Your first UCAS fair: what you need to know

Hi, I'm Zahra!

I’ve been through the UCAS process myself and I understand how overwhelming it can feel. Personally, attending UCAS fairs was one of the key steps in deciding where I wanted to study. In this blog, I’ll share my experience of attending fairs and give you some top tips to help you make the most out of your trip.

Prepare ahead of time

Before attending UCAS fairs, I made sure to have a plan. I made a list of universities that I was interested in and noted down the courses I wanted to know more information about. I also made note of any specific questions or concerns I had about the courses, campus life, or entry requirements.

Planning helped me to prioritise my time at the fairs as I was able to find out the key information straight away.

Take notes

At the fairs, you get a lot of information and it can quickly become overwhelming. I found the best way to combat this is to take notes from each university stand you visit. Jot down details about their courses, facilities, and anything that stands out. Since I had done this, it was so easy to compare notes and narrow down my choices.

Collect brochures and information

Collecting brochures and other informational materials, such as miniguides and course leaflets, is a great way to refer back to universities after the fair. This helped me during the application process when I was trying to remember what each university offered.

Don’t forget to talk to current students

At a UCAS fair, you'll find that most university stands will have a student ambassador to chat with. For me, the student ambassadors were a valuable resource because they gave me an honest insight into what life is really like at that university. The representatives at the stands were amazing and full of great knowledge but it felt nice to receive that personal perspective from a current student.

Be open-minded

I went to my first UCAS fair with a set idea of where I wanted to apply. After attending the event and speaking to other university representatives, a few other universities grabbed my interest that I hadn’t previously considered.

From this, I'd say UCAS fairs can be a great way to explore options that you might not have thought about before.

Follow up after the fair

The information doesn't stop once you've left a UCAS fair. When you get home, take a few moments to look at the information you can find online. I followed up with a few universities by filling in their online forms or other ways to connect with university representatives directly. I was able to ask them any questions I had forgotten to ask at the fair which was very helpful.

Ask the right questions

I found one of the best things about UCAS fairs is the chance to speak directly with actual students and staff from the university you're interested in. I made sure to ask questions that went beyond the basic details you could find on their website.

For example, I asked about the university culture and what it's really like to be a student there. I wanted to know how inclusive their campus was, and what kinds of extracurricular activities are available.

Another key area I explored was student support services. I asked questions like, "What mental health resources are available on campus?" and "How does the university support students with disabilities?" This gave me a better sense of how well the university supports its students outside of academics.

Asking these types of questions helped me get a more personal, well-rounded perspective about each university and its community, which was crucial in my decision-making process.

For me, attending my first UCAS event was exciting and informative. With the right preparation and mindset, you’ll be able to leave the event feeling confident about your university choices. Take the time to ask the right questions, make detailed notes, and explore all your options - by doing this you will be one step closer to finding the perfect university!

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