Why should I attend an Applicant Visit Day (AVD) at my chosen university?

Applicant Visit Days (also known as AVDs) are designed to allow you to visit the university, meet academics and students, learn more about your chosen course/s and speak to support services. It also gives you a chance to explore the campus and surrounding areas too. Although AVDs and Open Days are similar in some ways, an AVD is fundamentally different to an Open Day as these events are specifically for offer holders to visit (or revisit) a chosen university to help them figure out what course they’d like to study, and at what university, while an Open Day is attended earlier in the year by anyone who is considering higher education. Open Days are open-invitation while AVDs are invitation-only. AVDs are a lot more tailored to you and are designed to help you in your decision-making. Although attending an AVD is not compulsory, we certainly recommend you attend one. For your convenience, there are usually several events that run throughout the year for you to choose from. In this blog, we’ll look at four key reasons why you should attend an AVD… 

1) You get to learn more about your course  

For many, the main reason for attending an AVD is that you get the chance to learn more about your chosen course/s. You may have lots more questions after being made an offer. At an AVD at the University of Huddersfield, you'll be able to find out more details about your course, modules, and department. Academics and professional support service staff are there throughout the day to answer any specific questions you have about your course from how you’ll be assessed to specific module information. At an AVD, there will usually be a subject session where you can get a taste of what it’s going to be like studying the course. The sessions are typically interactive and fun and aim to get you thinking and engaging with other applicants. 

2) You get to meet academics, prospective classmates, and other staff members 

On the day, you’ll have the opportunity to meet lecturers, current students, and staff members. You can ask them all sorts of questions about your course, student life, campus, the best accommodation, or even the best places for a cup of coffee or to grab lunch. You’ll learn about the services the University offers such as careers and employability, student well-being, academic support, and the library, setting you up for getting off to a great start when your studies begin. Whatever the question, there’ll be someone there to answer your questions. It might be an idea to think about what questions you have before the day, so you can get your questions answered by the best people and get the most out of the event. You’ll also get the chance to meet prospective classmates to familiarise yourself with those who might be on your course and even make some friends.  

3) You can get more familiar with the campus and accommodation options  

During an AVD, you can have a campus tour if you haven’t had one before or even if you just want a refresher. Campus tours are led by student ambassadors, who are a group of students who went on the same journey as you and chose to study at the University of Huddersfield. You can book your tour while booking for your AVD or you can join our campus tours on the day. During the tour, student ambassadors show you around all the different buildings on campus and the facilities, and it’s also a great chance for you to ask them questions about their experience of studying here. Student accommodation tours are held by the DIGS Student Accommodation representatives or HudLets student union representatives. They will be available throughout the day. You can learn more about student accommodation by visiting: https://www.hud.ac.uk/uni-life/accommodation/.  

4) You can explore the town and surrounding areas  

If you’re not from the local area, you can explore the surroundings during an AVD. The campus is in Huddersfield town centre. Everything you need is just a stone’s throw away. There are lots of local eateries, shops, bars, and leisure facilities in the area for you to enjoy. Huddersfield is a brilliant place to find your independence as it’s generally affordable, meaning it’s easier to make your money go further and enjoy yourself a little more. Furthermore, Huddersfield is surrounded by other cities such as Manchester and Leeds, which are all very accessible by train, car, or bus, so there is always plenty to do! Why not look around during your visit? You can also click here to find out more about the area in the meantime! 

Conclusion  

AVDs are a fantastic way to learn more about your chosen course/s and imagine yourself at the University of Huddersfield. The overall aim is to help you make the best decision for yourself as choosing a course and a university can be a daunting experience. Attending an AVD prepares you as much as possible for university life and helps to get you off to a flying start when your course begins. We hope to welcome you to campus soon!  

For further applicant information and guidance, you can visit this helpful webpage by clicking here. 

If you’re an offer holder for 23/24, you should have received an email inviting you to book an upcoming AVD. If you have not received as email and want to attend, please contact hbs-admissions@hud.ac.uk.