

Make the most of your visit
We can't wait to meet you
As well as learning more about your course and seeing the University, you can also get expert advice on applying to uni, funding your studies and writing your personal statement. Here’s a rundown of everything you can do on the day.
Don't forget to book your place >
Checking in
When you check in, we give you everything you need to enjoy your visit.
Main Check-in:
- Ravelin Park (next to Ravelin Sports Centre, Cambridge Road)
Faculty Check-in locations:
- Park Building (King Henry I Street)
- St Michael's Building (White Swan Road)
- Richmond Building (Portland Street)
- Portland Building (Portland Street)
- Eldon Building (Winston Churchill Avenue)
If you’re running short on time you can head straight to your subject talk and check in later in the day.

Key talks
These key talks cover all your uni essentials. They’re repeated at various times throughout the day so you can fit them easily with other talks and tours.
- Welcome (Life at Portsmouth) – an overview of what we can offer you
- Student finance – information about what financial support is available
- Student accommodation – find out about halls of residence and other housing options
- Applying to university – everything you need to know about applying to university
- Careers and employability – information on the support we can give you with planning your career and getting work experience that complements your studies and career goals
- Personal statements - what you need to know to write the best personal statement
Personal Statement workshops
Want to make your Personal Statement stand out? Not sure where to start? Want to know you’re on the right track?
Bring your personal statement and come to our workshops running all day at Mercantile House on the second floor. Our experts will give you advice on how to put together a winning Personal Statement or receive feedback on what you’ve done so far. You don’t need to book in advance.
Subject talks and tours
The subject talks give you the chance to find out more about the courses you’re interested in and take a look at where you’ll be studying. You can also speak with teaching staff and current students. We’ll send you details of your course talk time and location before you visit.
If you change your mind about which course talk you’d like to attend or you want to see what other courses can offer on the day, it’s not a problem to switch talks or fit in an extra one if you have time.
Join us at our next Open Day
Not signed up to any Open Day yet? Secure your spot now.
Halls tours
We know that moving away from home is a big step. We want to make sure you find accommodation to suit your needs.
Our Open Days give you the chance to look around many of our halls of residence to compare options and see where you’ll be living. Tours start at 9.30am with the last tour departing at 4.00pm. There’s no need to book – just turn up and join the next tour. Please note our halls tours are very popular and you may have to queue for up to 30 minutes.
Remember, you’re guaranteed a room in halls if you apply as a new, full-time undergraduate student starting in September or October 2023 or 2024 and make us your firm choice.
Campus and city tours
As well as seeing our halls of residence, you can go on these tours:
- Walking campus tour – explore our campus and find out what university life is like with our current students, running between 9.30am and 4.00pm
- City coach tour - sightsee our historic city on our guided coach tour, running between 10.00am and 3.00pm
- Sports and recreation tour – our brand new Sports Centre has just opened for you to play, train and compete. Take a sneak peak of the superb facilities on a 30-minute tour, running between 12.00pm and 4.00pm. Book your place now
- Library tour – take a tour of our comfortable library, which is open 24 hours a day during term time, running between 10.00am and 4.00pm

Student Support Services information fair
Want to know more about tuition fees or studying abroad? Need help with your uni or student finance application? Got questions about where to live?
Our Student Support Services Information Fair takes place from 9.30am – 4.00pm in the Students' Union. You can put your questions to our student finance, admissions and housing experts and find out more about our sport and rec, study support and wellbeing service.
Food and drink
There’s a lot to do on an Open Day but there are plenty of options for keeping your energy up.
You and your guests are entitled to free tea and coffee at the cafes in Anglesea Building, Cafe Coco (next to Students' Union), Dennis Sciama Building, Eldon Building, Park Building and Portland Building. For something more substantial, you can take advantage of our special Open Day meal deals.
Get your hot dog fix from our pop-up food stall located in the foyer of Dennis Sciama building.
If you’re out and about in Portsmouth, there are loads of cafes and restaurants throughout Guildhall Walk, Southsea and Gunwharf Quays featuring well-known names and independents.
Planning your day
The day before, check the weather forecast so you can dress appropriately come rain or shine – you’ll likely spend a few minutes outside getting between venues on our city campus.
And, don’t forget to charge your phone so you can take snaps of anything you want to refer back to when you get home.
Experiencing Portsmouth – Discounts and Offers
Why not make a weekend of it? There’s so much more to see and do while you’re in Portsmouth.
Spinnaker Tower
End your visit on a high at the Spinnaker Tower in Gunwharf Quays and view the city from a height of 100 metres. Open Day visitors get 20% off the ticket price per person by showing their Open Day Guide.
Dice Board Game Lounge
Experience great food and drink whilst enjoying thousands of different board games. Show your Open Day Guide on arrival to get a special Dice Deal: toasted sandwich, soft drink and game entry for £11. Booking is strongly recommended: call 023 9261 4121, email info@diceportsmouth.com or book through their Facebook page.
Holiday Inn Portsmouth, Pembroke Road
A modern hotel with a restaurant, close to the University, city-centre shops, and historic landmarks. Get 20% off an overnight stay. You must use this discount link to receive the discount on your booking.
The Queens Hotel
Its prominent location on the corner of Southsea Common coupled with its standout design makes The Queens Hotel a key feature of Southsea's urban landscape and a building that is loved by so many. Get 10% off an overnight stay (up to 3 nights). Call 023 0282 2466 and quote "Open Day" to receive the discount.
Royal Maritime Hotel and Club
The hotel is just 200m from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and within easy walking distance of the University. Get 10% off an overnight stay. Call 023 9282 4231 and quote "UOP Open Day" to receive the discount.
Fries Love, Commercial Road
An independent family business specialising in delicious Belgian, Japanese and Canadian loaded fries, plus Korean style corn dogs. Get 10% off when you show your Open Day Guide.
Gunwharf Quays
Set in a harbour close to the centre of Portsmouth, Gunwharf Quays is the south’s leading designer outlet and a superb leisure destination. Wander over to Gunwharf to shop and dine whilst you take in the coastal views of our city.
Southsea
To see a different side of Portsmouth, head to Southsea for independent pubs, cafes, restaurants and shops. You could also take a stroll through Southsea Common and finish off your day with fish and chips on the beach.
Love Southsea Market
Experience a beautiful collection of stalls offering locally made/sourced fresh food, gorgeous gifts, homewares, jewellery and much, much more. Find them in the Southsea precinct on 10 and 11 December.
113 The Art Coffee House
Start your day with breakfast or grab a light bite at lunch with a 10% discount at 113 when you show your Open Day Guide.
Guildhall Square Ice Rink
Visit our winter wonderland in Guildhall Square on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December. Enjoy a special Open Day concession rate of £9.50 a ticket. To avoid disappointment, it is recommended that you buy tickets in advance here. When you attend your skate session, you will need to show your open day guide to claim the concession rate.
Getting here
Please note there is NO parking at Ravelin Sports Centre. If you choose to drive, please take a look at the options available to you:
Park and ride
Portsmouth has a handy Park and Ride service to save you the hassle of finding parking in the city, for only £4 per day, per vehicle. The car park allocated for Open Day visitors is at:
Park & Ride Portsmouth
Tipner Interchange
M275 Junction 1
Portsmouth
PO2 8AN
Payment will be taken on the bus with cash or contactless bank card.
The University Park and Ride bus service runs every 10 minutes and will drop you off just outside the Ravelin Sports Centre next to Ravelin Park. Please allow about 30 minutes to get to us from the car park.
If you need help on arrival at the Park and Ride or when you get dropped off, look out for our student ambassadors (dressed in purple).
University car parks
Open Day visitors can park for free in the University car parks listed below so please ignore any payment machines. They can be used on a first-come first-served basis and tend to fill up quickly on the day. Take a look at their locations below and plan your journey.
Parking options
On Saturday Open Days you can park in University car parks for free, but spaces are limited.
The locations are:
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Anglesea rear car park – PO1 3DJ
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Eldon car park – PO1 2DJ
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Milldam car park – PO1 3AS
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Nuffield car park – PO1 2ED
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St George’s car park – PO1 2HY
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University House car park – PO1 2UP
Please note there are a reduced number of parking spaces available in Eldon car park due to building works.
City centre parking
To get to car parking closest to the University, use the M27 (from the west) or A3(M)/A27 (from the east) and take the M275 into Portsmouth (signed 'Portsmouth West'). Ignore the M27/A27 junctions signed to Southsea and Hilsea.
On-street, pay-and-display parking is available close to campus and to the check-in venue. There are also public car parks throughout the City. There's more information about city centre car parking on the Portsmouth City Council website.
Trains
The closest station to the University is Portsmouth and Southsea. It’s a 5-minute walk from the nearest University buildings and close to all parts of the campus.
Plan your train journey to Portsmouth on the National Rail website.
Further travel information
There's more travel information on our maps and directions page.
Need to know more?
If you’ve got questions, give our Open Day team a call on 023 9284 2748 or email opendays@port.ac.uk.