Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Everything you need to know about a Leeds Beckett University Open Day
Hi, I’m Tom and in this blog I’ll be talking about my Open Day experiences at Leeds Beckett and what I think would be good for you to know before you come to one.
How it all works
I’ve seen Open Days from both perspectives. Firstly, as a student thinking of applying to university and, more recently, as a student working as an ambassador for my course. So, I should be pretty well-placed to tell you what these events are all about!
Basically, we fling open the doors. Perhaps we should call it an open-door day… I digress. Everyone's experience at an Open Day is completely different. I'm going to try to talk you through a typical Open Day as a prospective student and then I'll tell give you some inside tips on how to get the most out of the day picked up from my work as a course ambassador.
My own Open Day experience at Leeds Beckett
It was all fairly simple to be honest. I was frantically checking my emails to ensure I was there on time for my course session. That said, had I not noticed any emails and just rocked up on the day, I would have been fine anyway as there were plenty of student ambassadors on hand acting as human signposts to guide me to where I needed to be.
The course sessions are excellent – mine gave me a fantastic insight into what I would be studying, and I even enjoyed my course lecturer’s cheesy jokes. I can confirm these jokes continued until I graduated!
It wasn’t a full-on lecture that bored me to death or that I did not understand, it was a simple sample of what I was to learn and how my course would be assessed. It actually got me excited about going to university and becoming more independent.
Current students support our teaching teams at Open Days working as ambassadors. They’ll be wearing green or purple t-shirts. Make sure you say hello and ask them about student life.
The atmosphere at the Open Day played a big part in my decision to join Beckett.
My business management course doesn’t really require specialist facilities – it’s more about access to a PC and the library, and that is plentiful. However, I know from working with ambassadors from other courses that some of the Open Day sessions will give you the opportunity to see first-hand the facilities you’ll be using.
I made the most of the day – drinking copious amounts of complimentary tea, as well as speaking to course ambassadors and society representatives from the Students’ Union about the social life and their own experiences at Leeds Beckett. Me and my parents ventured off home with a lot to consider, but the atmosphere at the Open Day played a big part in my decision to join Beckett.
My role at an Open Day
As a student working at an Open Day, there are lots of roles to fill and it’s helped me to see all the work that goes on to put on these events.
For my Open Day we drove in, but since then I’ve worked as an ambassador at Leeds train station to welcome people to the city and direct them to where they need to be. Keep an eye out for the student ambassadors dressed in Beckett purple! I’ve seen what a relief it is for visitors to see a friendly face when they arrive and I found it great that the university had considered this.
My favourite role has been giving out campus tours. The campus tour can be booked and there's nothing more satisfying to me than being able to help answer the questions of those excited to be taking their next stage in life and nothing more amusing than seeing parents lightly embarrass their children by asking lots of questions.
Campus tours are great way take in the facilities our students have access to.
Talk to as many ambassadors as you can and learn about Beckett. They have been there and done it so they will be the best placed to tell you what you will go through.
Top Tips when attending an Open Day
Remember, all the university staff and students are on hand to help you feel comfortable in what could potentially become your new home for three years. So, for your Open Day:
- Keep an eye on your emails in the build up to the event. They will have important details about you’re the day, such as timings, how to get around and where you need to be.
- Speak with the course teaching teams, go to your course talk and begin to understand the assessment and delivery of your course.
- Talk to as many ambassadors as you can and learn about Beckett. They have been there and done it so they will be the best placed to tell you what you will go through.
- Oh, and don’t be shy – if there’s any free coffee and biscuits on offer, help yourself. I certainly did!
The purpose of an Open Day is to make your decision easier. We are trying to give you a day that makes you feel like a Beckett student and showcase what we have to offer. You'll truly discover a university's culture by attending an Open Day!
