A day that’s all about tomorrow
Want the lowdown on Deakin Virtual Open Day? We asked our faculty course directors to give you the inside info on Deakin's epic, interactive event. Find out how you can explore courses, check out campuses, hear from students and chat to study experts – all from home.
See why over the past two years almost 100,000 students attended Deakin Virtual Open Day and discovered our progressive, real-world approach to learning.
What happens at Deakin Virtual Open Day?
Dr Weber, Course Director in the Faculty of Business and Law, says being online means university staff can reach a wider audience than they otherwise would have been able to. From the comfort of home, you can:
- talk one-to-one with academics, students and study advisers
- get questions answered in live Q&A sessions or web chat
- explore courses and uni life in more than 150 online sessions
- tour each campus virtually to see where you’ll study
- explore your options to find the course for you.
How can you get ready for Virtual Open Day?
With more than 150 different online sessions it’s important to have some idea of where your interests lie. Dr Sze-Yen Tan, Deputy Course Director in the Faculty of Health, says ‘It's ok if you don't know exactly what course you want to do, but it’s good to have a general idea because that will help you navigate the information more effectively.’
Dr Sze-Yen Tan’s top tip: Once you have a course in mind, visit the course page on the Deakin website so when it comes to Virtual Open Day, you’re building on the general information you already know.
Do the research then nut out what else you need to know about the potential course you are interested in and ask us.
Dr Prue Francis
Course Director in the Faculty of Science
Are you confident enough to ask a question?
You can ask your questions in live Q&A sessions and through one-on-one web chats with academics and students just like you.
Dr Sze-Yen Tan chaired a live Q&A at our first Virtual Open Day. ‘The Associate Head of School and course directors were there to answer any questions that visitors had, and we had a team of staff in the background answering questions at the same time,’ he says. ‘This ensures all of your questions – general and specific – get addressed.’
Too shy and don’t have a question?
Dr Francis says you’ll get more out of the virtual Q&A sessions because you can see what other people ask.
‘In a face-to-face event, you might have a few students coming up after a session to ask questions but quite often there's a lot of shyness,’ she explains.
‘Most students walk out of the session without hearing the questions other people are asking. A virtual event allows you to have full visibility of what is being asked, and in some cases, inspires questions of your own.’
What kind of question could you prepare?
When it comes to questions that you can ask, Dr Weber says the sky is the limit. ‘I expect questions on connections with industry – like internships, placements, guest lectures – all the things that might help a student get experience,’ she says.
Ask questions around the resources available, what support and accommodations exist, and how learner-centric the teaching approach will be. 'Prospective students can sometimes be hesitant to ask about what exists to help them, but it’s something we take very seriously. It can really shape your university experience.'
Are you desperate to get on campus?
Want to see Deakin in real life? Complement your Virtual Open Day experience with our Campus Open Days. You’ll meet real people like our student ambassadors, and get an insight into life at Deakin in a fun, relaxed and engaging environment.
Meeting us virtually is almost as good as in real life!
Whenever you’re entering a new environment, it’s important you get a feel for the type of people you will be learning from. ‘Deakin is brimming with people who can talk all day about the topics they teach and research, because these are the things they love,’ Dr Weber says. ‘There’s a lot to be said for the inspirational element of seeing that passion up close.’
Dr Paul Venzo, a Deputy Course Director in the Faculty of Arts and Education, says you’ll enjoy hearing about the backgrounds of the teaching staff because it’ll help you envisage your own future career. ‘Prospective students really appreciate when we talk about what we've done with our qualifications,’ he says. ‘We work at the university, but we've all done heaps of other stuff.’
’Once you’ve met us we always encourage you to get back in touch via email or web chat. We want to give you a sense of familiarity and a sense of belonging to your prospective university.’
Did you know you can win a prize at Virtual Open Day?
The more you explore on Virtual Open Day, the better your chances to win one of hundreds of prizes! Don’t miss your chance to discover your future at Deakin Virtual Open Day.