Whilst it is useful for students to experience universities in person, online events can encourage early research for year 12 and support final decision making for year 13 – especially if your students are looking to move a few hours from home. Virtual events are cost-effective and can combat the issue of planning travel arrangements around a busy academic schedule.
Where to find them?
Universities will host online engagement activities throughout the year, with the aim of answering questions alongside the application journey. These events are primarily advertised on university websites and social media accounts, such as Instagram, Facebook & TikTok. UniTasterDays and NetSixthForm are also great teacher-facing sites which advertise upcoming events to be passed onto students.
Webinars
Webinars may be individual or part of a series, and can take place on platforms such as Zoom, Teams or Google Classroom. Students won’t have their webcams on, but they’ll be able to ask questions through a Q&A function. Subject-specific talks are often delivered by academics, while student life sessions could be led by student ambassadors. These sessions are usually archived on the university’s website and can be watched on-demand after being delivered live.
Virtual Open Days
At virtual open days, students can access online campus tours, speak with staff and students via live chats, attend lectures and access a wealth of resources regarding finance, disability, and well-being support. They are a great way for students to connect with multiple institutions from the comfort of home or school and can help to narrow down options for on-campus open days.
Outreach Sessions
Each university will have its own Student Recruitment Team who are available to provide virtual talks and workshops to support your students’ higher education journeys. Topics can include:
- Student Life
- Why Choose Higher Education?
- Student Finance
- Applying to UCAS
A full list of our sessions is available here.
At Swansea University, we offer a termly Masterclass webinar series for year 12 and 13 students. If you would like more information about our next available series, please sign up to our Teachers and Advisers Newsletter.
