From planning your visit to finding your way around, we’ve got you covered
New places, new faces, lots of information, and plenty of sights, sounds and smells. There can be a lot of ‘new’ at a University Open Day and taking it all in can feel overwhelming or overstimulating.
You might also be feeling pressure to decide which university is right for you, to take in as much information as possible and make the most of your day. For neurodivergent students, this can feel particularly challenging.
We understand. To make things a little easier, we’ve put together some useful information to help you know what to expect, feel prepared and find your own way around the day.
Whether you have ADHD, autism, ADD or another form of neurodivergence, this guide is here to help you prepare for your Open Day in a way that works for you.
What to prepare before you arrive?
A little preparation before your Open Day can help you feel more comfortable and give you a better idea of what to expect. There’s no need to plan every minute, but thinking about what you’d like to see, what you might need and how you’ll get around can help you feel ready for the day.
Your schedule and priorities
An itinerary can take away some of the pressure of deciding what to do on the day. You can use the schedule in our Open Day guide to plan your day and get an idea of what’s happening and when.
Before you arrive, have an idea of your "must do" things that are a priority to visit and then make a secondary "nice to do list". For these things, they could be something you look at if you find you have more energy on the day.
How much you want to do on the day might depend on how you’re feeling, and that’s okay. Focus on what’s important to you and give yourself permission to experience the day at your own pace.
Look at the campus beforehand
Familiarising yourself with the layout, entrances, parking, public transport and the buildings you’ll be visiting can help reduce uncertainty on the day.
Our virtual experience lets you get a feel for Portsmouth before you arrive, with a look at student life, accommodation, the city and your subject.
You can also use Google Maps to look at our campus buildings, car parks, bus stops, cafés and more using Street View or aerial view. This can help you get a feel for where things are and how the different locations fit together before you arrive.
Pack what you need for the day
Whether you’re local or travelling from further away, packing a bag with things that help you feel comfortable can help you feel prepared for your Open Day.
You might want to bring:
- Snacks
- Water
- Noise cancelling headphones or earplugs
- Sunglasses
- Fidget toys
- Any medication you need
- A power bank
- A comfortable hoodie, jumper or scarf
Top tips for preparing before you arrive
Schedule in some down-time – It can be easy to forget to stop and rest when you’re caught up in a busy day. Adding some down time to your schedule can help make sure you have time to pause and recharge.
Bring someone with you – If it helps, bring a parent, partner, friend or supporter along. They can help with navigation, take notes, remember questions and help you take in everything happening around you.
Prepare your questions – It can be surprisingly difficult to think of questions in the moment. Write down anything you’d like to ask before you arrive, so you have it ready when you need it.
Tell us what you need – If there's anything we can do to help make your Open Day experience run more smoothly, contact our dedicated Events team. We're here to help you feel as safe and supported as possible - you don't need to share any medical records, just let us know what we can do to help.
What to expect?
When you arrive, head to one of our check-in locations and scan your QR code with a member of our friendly team. It’s quick and straightforward. If you don’t have your QR code, don’t worry, we can find your booking using your personal details.
Our main check in location (Ravelin) can get busy, so if you’d prefer a quieter arrival, you can check in at one of our other locations, where it tends to be a little calmer.
Visit our main check in between 8.30am–3.00pm and pick up your welcome pack. Our main check in is at Ravelin Sports Centre on Cambridge Road (PO1 2SE).
You can check in at some of the buildings where subject talks are held between the hours of 09.00am - 3.00pm:
There are several tours available at our Open Days, giving you the chance to see our campus and facilities and get a better idea of what to expect.
Campus tours – Tours leave from outside Ravelin Sports Centre typically last around 40 to 55 minutes. Our student ambassadors will show you around campus, including the buildings you could be studying in, and you can ask questions along the way. Tours involve walking around campus and can vary in how busy they feel.
Accommodation tours – No booking is needed. Simply head to the hall you’re interested in and join the next available tour. You’ll see a standard room and kitchen and can ask our student ambassadors questions about living there. Limited 90 minute guided tours are also available, visiting two halls of residence.
If you need to view an accessible room, contact us before your visit at [email protected].
Library tours – Head to the library and speak to a member of Library staff if you’d like to look around and find out more about the spaces, facilities and resources available. We offer guided and self-guided tours.
Ravelin Sports Centre tours – This is a 30 minute tour that gives you a chance to look around the building and find out more about the facilities available to students. You’ll need to book in advance.
For tour times, further information and booking details where needed visit our Open Day guide.
There are a range of talks and sessions taking place throughout the day, from subject talks to sessions about student life, accommodation, finance, placements and applying to university. Most take place in lecture theatres or larger rooms and can last anywhere from around 15 minutes to an hour and a half.
You don’t need to attend everything. Having an idea of where you need to be and when can help you feel more prepared and avoid having to make too many decisions on the day.
If you miss a talk or decide you need a break, that’s okay too. There will be plenty of other opportunities to find out more during your visit.
If a talk feels overwhelming or you’d prefer a one to one conversation, you can also speak to our teams at the Student Information Fair, where you can ask questions at your own pace.
Take a look at the Open Day schedule before you arrive and choose the sessions that are most useful to you.
Fairs are a chance to ask questions, meet staff and find out more about university without having to book a specific session. You can drop in when it suits you, so you don’t need to spend too long there if you’d rather keep moving or take a break.
Faculty Fairs are a good place to speak to course leaders, academics and faculty support teams about your subject and any questions you might have.
There are also Student Information Fairs, where you can speak to teams including Disability Advice, Student Finance, Student Housing, Admissions, Wellbeing and Careers and Employability.
You don’t need to have a list of questions ready, either. If you’re not sure who to speak to or what to ask, our staff will be happy to point you in the right direction.
For more information about the fairs, visit our Open Day guide.
An Open Day is also a chance to get a feel for Portsmouth and see what it’s like beyond campus. Sometimes the city is just as important as the university when deciding where you’d like to study, so why not make a day of it and spend some time exploring while you’re here?
Portsmouth has the sea on its doorstep, with beaches, piers and parks to explore, as well as plenty of places to eat, shop and spend your free time. You could also get a taste of the city’s music scene or find out more about the clubs and societies you could get involved with as a student.
Take a look at our Explore Portsmouth guide for ideas of things to see and do while you’re here.
Useful things to know
How to get here
Getting to the University of Portsmouth is easy, with several travel options available. If you’re travelling to an Open Day, there are discounts available with some transport providers, including South Western Railway, Great Western Railway, Wightlink and Hovertravel. You can also get free parking at some of our car parks on Open Days.
Planning your journey in advance can help you feel more prepared and give you a better idea of what to expect when you arrive. Find out more about travel discounts, how to use them and where to park here.
Food and drink
We offer a free lunch to all our Open Day visitors at a variety of cafés across campus. You’ll get more information about where to go when you check in.
We have water fountains in most of our campus buildings you can use to fill up your water bottle.
As we’re based in the heart of Portsmouth, there are lots of food and drink options nearby if you’d like to explore more of the city after your Open Day. It can help to have a few places in mind before you arrive, so check out our guide with local places to eat and drink.
Open Day app
Our Open Day app has everything you need to help you plan and navigate your day. You can create a personalised schedule, find talks and tours, use the interactive campus map and keep up with live updates throughout the day.
Having everything in one place can help you feel more prepared and give you an idea of where you need to be and when. You can also have your QR code ready in the app, so you can quickly check in when you arrive.
You can download the App on the App Store or Google Play.
University Open Day tips for neurodiverse students
- Take a break - You don’t have to keep going all day. If you need a moment to pause and recharge, take a break and come back when you’re ready.
- Find a quiet space if things are getting too much - If you’re feeling overwhelmed, find somewhere quieter to take a break from the noise and activity. Our Library, on floors 2 and 3, is one of the quieter spaces you can use.
- Record talks or conversations - You can record a talk or conversation with a lecturer. This means you can listen back later rather than trying to remember everything on the day.
- Stay near the front on guided tours - If you’re joining a guided tour, staying towards the front can make it easier to hear the guide and keep track of what’s being shown.
- Choose quieter tour times - If you can, consider choosing a tour earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon, after 2pm. These times may be quieter than the busiest parts of the day.
FAQs
No. You can leave whenever you wish. Whether it’s 10 minutes or all day, it’s your Open Day.
Yes. We run several Open Days throughout the year so if you didn’t get to do everything you wanted at your first one, you’re welcome to come back.
Yes. We encourage visitors to bring guests for support.
If you start to feel overwhelmed, it’s okay to take some time out. Find a quieter space away from the activity and give yourself a chance to pause and reset.
You can also use anything you’ve brought with you to help you feel comfortable, such as fidget toys, headphones or a favourite hoodie, and having a snack or drink can help too.
If you need a little extra support, speak to a member of our team. We can help you find a quiet space or spend some time with you. And if you decide you need to leave, that’s okay too. You can always come back and visit us another day.
Yes. Our main check in at Ravelin can get busy. If you’d prefer a quieter check in, you can choose to check in at one of our other locations:
- Eldon Building (PO1 2DJ)
- Park Building (PO1 2BZ)
- Portland Building (PO1 3AH)
- Richmond Building (PO1 3DE)
- King Henry (PO1 2DY)
These locations tend to be a little quieter than the main check in.
Yes, absolutely. Open Days can be busy and noisy, so you’re welcome to wear ear protectors, headphones or earplugs if they help you feel comfortable. Use whatever you need to make the day work for you.