What to look for at an open day to choose a university

Choosing a university is not just about comparing curricula or asking about scholarships. It is about something more important: understanding what kind of environment you will be living in during the decisive years. An open day serves precisely that purpose. To see whether what a university promises can be felt when you walk in, when you talk to its staff and when you imagine your day-to-day life there.

Quick answer: at an open day you should look at five things: whether the university has a clear identity, whether the practical methodology is really noticeable, whether the facilities match what you are going to study, whether there is a real connection with industry, and whether the human and academic environment is a good fit for you. This is much more helpful than leaving with a brochure under your arm.

1. Check if the university knows who it is

Not all universities tell the same story. Some try to be all-encompassing. Others have a very distinct identity. That difference matters, because it conditions the academic experience, the profile of the faculty, the type of projects and even the people you'll be sharing a classroom with.

At UDIT, that identity is clear: we are a university specialising in Design, Innovation and Technology. We have been in existence for more than twenty years and we took the step from being an affiliated centre to a recognised university in 2022. This specialisation is not a slogan; it marks the way we teach, grow and relate to industry.

2. See if the practical really happens

Many universities talk about practice. Fewer get it noticed from the first minute. At an open day, it's worth asking a simple question: do you learn this only in class or do you work on real projects, challenges and contexts?

At UDIT, the "learn by doing" model is part of the educational core. Practice, experimentation and applied work do not appear at the end: they are part of the process. In addition, contact with professionals and companies brings students closer to the reality they will find when they leave.

3. Check whether the campus makes sense for what you want to study.

A visit to the campus should not be a nice walk. It should help you answer a very specific question: is this space designed for the training it promises?

UDIT's Open Day is based on a powerful idea: 21,000 m² dedicated to creativity and technology. In addition, UDIT has two campuses in Madrid and, in 2025, reinforced its growth with the International Campus of Technology, Innovation and Applied Sciences in Alcalá 506, a space of more than 7,000 m² with spaces such as the Protospace or the Materioteca oriented to technology and product design. When you visit a campus like this, you don't just see classrooms; you see the type of university behind it.

4. Assess whether there are real signs of employability and recognition.

There is a difference between saying you are preparing for the professional world and showing it. At an open day it is worth looking at two things: whether the university is connected to industry and whether that work leaves a mark on its students.

UDIT gathers several indicators that help to read that connection with criteria: maximum score of QS Stars in teaching and employability, more than 300 national and international awards achieved by students and a constant activity with companies, professionals and own events that bring sectors and opportunities to the classroom. This is not an abstract promise. They are observable signs of an ecosystem that pushes outwards, not inwards.

5. Listen to what's going on with your doubts, not just your speech.

A good day is not measured just by how well they talk to you. It is measured by how they answer your questions. Study plan, scholarships, fees, admission process, visa, outings, compatibility with your profile or with your moment in life. All of this matters.

During UDIT's Open Day you can visit the facilities, get to know first-hand what's on offer and resolve doubts about degrees, fees, grants and procedures. This is important, because an academic decision is not only made with inspiration. It is also made with clarity.

6. Think about the type of community you want to join.

Choosing a university is also a choice of context. The people around you, the kind of conversations you have, the mix of creativity, technical judgement and professional ambition. All of that shapes your experience more than you might think.

UDIT has expanded its offer in degrees, masters, bachelors and VET, and today it organises that proposal into clear areas of specialisation such as: Interiors, Product Design, UX, Video Games, Animation, Fashion, Graphic Design, Illustration, Advertising, Technology and Applied Sciences. This structure helps each student to enter into a recognisable ecosystem, not a disorderly offer.

7. Ask yourself the most uncomfortable question: do you see yourself here?

In the end, the best sign is not always on a slide. Do you see yourself learning here? Do you see yourself growing here? Do you see yourself asking questions, making mistakes, improving and finding your place here?

A well-used open day does not give you all the answers, but it does allow you to detect something decisive: whether the academic project in front of you really fits you or whether it only seemed attractive from the outside.

What questions should you ask at an open day?

• How do you work on projects during the course?
• What makes this university different from other options in my field?
• What is the profile of the teaching staff like?
• What kind of facilities will I actually use?
• How does what I study connect with industry?
• What support will I have during admission and during my degree?
• What international opportunities are there?

These questions work well because they force you to move from general discourse to concrete reality. And that's where a strong university really comes into its own.

Why visiting UDIT can help you make better decisions

Visiting UDIT is not just about coming to see a campus. It's about getting to know a specialised university model, with a clear identity and a concrete way of understanding learning: practical, connected to industry, with an international outlook and spaces designed for creative and technological disciplines. This combination explains both the institutional growth of recent years and the recognition received in teaching, employability, awards, internationalisation and research.

Because choosing a university should not be a blind decision. And there are some things you only understand when you see them up close.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth going to an open day even if I already know what I want to study?

Yes. Being clear about the area does not mean being clear about the university. The visit helps you to see if the environment, methodology and approach match what you are looking for.

What makes a good open day different from a superficial visit?

It allows you to understand what it's like to study there, what kind of experience it offers and how it answers real questions about admissions, campus, faculty and future careers.

What should a family prioritise when visiting a university?

Academic clarity, support, facilities consistent with the degree, signs of employability and institutional strength.

What if I can't make it to the next event?

The important thing is not only the day itself. You can also get information, resolve doubts with admissions and request a personalised visit when you need it. The UDIT website offers this option.

Book your place at the next UDIT Open Day or request a personalised visit and find out more about the campus, the methodology and the degree you are considering.