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Passionate about words, stories, and the power of communication?
Whether you're drawn to English Literature, English Language, Creative Writing, or Journalism, this is your chance to dive into the fascinating world of media and explore what makes these subjects so exciting.
Join us for an interactive experience where you'll take an in-depth look at your chosen subjects. Choose two hands-on sessions that spark your creativity - whether that's:
- Crafting unforgettable plots and characters
- Writing from personal experience
- Exploring social phenomena
- Creating attention-grabbing headlines
- Delving into Detective & Crime Fiction
- Or uncovering the allure of Gothic Literature
You'll also discover future career opportunities and hear insights from current student ambassadors, and explore out state-of-the-art facilities and teaching spaces.
Ready to turn your passion into a pathway?
At our Taster Day
Your students will:
- Have the opportunity to sample two hands-on sessions to find out more about their chosen subject area.
- Visit our cutting-edge facilities and look at some of the work that the current students have produced.
- Chat with our staff and current students about their courses and personal insights into student life.
- Learn about graduate destinations and the wide range of career opportunities available for graduates.
- Gain useful ideas that you can channel into your UCAS personal statement and portfolio when applying to university.
- Chat with current students about life as a student at Portsmouth and the different creative courses that they study
- Learn about Connected Degrees® at Portsmouth, the only UK university to offer a three-year course with 4th year placement.
Undergraduate Open Days
Thinking about joining us as an undergrad? Book your spot at one of our upcoming Open Days.
Media and Journalism courses
Want to work in journalism or media? Our expertise, industry ties, and comprehensive facilities will give you a platform to succeed in your career.
Student life
Explore our island city and its many attractions, and find out what student life is really like at the University.
Taster Day Location
Check in opens at 09:00am at Park Building, King Henry I St, Portsmouth PO1 2DZ. Look out for our students in purple T-shirts who'll help direct you.
If you're arriving by coach or minibus, we recommend parking on Museum Road, Portsmouth which is just outside of the Ravelin Sports Centre. For more information on checking in and how to get here, take a look at our guide to taster days page.
Programme
Check in from 09:00am at Eldon Building, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO1 2DJ and get ready to learn about English, Creative Writing and Journalism at University.
Here's our Subject Taster Days Guide, should you want to learn a little more about our Taster Days before booking or arrival, and to get travel information.
Your students will have an overview of the day ahead and hear from current ambassadors on all aspects University life.
Session Choice 1 (AM)
Choose one of the following sessions:
Creative Writing - From Character to Plot
A session in which we will generate brand new characters and examine how these can be used to create interesting plots for engaging and entertaining stories.
English Literature - Reading Gothic Literature
This session looks at the emergence of the Gothic form in the late eighteenth century and its development in the nineteenth century, from Romanticism-inspired novels such as Frankenstein (1818) to the Victorian Gothic of novels such as The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Journalism - So you want to be a Journalist?
Join members of the Journalism team for an interactive, fun and practical session engaging in some real-world journalism techniques. You'll have a chance to work with others to find stories, interrogate social media for news stories and come up with your own content and headlines.
It's a great time for your class to take a short break, reflect on what they've learned so far, and stretch before moving on to the next session.
Discover key teaching spaces and course facilities with current student ambassadors giving a bespoke tour and answering any questions student may have.
Lunch
Time for students to grab lunch. We have plenty of cafes nearby - please note that University cafes do not accept cash.
Session Choice 2 (PM)
Creative Writing - Writing the Self and the World
An introduction to the pleasures and challenges of writing about your own experiences, thoughts and feelings - and the wider world. Fun activities and useful guidance will help you towards that goal.
English Language - Moral Panics, Language, and the Media
In this session we will analyse the phenomenon of "moral panics", i.e. social phenomenon where public anxiety is disproportionately heightened in response to a perceived threat. We will explore the role that specific language choices play in the spread of panic, in both traditional and social media landscapes.
English Literature - Detective and Crime Fiction
This session explores the related genres of detective and crime fiction, looking at its emergence in the nineteenth century, its popularity in the twentieth century, and postmodern reworkings of the genre. We'll look at authors including Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, and think about what the detective novel says about class, gender, and the act of reading itself
Journalism - so you want to be a Journalist?
Join members of the Journalism team for an interactive, fun and practical session engaging in some real-world journalism techniques. You'll have a chance to work with others to find stories, interrogate social media for news stories and come up with your own content and headlines.
An opportunity to hear from ambassadors as they discuss their journeys and experiences. Students have a chance to ask student and staff questions.