Your guide to university open days in 2022
Wondering how to make the most of uni open days this year, and how you can attend? We’ve gathered all the key information for you, including dates you can put straight in your calendar.
If you’re still making up your mind about what—and how—you’d like to study in 2023, then attending a university open day can be a great way to narrow down your choices.
It doesn’t matter if you’re planning to study online or on-campus. At open day, you can find out about different courses, chat to careers experts and tour facilities, which can give you a lot of clarity around the direction you’d like to take your future.
But how should you prepare to get the most out of the day? And since many open days have moved back on campus in 2022, will you still be able to attend your sessions virtually? Consider this your open day cheat sheet.
What is a university open day?
During a university open day, a higher education institution will open its campus to the public. This allows prospective students to explore everything the institution has to offer. Every university in Australia will hold an open day, so you can attend more than one if you’d like to compare different courses and facilities.
Everyone is welcome to attend a university open day, including high school students, parents and mature-age professionals who are thinking about studying. You can also attend if you’re planning to study online.
What can you expect at a university open day?
At an on-campus open day, you’ll have the chance to:
- Attend undergraduate and postgraduate course information sessions
- Tour practical course facilities like medical clinics and science labs
- Tour campus facilities like the library, student support centres, gyms and cafes
- Tour on-campus accommodation
- Meet academic staff and other students and ask questions about study life
- Check out student social clubs
- Chat to staff about anything to do with the application process, including fees, scholarships and admission pathways
- Get some free uni swag
Can you attend open day virtually?
While 2021 was a tough year in many ways, it did lead to the rise of virtual open days. This is great news if you want to get to know a uni without stepping foot on campus. In 2022, a lot of universities plan to keep the trend going and offer a mix of on-campus and online open day events.
Virtual open day events can be offered on a specific day only, or for weeks at a time. Some open day content is even available all year long—it really depends on the uni.
But how does a virtual open day work? You’ll generally get to:
- Watch live or pre-recorded course information video sessions
- Video chat with career advisors and industry experts
- Video chat with teaching staff about courses
- View virtual campus tours
- Attend virtual library tours
- Gain backstage access to the online study experience
- Attend webinars hosted by admissions staff on the application process, fees, scholarships, course entry requirements and alternative admission pathways
How to prepare for an open day
To get as much as possible out of your day (no matter how you plan to be there), we recommend following this checklist:
- Make note of the courses and study areas you’d like to learn about.
- Visit the university’s open day page to find out when and how its open day will be held (we have a list of dates below).
- Register for the open day online in case spots fill up.
- Review the schedule of events and plan out your day. This may be emailed to you after you register.
- Prepare a list of questions you’d like to ask teaching staff, current students and admissions staff.
- Download a campus map if you’re attending in person.
- Pack a pen, notebook and water bottle, plus a carry bag for all the course guides and brochures you’ll receive during the day.
Questions to ask at a university open day
Remember, open day is your chance to speak to current students, teaching staff, career advisors and admissions staff about anything you’d like to know. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of this because their answers could give you a whole new perspective on the study area you’re interested in.
Here are a few example questions to get you started:
- How much time will I need to spend on studying every week?
- How is this course assessed? Will there be group assignments, solo projects or both?
- How much reading is required?
- Are there opportunities to gain practical experience in this course (like internships, placements or industry projects)?
- Is the course more practical or theoretical?
- (If it’s an online course) will I ever be required to come to campus?
- How does online study for this course work?
- What have graduates of this course gone on to do?
- What are job prospects like in the industry?
- What are the entry requirements for this course?
- What are the study fee options?
- What student support is available?
- What disability support is available?
When are university open days?
Most uni open days take place on different weekends throughout July, August and September. This gives Year 12 students who plan to study to a traditional calendar time to enter their preferences before 2023 intake deadlines.
Here are the 2022 open day dates to jot down if you’re thinking about studying with any of our partner universities:
Australian Catholic University
On-campus open days:
Blacktown: Saturday 30 July, 10am–2pm
Brisbane: Saturday 6 August, 10am–2pm
Strathfield: Saturday 6 August, 10am–2pm
Melbourne: Sunday 7 August, 10am–2pm
North Sydney: Saturday 13 August, 10am–2pm
Ballarat: Sunday 14 August, 10am–2pm
Canberra: Saturday 20 August, 10am–2pm
Virtual open day: Saturday 10 September, 10am–2pm
Australian National University
On-campus open day: Saturday 3 September
Bond University
On-campus open day: Saturday 30 July
Charles Sturt University
On-campus open days:Port Macquarie: 7 August
Wagga Wagga: 14 August
Albury-Wodonga: 21 August
Bathurst: 28 August
Orange: 4 September
Dubbo: 11 September
Curtin University
On-campus open week: Monday 5 September–Thursday 8 September
Edith Cowan University
On-campus open days:
Joondalup: Sunday 31 July, 9am–2pm
Mount Lawley: Sunday 21 August, 9am–2pm
Flinders University
On-campus open days: Friday 12 and Saturday 13 August
Virtual open day: Year round via Open Days 365
Griffith University
On-campus open day: Sunday 14 August, 9am–2pm
James Cook University
Virtual open day: 13 September, 4pm–7pm
La Trobe University
On-campus open days:
Melbourne: Sunday 7 August, 10am-4pm
Mildura: Wednesday 10 August, 4pm-7pm
Shepparton: Sunday 13 August, 10am-1pm
Albury-Wodonga: Sunday 21 August, 9.30am-1pm
Bendigo: Sunday 28 August, 10am-3pm
Virtual open day: Sunday 7 August
Macquarie University
On-campus open day: Saturday 13 August
Murdoch University
On-campus open day: Saturday 3 September, 10am–5pm
RMIT University
On-campus open days:
Bundoora: Sunday 7 August, 10am–4pm
Melbourne City: Sunday 14 August, 10am–4pm
Virtual open month: 1–31 August
Southern Cross University
On-campus open days:
Coffs Harbour: Friday 5 August
Lismore: Saturday 6 August
Gold Coast: Sunday 7 August
Virtual open day: From 8 July onward
Swinburne University
On-campus open day: Sunday 31 August, 10am–4pm
Virtual open day: Year round via Swintopia
The University of Adelaide
On-campus open day: Sunday 14 August, 9pm–4pm
Virtual open day: Friday 19 August, 2pm–8pm
The University of Notre Dame Australia
On-campus open days:
Fremantle: Sunday 21 August
Sydney: Saturday 27 August
Virtual open day: Schedule to be released
The University of Newcastle
On campus open days:
Central Coast: Saturday 30 July
Newcastle: Saturday 27 August
University of New England
On-campus open day: Refer to the website for updates
University of Queensland
On-campus open days:
St Lucia: Sunday 7 August, 9am–3pm
Gatton: Sunday 21 August, 9am–3pm
University of South Australia
On-campus open days:
Mount Gambier: Sunday 7 August, 11am–4pm
City West and City East: Sunday 14 August, 10am–3pm
Mawson Lakes: Sunday 21 August, 11am–4pm
Magill: Wednesday 24 August, 4pm–7.30pm
Whyalla: Sunday 28 August, 11am–3pm
Virtual open day: Tuesday 9 August 4pm–8pm
University of Southern Queensland
On-campus open days:
Ipswich and Springfield: 14 August, 10am–2pm
Toowoomba: 21 August, 9.30am–2pm
University of Tasmania
On-campus open days:
Sydney: 3 September
Hobart: 11 September
Cradle Coast: 18 September
Launceston: 25 September
Virtual open day: Year round
UNSW Sydney
On-campus open day: Saturday 3 September, 11am–3pm
UTS
On-campus open day: Saturday 27 August
Virtual open day: Year round
Victoria University
On-campus open day: Sunday 21 August
Want to find out about a course sooner? You can also chat to our friendly student advisors at any time about your online study choices.
With all this information at your fingertips, it’s easier than ever to find your ideal study path.
Browse thousands of courses from leading Australian universities.
Or complete the form on this page to chat to an advisor about study options.
