Prospectuses & Open Days

The University Prospectus

Prospectuses do two things: they give you useful information, but they are also glossy marketing tools, designed to make you want to go to that university.  They are very careful only to have pictures of the best bits of the university (and sometimes only the best looking students) taken only on the finest of days. It is important to read them to find out about the courses and the university requirements, the accommodation and so on, but do treat them with care – the best thing you can do to find out what a university is really like is to visit it, preferably at a time when students are there so you get a proper feel for the place.

 

Most courses or faculties have their own brochures, and these are often more useful; they certainly provide more information about the course.  These are usually available on the website, but you can also get a hard copy from the department.  Look in the prospectus or the website for the address.

 

Alternative prospectuses (written by students) will often give you a different picture from the official prospectus, but they are naturally highly subjective.  Go to this website for alternative prospectuses.

Open Days

We arrange visits to several university open days during the summer term – Bath, Bristol, Exeter and Oxford usually – but all universities have open days and you can arrange to go on your own to other places that interest you; the university websites will have details and this website gives details of all open days.

 

They are a good way to find out what a university is really like, though it can be even better to visit on a normal working day.  You don’t need to arrange such a visit; universities are big places and you can wander around most of them at will.  The summer half term holiday can be a good time to do this.

 

Don't accept a place from a university you haven't visited.

 

When you visit a university, take the opportunity to have a good look around and ask lots of questions. If possible, find some students and ask them questions too:

 

• What's the quality of the teaching like? Is there plenty of feedback on your work?

 

• What are the departmental facilities like?

 

• How good is the library?  Is it open all weekend?  Is it easy to get on to a computer?

 

• How well are new students looked after?

 

• How easy is it to find accommodation? Which are the best halls of residence? How far away from the university are they and what is the transport like? How expensive is rented housing?

 

• Are there any rules about part-time work? Is it easy to get work?

 

• What's the cost of living like? Are there good shops close by, and places to eat?