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Oxford University Open Days give visitors a taste of life at Oxford

21 June 2012

Thousands of prospective applicants and their families will be visiting Oxford on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 of June as Oxford’s colleges and departments open their doors, and the University will have a number of new features to offer visitors this year.

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. All colleges and departments will be putting on events, along with the museums, libraries and other facilities.

For the first time both the Oxford Union (Oxford’s world-famous student debating club) and the Oxford Playhouse will be open to open day visitors.

Visitors to the city will also notice new gazebo information points prominently located in the busy points along Broad Street and the University science area outside the Natural History Museum.

All undergraduate colleges and departments will be putting on events – and most will host talks and drop-in sessions for prospective students and parents. The Examination Schools on the high street will feature an Open Day Information Centre where talks given by Oxford’s Undergraduate Admissions Office team will be held for students and parents, as well as a separate presentation targeted at teachers.

In addition, there will be desks offering advice on all aspects of the admissions process, and the Oxford University Student Union will be offering a taste of student life with a large selection of the 400 clubs and societies currently available to Oxford undergraduates – including the likes of the Scottish Country Dancing Society and the Islamic Society.

Mike Nicholson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Oxford, said: “Open Days are a valuable opportunity to dispel the many myths and preconceptions which surround Oxford.  The University wants to attract high quality candidates from any and every background, and the open days help us achieve this aim.

“Each year we seek to improve our visitors’ experience, and this year the near universal participation of colleges and departments, plus added areas to explore like the Oxford Union means that prospective undergraduates should find out what they want to know about the University. We also hope that our information point gazebos and tailored presentations for teachers will ensure everyone gets their questions answered, whatever their interest in the day.”

Helen Charlesworth, Head of Enquiries and Marketing at Oxford University, says: “often ask, ‘where is Oxford University?’, as though it is one place or one campus. We will have a central information venue at the Open Days for those used to open days at other universities, but what is wonderful and unique about Oxford is the collegiate system here, where every student is part of a smaller college community while also a member of their department and the central University. We really look forward to welcoming visitors to open days and letting them see how being part of a friendly, welcoming college community enhances the university experience. It’s also a wonderful chance for people who live here to show off the city and University. We hope that everyone enjoys the days.”

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 county council, local transport providers and traders 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.

Many of the 30 or so colleges running Open Day events have around 100 visitors each booked for their events, but they also have an open drop-in during the afternoon. The exact number of visitors is likely to be more than 14,000.

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.

A further Open Day will be held on Friday 14 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 for Editors:

  • More than 14,000 people are expected to attend the Open Days.
  • Attendance at departments varies hugely; medicine will be expecting 1,000 students for talks over two days and be turning away more, for example, while smaller faculties may get 40-50 people turning up.
  • 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 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 has written to all businesses in Little Clarendon Street, St Giles, and other city centre areas such as Broad Street, Turl Street and the High Street.
  • The admissions team has emailed the Chamber of Commerce and admissions representatives have spoken at the staff briefing of the Tourist Information Office.
  • The admissions team has contacted the City Manager at the council who is informing traders across the city centre.
  • Open day publications are encouraging visitors to visit local restaurants and coffee shops during the day.
  • Blackwell Bookshops are offering a discount to student visitors and offering literary tours of the city.   Notes to those travelling into Oxford:
  • If you are coming by car please note that parking in Oxford can be difficult, especially on busy open days, and so we strongly recommend that you use one of Oxford's Park & Ride schemes
  • Please avoid Thornhill and Seacourt Park & Ride services, 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.
  • For more travel information please see: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/visiting_oxford_and_open_days/university_open_days/travel_advice/index.html