Potential students and other visitors at this year’s University of Aberdeen Open Day will be offered the best way to see the Granite City this summer by hopping on board the sightseeing bus for cut-price fare.
The University’s 7th annual Open Day is being held on Tuesday, August 29, and, in conjunction with First Aberdeen, is offering visitors a special offer deal of only £3.50 for the open top bus tour.
The Open Day is designed to showcase the University’s facilities to thousands of potential students and is one of the biggest and most important events of the year. It’s aimed mainly at those interested in coming to study at Aberdeen in September 2007. It is open to people of all ages looking for more information on the University and studying at Aberdeen and late applicants for 2006 entry will also be very welcome to attend.
The Open Day is set to attract upwards of 4,500 visitors from across the UK, Europe and worldwide.
Lesley MacLennan, the University’s Marketing Officer, said the cut-price bus tours would give prospective students and other visitors to the Open Day the ideal chance to see the Granite City.
“Aberdeen is such a vibrant and beautiful city, and it’s important that potential students are given the chance to see the sights of the City as well as the University campus,” she said.
“The aim of the Open Day is to ensure our visitors have as much fun as possible while finding out what the University has to offer and we hope that by linking up with First Aberdeen, our visitors will be able to relax and enjoy a spot of sightseeing and see a little of what the city has to offer too.”
The tourist bus service is a joint venture between First Aberdeen and City Sightseeing Ltd, with support from Aberdeen City Council. The tour is a ‘hop on/hop off’ service departing from Marischal College, Broad Street on an hourly basis and operates a circular route to Old Aberdeen, the beach front, to Footdee and the Harbour then Duthie Park and returns via the City Centre.
Lesley said she hoped the bus tour would help to promote Aberdeen to the students-to-be. She said: “Aberdeen is one of the UK’s most popular universities and we’re delighted that the open top bus makes dedicated stops around Old Aberdeen so that potential students can experience at first hand exactly where they could be studying and living.”
The Open Day also features a packed line-up of presentations on issues such as student life, finance, careers, and accommodation. Visitors can take part in departmental visits and campus tours at the University’s King’s College. The School of Medicine programme will this year be available on King’s campus and will comprise a careers presentation and general information on the University for students hoping to study medicine and medicine-related subjects. Pre-booked students will also get the chance to take part in the interactive demonstrations at the Clinical Skills Centre.
A party at The Union will offer a real taste of student life and there will be the chance for potential students to stay overnight in the Halls of Residence. A Parents’ Reception has also been arranged for the night before the Open Day - to be held in James Mackay Hall on the King’s College campus.
Visitors are welcome to attend the Open Day on their own or as part of a school party. Parents, teachers and guidance staff are also invited along. There will be a Chill Out Zone especially for adults to enjoy some quiet time during the busy schedule. Selectors and other staff will be visiting the Chill Out Zone throughout the day to chat informally to parents and teachers.
Booking is essential for the Open Day on August 29 and prospective students must log on to www.abdn.ac.uk/openday to register their place or call Student Recruitment and Admissions on 0800 027 1495, or email: openday@abdn.ac.uk