Open Days
Making the most of Open Days
Let us help you plan your Open Day. Find out what you need to know before visiting campus.

University Open Days can seem overwhelming, but at York St John University we want you to have fun and get the most out of your visit to us.
The most important part of an Open Day is making sure you get all the information you need so that you can make the best decision for your future.
Read on for our advice on making the most of your time on campus.
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Your Open Day schedule
You've booked your place, and now you need to plan your day.
Our full event guide of talks and tours will be released several weeks before our Open Day. Whether you are visiting us for the whole day or you only have a couple of hours, you can still experience the range that York St John has to offer.
Here's what we recommend for your visit based on how long you'll be with us.
If you have 2 hours
If your visit time is limited, we have 2 suggested schedules for how to spend your time on campus.
Schedule 1 - If you want to explore our campus and experience the York St John community, try a little bit of everything:
- Take a campus tour (45 minutes)
- Hear from academics at a subject talk or drop-in (30 minutes)
- Grab a coffee and chat to support teams at their drop-ins
Schedule 2 - If course information and accommodation is your priority:
- Attend your subject talk (30 minutes)
- Ask questions at a subject drop-in
- Visit your preferred accommodation site
If you have 3 to 4 hours
If you are with us for half a day, you probably won't be able to experience every tour and session. We recommend getting an overview of each Open Day area with this schedule.
- Attend a welcome talk for an introduction to York St John (30 minutes)
- Take a campus tour (45 minutes)
- Hear about your chosen course at a subject talk or drop-in (30 minutes)
- Grab lunch at one of our campus food and drink locations
- Visit 1 of our accommodation sites
- Head back to campus and chat to support teams at their drop-in
Depending on your priorities, you could switch some of these suggestions. For example, if you're interested in exploring more of our accommodation sites, you could visit a second site instead of your subject talk. If you want more details from our academics, you could attend 2 subject talks instead of hearing from support teams.
If you have a full day
We're so glad you can spend the whole day with us! Our Open Days normally begin at around 9.00am and end at around 3.30pm. There is still lots to take in, so it's best to plan your day and figure out what you want to prioritise.
Here's what you can experience during a full Open Day:
- Attend a welcome talk for an introduction to York St John
- Attend 1 or 2 talks by our support teams, such as Student Funding, Accommodation, and Admissions
- Take a campus tour
- Hear about your course options in 1 or 2 subject talks or drop-ins
- Have lunch and snack breaks on campus
- Visit a couple of our accommodation sites
- Chat with our support teams and ask questions in their drop-ins
- At the end of the day, head into York to explore the city
Please note that for all of our Open Days, event details and timings may change at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances. We try to keep any altered sessions as close as possible to their advertised timings, to minimise inconvenience to our visitors.
Making the most of your visit
Think about your priorities
What are your expectations from a university, and what is non-negotiable? What do you want your university experience to be like? Make a list of your answers, and keep them in mind during the Open Day.
Prepare a list of questions
You'll have the chance to ask both staff members and students all your important questions. They are here to help, so don't be afraid to ask what you want to know. Make a list of useful contacts so that you can ask any questions you have after you leave.
Plan your day
Our online event guide is released several weeks before each Open Day.
Use it to figure out the talks and tours you want to prioritise, and make a plan of must-sees!
Take photos and notes
If you're visiting multiple university Open Days, it's easy to mix up campuses and courses. Take pictures and notes during the day to help you remember key details.
Bring someone with you
Family and friends are always welcome at our Open Days. They can help give you a second opinion, note down things you might have missed, and contribute to your decision about which university is right for you.
Enjoy yourself!
Make sure you take time to absorb the atmosphere and enjoy your day. There are plenty more opportunities to visit us during the year, so don't worry if you can't cram everything into one visit. We will see you again soon!
Book your place
You've read all of our tips and now you're prepared for your Open Day. We can't wait to see you soon!
More ways to meet us
Campus tours
Book a campus tour to explore our city centre campus and get a feel for student life.
Decision Days
If you have already applied to study with us, join us for a Decision Day to find out more about your chosen subject.
Fairs near you
Find out when we are visiting your area for a UCAS or UK University Search fair.
On Demand Open Day
Explore our On Demand Open Day, wherever and whenever you like.
Alistair Primary Education
When I came to visit on Open Days I got a gut feeling that this was the right place for me. This was because of the friendly faces I was greeted with who were all so welcoming. Also, as it is a relatively small university with a wide range of students, it had a community feel about it, and a community that I felt I could thrive in both socially and academically.
Enaelle International Tourism and Hospitality
When looking for a university, I went to an Open Day after researching information on UCAS and on the internet. I literally fell in love with the city and the uni. Everyone was so helpful and easy to talk to, the Student Ambassadors made me feel welcome and gave me a lot of useful information too.
Danielle Psychology
On my first Open Day I wasn't sure whether YSJ was the place for me, but after talking to the Psychology staff, the Students' Union and exploring York, I knew this place was right for me. I am so glad I chose York St John University - I have many happy memories and I have made friends for life.