Hiya!! If you have an upcoming Durham Undergraduate Open Day, or want to find out whether it would be worthwhile attending one, read ahead to find out what the day entails, as I recall my first time setting foot in Durham.
As I made my journey to Durham, I was overwhelmed with a sense of excitement mixed with nerves about fitting in, making the ‘right’ choice or assumptions about Durham I had already preconceived. Yet by 10 am I knew Durham was certainly the place for me – but don’t fret if this isn’t you, Durham can creep up on you before you realise how special it is. But the Open Day is such a lovely day to gain some extra insight into how your life could look once you make that big move!
8:30 AM: Arrive early and explore before the crowds
If you are able to, I would highly recommend exploring Durham’s city centre before the crowds get too overwhelming and busy. The quaint, cobblestone streets really allow you to gather a feel for the small, but rather wholesome and picturesque scenes the town has to offer. There is a lovely market square, and a local indoor market with many cute cafes to grab a bite before the day kicks into action.
The first person I spoke to upon arrival was a local who gave me a brief history of the city, but mostly showed me how welcoming and supportive the local community also is. If you are unsure where to start your Open Day, there are university ambassadors here who will provide you with maps, brochures and information about the day ahead!
Morning: Attend the academic talk
Something that I really found beneficial was attending my academic talk in the morning, which then gave me a completely free midday to afternoon to explore colleges. Make sure to book onto these sessions in advance, and I would recommend planning your timings around this.
During these sessions, it is super important to observe and consider whether Durham’s teaching style is suited to you! Could you imagine yourself sitting there in a year’s time? Do lecturers seem approachable? Is discussion encouraged? Does the teaching style suit you? – These are all super questions you should be contemplating when observing the academic talk.
Morning: Speak to current students
I would really encourage speaking to current Durham students, as I found the most useful conversations happened away from the official talks. Ask them about workload, things they dislike, the best parts of university, what surprised them the most about living in Durham – they will give you the truth at face value, so use this! At the end of the day, you could be them next year, and they will be able to give you that real student experience beyond the printed brochures.
Midday: Eat somewhere students actually go
One of my biggest pieces of advice is to grab lunch from a student hot spot! Whether that is the Billy B (library) cafe, or a lecture building’s cafe, this is the best way to get a feel for what a quick lunch break between lectures would actually be like. The food is also really good and affordable, so definitely a good idea to refuel before you start exploring the colleges.
Afternoon: Explore the colleges
At Durham, the core of student life is the collegiate system – something that will define your experience here at Durham! My TOP tip for the entire day is to prepare a list of your top 5 favourite colleges that are a MUST visit before you arrive at the open day. You should start considering beforehand whether you would prefer catered vs. self-catered Bailey vs. Hill, or modern vs. traditional. I would recommend researching through the main Durham website here, and this playlist of student-made content about colleges here.
I would also consider plotting an order of colleges to visit as they are close in proximity but scattered across the city, so best to go in order, instead of repeatedly walking back on yourself!
Once you arrive at the colleges, you will be able to take lovely guided tours by students, where you can see facilities and ask direct college-related questions. Even if you are dead set on a certain type of college, I would recommend visiting one of each – for example, try and visit a self-catered college even if you think you want catering, and try and visit a few on both the Bailey and the Hill. I managed to see 10 colleges in total – which is a bit crazy – but you can definitely blast through them to get an overall sense of your preferences.
I ensured I took some notes and pictures of the colleges I especially liked, so when it came to submitting my preferences, I was confident in my decisions. With this being said, you aren’t guaranteed your top choices – but honestly, all colleges at Durham University have wonderful, unique things to offer, and students fall in love with them as soon as they arrive.
Leaving: Before you travel home…
As you leave your Open Day, have one last walk around the city/ student campus and ask yourself these questions;
- Did the students seem happy?
- Did the academic environment excite or intimidate me?
- Can I imagine myself here on a random Tuesday in November?
If yes… I wish you the best of luck in your application process and studies – you’ll genuinely have a blast here! If not… that’s okay, wherever you end up will be the best path for your future.
Enjoy your Open Day, it’s honestly so special being able to explore Durham for that very first time!
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