University Open Days 2021
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Open Day Advice

Open Days are held at most Victorian Universities and TAFEs throughout Term 3. Attending an Open Day is the best way to find out first-hand about a course or University/TAFE. Make sure you go!

What is Open Day?
​On Open day, a university opens its doors to anyone who is interested in attending their university in the future, or who would just like to know more about the institution. You can talk with academics, lecturers, and current students about what certain courses are actually like, and what is required to get into them. University Open Days are well worth attending because they can help you make one of life’s important decisions. They usually occur on weekends during Term 3 of the school year.

Open Day “MUST DO” Items
  • Visit the areas such as student support services and student lounges to check out what it’s like to be a student. Does the campus feel like a place you’d like to belong?
  • Go on a campus tour and see what facilities and resources are available on campus.
  • Don’t just talk to university staff: make sure you chat with some current students of the institution. They are experts on what it’s like to study there, and have recently gone through the process of selecting and getting into their course.
  • Bring someone along with you. parents/guardians are a great option as they may have information, they want to find out too. A friend or other family member can also be helpful and make you feel comfortable making your first trip with us.
  • Watch out for student clubs and societies who will be around on the day. These can be an exciting addition to university life and cover a huge range of interests, often creating lots of social opportunities and freebies.
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Open Day “MUST FIND OUT” Items
  • ​​Different pathways into the courses in which you’re interested.
  • Any prerequisite subjects or tasks for the courses you’re considering.
  • The time commitment of the course you are considering (how many years it takes to complete the course, how many hours per week you will need to attend lectures and tutorials, and do extra reading and studying - University doesn’t have set hours like school).
  • What public transport and parking options are available if you are going to travel to University/TAFE.
  • What accommodation is available if you are considering moving away from home to go to University/TAFE.
  • The facilities that are available at the campus. Libraries, cafes, banks, book stores, security services are all commonly found at University/TAFE campuses.

What questions should I ask current university students?
  • Why did you choose to study at this university?
  • What is it like living away from home?
  • What do you wish you'd known before you started studying?
  • What jobs does your course lead to?
  • What are the best and worst things about university in your opinion?
  • How have you found the course so far - what are the teaching / facilities / support like?
  • What’s this town/suburb like to live in?

What questions should I ask University staff?
  • What are the prerequisites for the courses I’m considering?
  • What are my options if I don’t get the ATAR for this course?
  • What services and facilities are available for students?

What questions should I ask students and staff about on-campus accommodation?
  • Who can live on-campus at this university?
  • How long can I live on-campus for?
  • Am I guaranteed a place in on-campus accommodation if I’m accepted into a course?
  • How do I apply for accommodation?
  • What type of accommodation is available? (i.e. single rooms, shared room, shared or private bathroom and kitchens, room or flat living).
  • What extras are provided for students who live on campus? (i.e. food, support services, social programs, sports and recreational facilities).
  • What are the costs of living on-campus?

Where can I find out the dates and times of Open Days?
A list of Open Days is available on the right of this page, or you can always Google search.
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And remember…
Plan your visit. There are often talks and tours which you can book in for to ensure you get the most out of your visit.
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Virtual Open Day Advice

Getting the most out of a Virtual Open Day
Some institutions may hold a Virtual Open Day which will be held in late July and August (a list of Open Days has been posted on Compass). However, you are more than welcome to contact an institution at any time for advice on courses.
 
Who should participate in a Virtual Open Day?
Anyone who is considering studying at a tertiary level in the next few years should attend.
 
Why should you attend an Open Day?
Apart from the opportunity to obtain course information there are many other reasons for participating:
  • You are going to feel more comfortable arriving at a university or TAFE institute on the first day of classes if you have done your research and found out more about the institution.
  • What is really involved in the course or courses you are interested in?
  • If you have to move away from home, where are you going to live?
  • Will you be happier studying in a large metropolitan institution or a smaller, perhaps rural institution?
  • What does the place ‘feel’ like? Watch Virtual Tours and try gaining an insight into whether or not it is a bustling environment with lots of activity, or a quieter, more relaxed campus set in landscaped grounds?
  • How are you going to get there? Is it close to public transport or should you start saving now for a car? If you don’t know the answers to any of these questions, then you should participate in a Virtual Open Day
 
How to make the best of Virtual Open Days
  • To make your Virtual Open Day activity fun and informative, here are some pointers:
  • Write down a list of questions you would like to ask about particular courses – if they are not addressed during the virtual event, you can always follow up with the institutions later
  • If the event allows Q & A, make sure you ask lots of questions!
  • Enjoy the activity!

Not everyone can participate in every Virtual Open Day and various institutions are also holding their Virtual Open Days on the same date, so students are encouraged to register for as many as possible so that even if you miss one, you should receive notifications from the institutions.
University & TAFE Open Days
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