Why are taster days important?

Students often have questions about university life, facilities and what it would be like to study their chosen subject. All of these questions can be best answered by students attending a subject-specific taster day at a university. At Middlesex University, we organise taster days for different subjects that allow students to attend taster lectures, participate in practical workshops and learn more about applying to university. We have put together some of the key benefits of taster days below.

Experiencing the campus

Seeing the university campus first-hand can help students picture student life, from lectures, to subject-specific facilities, to social spaces such as on-campus gyms and cafes. For many students, this may be their first time listening to a lecture in a lecture hall or conducting an experiment in a lab. This is also an opportunity for students to practise the journey to university if they are planning to commute from home.

Support for making key university choices

When we deliver workshops on personal statements or university interviews, we find that students feel uncertain on exactly what studying a university subject involves. This is particularly evident with professional programmes such as nursing, where applications need to show a clear understanding of the requirements of the course and profession. Thus, having the opportunity to hear from academics about their prospective courses, and current students about their experiences, can provide valuable insights for students. If your students are still deciding what to study, a taster day in Year 12 or the first year of Level 3 can help them decide if a course is for them. This then gives them time to do further research and develop their experience before they start their applications.

Workshops during a taster day may also link to particular modules that students are studying at school or college, for example lab experiments. If you would like to organise a taster day that will feed into the students’ curriculum, make sure to include information on what topic you would like to incorporate into the taster day workshop and what students have learned so far about this topic when you request a taster day.

Meeting students and academics

Being able to meet the academics is a unique opportunity for students to experience studying at university and to ask questions so they feel reassured and prepared. At Middlesex University, our taster days are also supported by student ambassadors, who are current students employed by the university and are trained in the application process for prospective students. As well as being able to support with questions on topics such as personal statements and student finance, student ambassadors are able to provide an honest perspective of life at university.

Meeting student ambassadors could also provide valuable insight into working part-time at university as this is a priority for many potential students. Student ambassadors are able to provide insight on supporting university events, as well as sharing their experiences of balancing work and studying. Academics and student ambassadors may also share examples of careers that students have pursued after graduation, which can further support students who want to learn about the employability of their chosen subject.