5. Explore our facilities and take tours

Part of choosing your university course is ensuring the facilities you'd be using are up to scratch. From our computing labs to mock wards for Nursing students, you can find out everything you need to know about our state-of-the-art facilities at our Open Day. Getting to grips with our facilities is the best way to check that you'll be using the industry standard, preparing you for the world of work before you even graduate. 

6. Ask our students questions

On campus, you'll find lots of student ambassadors who can give you a great insight into student life at BCU and answer all your questions in person. Students on the courses you’re interested in are the best people to tell you what it’s really like. Some good questions to ask our students include:

• Have you made friends on your course?
• How do you find the exams and assessments?
• Do you feel supported by your lecturers?
• Do you have the freedom to explore the areas of your subject you enjoy?
• Have you completed any work experience, internship or placement opportunities? What did you learn from these?
• Do you have guest lecturers talk to you from your chosen industry to help you prepare for your career?
• What job will you do after graduation? Do you feel prepared to go into your chosen industry?
• Is there extra support from the university? (You could ask about mental health and wellbeing, disability support, academic or career support).

7. Take notes!

If you tick all of the above off your list, then you’ll have a lot to consider when it comes to choosing the course you’d like to apply for. After the Open Day, gather all your notes and thoughts about the day and create a pros and cons list for each subject. Hopefully, you’ll find a clear winner and be one step closer to applying!

You can put five choices on your UCAS application, so if you're still undecided, you can apply for more than one course at the same university.