Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

When will unis return to in person open days?

38 replies

seaweedseven · 25/05/2021 11:11

Does anyone have any inside info on when (or if) most unis aim to return to in person open days? I'm particularly interested in Russell Group & similar level unis for maths.

I've been scouring uni websites and opendays.com but very few are advertising in person days. The only one I've found so far that is tentatively advertising an in person day is Queen Mary.

I can understand why they are wary of commiting to dates at the moment, but I hope there won't be a permanent move to virtual open days. I wondered if anyone works in a uni and has info on future plans?

OP posts:

GCAcademic · 25/05/2021 12:47

I work in an RG university. We are certainly planning to return to in person open days as soon as possible. It depends on what the announcement re. 21 June is.

Original poster

seaweedseven · 25/05/2021 13:12

That's good news GCAcademic. DS has tried a couple of virtual open days and hasn't found them very helpful compared to getting a feel for a uni and town by visiting.

OP posts:

Etulosba · 25/05/2021 14:11

You can still visit the town and most universities without there being an official open day.

You won't get the exactly the same feel as in normal times but a visit before the end of term will probably give you a better idea of what the place is usually like than a visit during the summer vacation when there will be no undergrads about at all.

NotSorry · 25/05/2021 15:10

@Etulosba

You can still visit the town and most universities without there being an official open day.

That's what we had to do for Bristol - they were offering nothing except online. Birmingham were a lot better, they gave us an offer holders tour and then a further visit to talk to tutors if we wanted.

Original poster

seaweedseven · 25/05/2021 15:21

Thanks Etulosba and NotSorry. We'll do that if open days don't start up again soon. DS is just finishing Y11, so we do have plenty of time, but I was hoping to spread them out a bit, having left it to the end of Y12 with my older dc and then not being able to fit in all the ones she hoped to see.

I think we'll try and visit 2 or 3 uni towns and campuses over the summer, at least to get a feel for the different types of uni - city centre, campus, etc, but hopefully he'll get a chance to do some in person open days over the next 18 months, and if not, we'll do our own visits during term time.

OP posts:

NotSorry · 25/05/2021 15:26

I think that’s wise - it’s been awful trying to decide a uni based on virtual tours - going to see them even without a proper open day made a huge difference

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 25/05/2021 15:28

I think I would be looking at what Uni's are doing F2F teaching when I was choosing!!!

DD has now had 10 weeks of F2F in 2 years...

Etulosba · 25/05/2021 15:47

I think I would be looking at what Uni's are doing F2F teaching when I was choosing!!!

That will probably be all of them unless there is another lockdown.

Tumpeten · 25/05/2021 17:36

We're planning to visit a couple of university campuses over half term and found out by chance that both are doing bookable tours, hosted by current students, just of the outside areas, but it's something. So it's worth checking to see if your uni's of interest are doing the same.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 25/05/2021 17:41

@Etulosba

I think I would be looking at what Uni's are doing F2F teaching when I was choosing!!!

That will probably be all of them unless there is another lockdown.

It's not though-my DD's friends are all over and having very different rules and experiences.

The govt seems to be leaving it up to the Unis.

Some practical courses are F2F in some Unis but that also varies widely!!

Cornishmumofone · 25/05/2021 18:11

Southampton is hoping to run some in September: www.southampton.ac.uk/open-days/undergraduate

YesThisIsMe · 25/05/2021 18:14

Birmingham did an offer holders’ open day this weekend, so that’s a good sign.

BathpoolPark · 25/05/2021 18:31

@Etulosba

I think I would be looking at what Uni's are doing F2F teaching when I was choosing!!!

That will probably be all of them unless there is another lockdown.

It's not for my daughter - her university has announced it is staying online.

Underbox · 25/05/2021 19:29

I've just booked an in-person tour next week. The student can only have one additional person with them (ie friend/relative) and face masks on at all times. Have a look online at your chosen uni to see if they are offering pre-bootable tours.

jgw1 · 25/05/2021 19:34

@seaweedseven

Does anyone have any inside info on when (or if) most unis aim to return to in person open days? I'm particularly interested in Russell Group & similar level unis for maths.

I've been scouring uni websites and opendays.com but very few are advertising in person days. The only one I've found so far that is tentatively advertising an in person day is Queen Mary.

University of Gloucestershire had one last weekend.

DulcetMoans · 25/05/2021 19:47

I work at an RG as well. We had planned open days from July but there has been nervousness as that can be 10000 people on campus at once. So now it will be virtual with lots of smaller on campus visits over the summer months. Revisit the situation in September.

Etulosba · 25/05/2021 20:49

It's not for my daughter - her university has announced it is staying online.

Sorry, but I find that very hard to believe.

Which university is it?

Nothingoriginalhere · 25/05/2021 20:53

@Etulosba

It's not for my daughter - her university has announced it is staying online.

Sorry, but I find that very hard to believe.

Which university is it?

nope I believe it - my dd has had zero f2f for her first year - year now finished and they have announced most likely remote learning in sept again onwards. Newcastle Law.

BathpoolPark · 25/05/2021 21:04

@Etulosba

It's not for my daughter - her university has announced it is staying online.

Sorry, but I find that very hard to believe.

Which university is it?

I'm sorry you think I'm a liar.

Leeds.

mumsneedwine · 25/05/2021 21:08

Bristol too. Saying lectures still on line (even though the whole exam system crashed yesterday).

Etulosba · 25/05/2021 21:37

@BathpoolPark Leed's plans for next year...

Plans for 2021/22 teaching and research arrangements on campus

Our objective for next session is to provide every student with a substantial and sustained curriculum-based on-campus experience.

This means:

Students will receive academically-led, engaging face-to-face teaching activity each week throughout the semester. This includes seminars, tutorials, practical classes, performance activities & discussion groups

coronavirus.leeds.ac.uk/staff-advice/teaching-and-learning-online/

BathpoolPark · 25/05/2021 21:43

Leeds' plans for my daughter are outlined in an email to her which does not match their press release. I'm unsure why you are determined to argue this.

mumsneedwine · 25/05/2021 21:48

Last year websites were so positive and all about blended learning. None of this happened for my DD & friends. And they've all been emailed to let them know next year will have lots of lovely on line again. What they say to new 'customers' does not always match reality.
Law students at Bristol been told all exams will now be able n line and open book from now on. Despite yesterday being a disaster,

Etulosba · 25/05/2021 22:17

l'm unsure why you are determined to argue this.

I'm not.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 25/05/2021 22:20

@Etulosba

do you have a DC currently at Uni?
because a lot of us are sharing our DC current experiences...

@BathpoolPark @Nothingoriginalhere @mumsneedwine

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread