Your 6-step Guide to Making the Most of a Postgraduate Study Fair

If you are an aspiring postgraduate student, you are probably wondering where to begin your research. An initial Google search will bring up some course options, but what about answering your questions around funding, scholarships, applying etc? That’s where a postgraduate study fair comes in!

Study fairs (sometimes known as exhibitions) are a great way to get your questions answered by people in the know. They usually consist of university stands and talks. Great right? But also a little daunting, after all this is one of the most important decisions of your life. Whether they’re free (like our study fairs) or you’ve had to pay, you do not want to underutilise this opportunity to talk to universities and have your questions answered by the experts.

We’re here to help with our six-step guide on how to make the most of a postgraduate study fair.

Step 1: Be prepared with a plan

It is always a good idea to have a look at a list of universities attending the study fair. Make a note of the ones you are interested in and make sure you visit their booths. And if you don’t know where you want to go, then have a look at the list anyway and see if any spark your interest. A study fair is all about researching your options so see who’s around and have a think of what might sway your decision.

Don’t just research the universities though, think about what you want to get out of the day and come prepared with a list of questions. A great way to approach a study fair is with the idea that you’re looking to supplement what you already know about a university and a course you are interested in. But, they’re also just as useful if your question is “Am I ready for postgraduate study?”

Step 2: Be open to new information

Study fairs provide a great opportunity to meet lots of representatives from different universities all in one room so you don’t have to organise visiting them all individually. They’re also a great way of considering universities you might not have thought of or even heard of.

Universities love it when you come prepared, but they’re also just as happy to chat through your ideas for programmes and help you figure out what you’re actually interested in.

Step 3: Ask as many questions as you can!

Take advantage of being at a place with university representatives who are ready and eager to answer all your questions, big and small. Don’t be afraid to talk to anyone and everyone. You never know what you’ll find out or what opportunity they have that you didn’t know about. That’s why we make sure you have plenty of opportunities to chat with universities around our talks programme.

Step 4: Plan your day around the talks programme as well as the universities

Fair organisers have an idea of the common questions that students usually have when they come to a study fair. They might have already organised discussions and panels with experts regarding important postgraduate study topics like scholarships and funding. Our study fairs offer you a chance to speak with experts on topics like, projects, supervisors and research portfolios. Keep an eye on the fair programme to make sure you don’t miss any of them.

Step 5: Take material home with you

The decision-making process does not end at the study fair. You will continue to gather information and process it long after the fair is over. You should, of course, carry a notebook and pen for your own notes, or record thoughts on your phone, but don’t shy away from grabbing printed material like a university prospectus for later perusal.

Step 6: Stay in touch

It is always a good idea to leave your contact information with the exhibitors. This helps you stay in touch with them if you have any follow-up questions or if they want to reach out with information on a course you showed interest in. It’s a good idea to set up a more professional email address for this sort of communication, perhaps with your full name or a version that is easy to spell.

Now that you’re equipped with our top tips to make sure you make the most of the next study fair you attend, we will hopefully see you at one of our study fairs.

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