What to Ask at a University Information Session Before You Apply
Join With a Decision in Mind
A university information session can help you understand a course before you apply. You can hear from the people offering it and ask about details that are hard to find on a website.
But joining a webinar is only useful if it helps you answer your own questions. A general introduction may sound encouraging while leaving you unsure whether the course suits you.
Start with one decision: Do I have enough information to keep this course on my list? You do not need to decide everything during the session. You need to find out what is clear and what still needs checking.
Edupath's Community page has a sessions section and a link to its Nursing Path Webinar Series. Check the session details and registration page for the current topic, date and time. Choose a session that relates to the education path you are considering.
Write Down What Matters to You
Before the session, make a short note of your current qualification, the subject you want to study and when you hope to start. Add any practical needs, such as studying part-time or getting support with learning.
Edupath describes Profile as a place for your education background, skills and preferences. Use those same details when preparing questions. You can keep them in your own notes; you do not need to share personal documents in a public webinar.
Read the course page first. Then choose two or three questions whose answers could change your decision. This gives you a better starting point than asking the speaker to explain everything about the university.
Ask What Studying the Course Is Really Like
A course title tells you the subject. It may tell you very little about the work you will do each week.
Ask questions such as:
- Which subjects are compulsory in the first year?
- How much teaching takes place in person, online or through practical work?
- How are students assessed: exams, projects, written work or a mix?
- Are the optional subjects I am interested in available to students on this course?
Ask the speaker to point you to the course handbook or another official page where you can check the answer later.
Use the answers to decide whether the course suits the way you want to learn. An appealing description is more useful when you understand what it means in practice.
Check the Entry Rules for Your Background
A broad statement such as "international students can apply" may leave important questions unanswered.
Ask where to find the requirements for your qualification and intended start date. If a rule is unclear, ask which admissions team can confirm it.
You might need to check whether your previous subjects are accepted, whether a language test is required or whether you can apply while waiting for final results. These are questions to verify for the particular course, rather than rules to assume apply everywhere.
Avoid treating a general answer during a webinar as a personal admission decision. For an answer based on your own documents, use the university's official contact route after the session.
Find Out How Student Support Works
If you may need support, ask how students access it. A service name alone does not explain the process.
Who should you contact before enrolment? Is there a separate request form? What information should you prepare? Can the team explain what help is available for your course?
You can ask about academic advice, accessibility support, language support or help settling into university. Keep the question connected to a need that matters to you.
Edupath's Community page also provides links for guidance and support. These can help you find a next step when you are unsure what to ask. The institution itself should confirm the services and arrangements it provides.
Turn the Answers Into a Next Step
After the session, write three short notes:
- What I learned: the answers that affect my course choice.
- What I need to check: anything unclear, with the official page or contact to use.
- What I will do next: keep researching, contact admissions or remove the course from my list.
If you attend another institution's session, ask the same core questions. Your comparison will be more useful when both institutions have answered what matters to you.
Edupath presents Learning Path as a way to explore study options and MentorHub as support for education decisions. Your notes can help you explain what you are considering and where you need guidance. This does not mean Edupath automatically saves webinar answers or updates your course choices.
A useful session should leave you with a clearer next step. You may be ready to explore the course further, or you may realise it does not meet your needs. Both outcomes help you make a better education decision.