Media

Oxford University Open Days draw visitors to city centre

17 June 2010

Thousands of prospective applicants and their families will be visiting Oxford on 30 June and 1 July as Oxford’s colleges and departments open their doors to visitors, and the University is making extra efforts to keep the local community informed of the events.

The Open Days are held each year to allow those interested in applying to the University to visit Oxford and learn more about the undergraduate courses, the colleges and the University in general. Most colleges and departments will be open, along with the museums, libraries and other facilities.

Last year several thousand visitors attended the events and large numbers are expected again this year. In anticipation of the events, Oxford University’s admissions team has been working closely with the city council, local transport authorities and merchants to ensure the day runs smoothly and that local businesses are poised to take advantage of the extra business opportunities generated by the surge in visitors.
 
Mike Nicholson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Oxford, said: ‘We are fortunate that Oxford is a world-class university, and accordingly the Open Days attract potential applicants, their parents and teachers from all over the globe to visit the city. We're anticipating over 10,000 visitors each day, with all the University's colleges and departments that offer undergraduate courses, taking part and offering programmes of events. We want all visitors to gain a positive impression about the strengths of both the University and the city as a friendly and stimulating place to study.’

Each of the 30 or so colleges running Open Day events have around 150 visitors each booked for their events, but they also have an open drop-in in the afternoon, so many more attend parts of the days’ activities. The exact number of visitors is likely to be several thousand, with the Admissions Information Centre on Little Clarendon Street a particular focus. There are usually one or two staff on duty at the Centre, but for the Open Days there will be ten or twelve to accommodate the expected extra numbers.

Oxford is doing its utmost to keep the local community informed and aware of the days’ events. For some businesses this may be an opportunity for more trade; for other residents it will mean being aware of the increased number of visitors and travellers on public transport.

Oxford plans to have University staff at the Park & Rides, the rail station and at key points around the city centre as a welcoming presence and to give directions to visitors. Admissions officers have been closely in touch with the City Council and bus companies, Park & Rides Services and the Tourist Information Office to keep everyone informed.

Helen Charlesworth, head of undergraduate enquiries and marketing at Oxford University, said: ‘We're trying to ensure that the Oxford city community can also benefit from the increased number of visitors over these two days. We've liaised with the City Council and local bus companies to improve transport provision, so Oxford's residents won't experience any disruption, and we've notified local businesses too. It'll be a great few days for both town and gown. We are particularly pleased with the way the Oxford Bus Company has worked with the Admissions team to arrange a new Park & Ride bus timetable and lay on extra staff over the two days in June/July.’

A further Open Day will be held on 17 September. More information can be found at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/opendays
For more information please contact the Press Office, University of Oxford on +44 (0)1865 280530 or press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk.

Notes to editors:

  • More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the Open Days.
  • Attendance at departments varies hugely; medicine will have 800 for a talk and be turning away more, for example, while smaller faculties may get 40-50 people turning up.
  • The Admissions Information Centre at 55 Little Clarendon Street will be one of the focal points.
  • Oxford is doing its utmost to keep the local community informed and aware of the days’ events and the potential opportunities, and the University has taken the following steps to ensure the days run smoothly for everyone:
  • Admissions officers from the University are liaising with the bus companies and city council about keeping things running at the Park & Rides.
  • The Oxford Bus Company has worked with the Admissions team to arrange a new Park & Ride bus timetable and lay on extra staff over the two days in June/July.
  • The admissions team will be staying in touch with the manager of the train station and local taxi companies and providing notices where requested.
  • The admissions team will be writing to all businesses in Little Clarendon Street, St Giles, and other city centre areas such as Broad and Turl Streets.
  • The admissions team has emailed the Chamber of Commerce and an admissions representative has spoken at the staff briefing of the Tourist Information Office.
  • The admissions team has contacted the City Manager at the council and informed traders at the outdoor markets.
  • The Open Days Guide is encouraging visitors to visit local restaurants and coffee shops during the day.         Blackwell’s bookshop is supporting the open days by offering free walking tours and a discount to visitors.

Notes to those travelling into Oxford:

We are advising Open Days’ visitors that If they are coming by car please note that parking in Oxford can be difficult, especially on busy open days, and so we strongly recommend that they use one of Oxford's Park & Ride schemes.

Please avoid Thornhill and Seacourt Park & Ride services if possible, as these tend to fill up early in the morning. Redbridge to the south, or Pear Tree or Water Eaton to the north, should have more capacity.      

Be aware that the city centre will be unusually busy, with several thousand extra visitors expected. Local business owners may want to make the most of the opportunity for extra business by ordering stock accordingly.