Open days can be the key to helping you decide which university you go to, but they can seem quite daunting and overwhelming – which is why I’ve put together a guide on making the most of your time at an Open Day, so that you can really discover why BU is for you!

Talbot Campus

First things first, schedule it. It might sound simple, but at BU, you can book onto an open day several months in advance which lets you find the best date for you! Once you’re booked in, read through any information guides sent to you and try and familiarise yourself with any talks and tours that you want to attend. If you forget to plan in advance, don’t worry!

At the open day, BU student ambassadors (those dressed in pink!) will provide you with your own timetable and information pack, making it easier to navigate your way through campus. Take a few minutes to read through these guides and make a plan of when each talk is, so that you don’t have to run through campus between them! Take yourself to talks that interest you and go for a campus tour to learn more about the facilities on offer.

Standard En-Suite in Dorchester House

Next, accommodation! I’d really recommend that you visit the accommodation. There’s shared houses and postgraduate studios on Talbot Campus (Student Village) as well as halls of residence near the Lansdowne Campus (Dorchester House is my personal favourite!). It can be useful to check out all the accommodation options and decide what truly matters for you: price? having a gym? Being close to the supermarket? Near to campus? Sharing a bathroom?

Using the guide, check when the accommodation tours end since it can vary – make sure that they don’t clash with your course talks or campus tours! There are free buses that operate between Talbot and Lansdowne campus on open days, so you can easily travel between the two! (but don’t fret if you miss the accommodation tours, there are plenty of photos on the BU website!).

Tummy rumbling? Well, do I have good news for you… There’s a whole range of food outlets to try on campus so you can get a feel for campus life! My favourite is a ciabatta from the SUBU café, but there’s also a café in the Fusion building (with hot food options!), a Starbucks inside Poole House, or you can grab a meal deal in the Student Shop. Or, if you’re lucky, our very own campus pub might be open so you can grab a drink and a bite to eat – yes, you heard me right, we have a pub on campus!

My final tip? Chat! Talk to lecturers, student ambassadors and campus staff – we’re all here to help 😊. We have ambassadors on marshalling duty, so they will come and find you if you’re looking a bit lost on campus to help you find your way, but I encourage you to ask all the questions you have. After all, I chose BU because of my open day experience with student ambassadors and now I’m the one in this position, showing you just how great it is to study at Bournemouth University.

What are you waiting for? Book onto an open day now!

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