When your students start their higher education
research, the biggest decision they need to
make is choosing a course that is suited to
their interests and ambitions. It can be a
difficult choice with so many degree options
available.
To help their decision-making, it's important for your
students to engage in subject-specific events
before they apply. These events can be
equally beneficial for you as a teacher. You'll gain the opportunity
to meet experts in your subject and
create further links with universities at subject
level.
This article offers an introduction to subject-specific university events, along with advice on how to request these for your students.
Universities offer a range of activities to help students engage with
their subject-level research, often listed under
the following names:
• tasters days
• tasters lectures
• masterclasses
• bespoke subject-specific sessions
• subject residentials and summer schools.
You can search activities by subject area and
year group on UniTasterDays.com. It's worth
checking the website regularly so you don’t miss
anything. The title may not stand out to you at first because
universities have different names for their
subject events.
Subject-specific events offer students the
opportunity to:
• visit a university
• explore university facilities
• meet current university students and staff
• take part in university-style lectures and
workshops related to their area of interest.
Many universities can also arrange for guest
lecturers to visit your school or college to
deliver a subject session in person, whenever
suits your term timetable. You can request visits from multiple universities at the same time by completing the UniTasterDays event request form.
Firstly, we recommend thinking about what you want
your students to get out of the day. For instance:
• is it to support a particular topic they are covering at school?
• is it to assist with an assessment they're preparing for?
• will it help them research their future prospects?
You may have contacts with an academic
area if you’re a graduate of the university. However,
booking through a central team, such as a
school liaison or recruitment team, allows you
to receive a more structured visit. This could
also include broader advice about UCAS and student finance.
To ensure that you secure a date that works for
you, make sure that you speak to universities far
in advance, as these events often get booked
up quickly. To help these teams organise a visit
that meets your needs, your
initial email should include information detailing:
• the activity you want to book
• your estimated group number
• a date for your event
• any additional requirements.
Make sure your students know why they’re attending the
subject event, and how the advice they receive
is transferable for other post-18 pathways they
may wish to explore. It is important to bring
staff who can reiterate this throughout the visit
to help keep students focused.
And a final piece of advice: keep in touch with us!
As your event approaches, please let us know about any changes to confirmed arrangements, such as your arrival or departure time. If universities know about these changes in advance, they
can make alterations and ensure that your
visit isn’t affected.
This free newsletter will include information on university events added to UniTasterDays, as well as details about new webinars and blog releases for you and your students.