Thousands flock to Nottingham for University Open Days

Almost 30,000 potential new students will be given a warm welcome when they arrive in the city for The University of Nottingham’s latest round of Open Days.

Taking place over two days this week — Friday and Saturday — the event will continue the upward trend in interest the University has seen in its undergraduate Open Day events this year, with overall visitor numbers for 2011 expected to be more than 17 per cent higher than last year’s total.

For the second time this year, the University has taken the decision to close bookings for Saturday, traditionally the most popular of the two days, because of unprecedented interest. This year for Saturday bookings are up 20 per cent — having risen from 15,567 to 18,739.

Interest for Friday’s event has also increased 12 per cent from last year (up to 10,107 from last year’s 9,007) and anyone still interested in attending is advised to book quickly to avoid disappointment.

The Open Days follow shortly after the publication of the results of the National Student Survey (NSS), which shows that students who choose to come to The University of Nottingham are happier than ever with the teaching, facilities and opportunities available to them.

Potential students, their parents and teachers coming to this week’s events will be given the chance to assess the quality of the University of Nottingham experience themselves by enjoying a packed timetable of activities at its three UK campuses — University Park, Jubilee and Sutton Bonington.

All the University’s academic departments will be throwing open their doors to give visitors an insight into the wide range of undergraduate courses on offer, taster lectures, information on world-leading Nottingham research, laboratory demonstrations and guided tours of facilities.

In addition, there is a full programme on topics connected to getting the most out of life as a student, everything from accommodation to money matters, and a support services fair including representatives from the Careers and Employability Service, the University’s Health Service and the Students’ Union.

The campuses’ extensive range of sports and fitness facilities will be showcased throughout the day, with the chance to enjoy tours and presentations on how the University supports the sporting ambitions of all its students, from casual leisure user up to potential Olympic champion.

Highlights from this year’s programme will include:

• A guided tour of the University Farm at Sutton Bonington campus

• A casino demonstrating probability and the chance to take part in an Othello boardgame challenge with the School of Mathematical Sciences

• A concert by current Music students at the University’s Djanogly Recital Hall

• Talks on studying abroad, including opportunities at the University’s campuses in Malaysia and China

In addition, visitors will be able to take in the beautiful surroundings of the University’s 330-acre University Park campus as part of a 45-minute guided tour by current students, with similar tours also planned at Jubilee and Sutton Bonington. Guided bus tours of Nottingham city centre will also be running from University Park campus, introducing visitors to the cultural scene, leisure and sporting activities, retails outlets and historic sites that make Nottingham such a popular destination.

As always, the large numbers expected means that car parking on the University’s campuses will be at a premium. Visitors are urged to use public transport to travel to the Open Days and can use the free shuttle buses provided between campuses and to and from Nottingham Train Station and for Sutton Bonington Campus only, Loughborough Train Station.

Further details on The University of Nottingham Open Days can be found on the web at www.nottingham.ac.uk/opendays