If you’re planning on attending an open day, you may notice that there are drop-in sessions advertised in all of our departments – but what is a drop-in session for? Why should you include them in your day? Read on to find out exactly what to expect in a drop-in and see how to get the most out of the session.
What is a drop-in session?
At an open day drop-in session, you can meet academics from your chosen department and speak to lecturers who teach on your course. There will also be students there who are currently studying in the department.
They are usually found in the foyer of your department building, and there’s always staff on hand to point you in the right direction.
As they run throughout the day, there’s no set time or agenda for the drop-in sessions – you can simply turn up when you have some free time at the open day (after your subject talk is usually a good time) and chat to the academics and students.
It’ll be easy to see who to talk to, as there are signs telling visitors which course areas each academic covers, but if you approach any member of staff or student, they will be able to help you.
Preparing for your drop-in
Drop-in sessions are the perfect chance to ask questions about your course or subject, or simply get to know the academics you’ll be working with. Heading to the session after the subject presentation is a good way to get any immediate questions answered (remember to take notes and write questions down as you think of them). However, as drop-ins run all day you can always go back later if something else comes to mind.
You don’t need to prepare anything and can just go along to chat to your department or have a look around, but it can be hard to know where to start sometimes. So, we’ve put together some questions you could ask the academics and students during your visit.
| Course and Learning | Careers and opportunities | Student focus | Facilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| What does a typical week on this course look like? | What kind of jobs do students from this course go into? | What do students usually wish they’d known before starting? | What types of facilities will I use while on the course? |
| How much of the course is practical vs theory? | Are there placement opportunities or real-world projects? | What do you like most about the course? | How similar are these facilities to what I’d use in a real job? |
| What kind of assessments will I be doing (exams, coursework, placements)? | Is there help available with finding jobs or placements? | How easy is it to make friends? | Are there study spaces for students to use when working with others in the department? |
| What type of support is available for students to help them adjust to university study? | Can I work part-time alongside this course? | How do you balance work and social life as a student? | Can you show me the facilities I’d be using regularly on this course? |
Why include drop-ins in your open day
Open days are busy, but drop-ins are an important part of the experience.
We recommend including them in your open day as they are such a valuable opportunity to get insights into what your course and university study is really like, straight from the lecturers that you’ll be working with.
You can stay as long as you want to, and can really get a feel for your department and the buzzing atmosphere on campus.
April 1, 2026
