Best questions to ask at Open Day

The best questions to ask at Open Day!

Starting university is a major milestone, and it’s completely normal to feel a mix of excitement, curiosity and uncertainty about what comes next. The good news? Open Day is your chance to turn all those feelings into clarity.

Open Day provides a chance to explore the courses and study areas that interest you, as well as the various options available. But aside from collecting general information, it’s your chance to discover what university life could really look like, meet the people who might shape your future, and determine whether a particular course, campus or community feels right for you.

The right questions can help you move beyond brochures and entry requirements to gain a genuine understanding of the student experience. They can really help you to imagine your future, challenge any assumptions you might have, and uncover opportunities you may not have considered.

To help you make the most of Open Day, we’ve compiled some thought-starters and some of the most insightful questions to ask course experts and current students, so you can explore your options, feel informed, and take the next steps with confidence.

What to ask the course experts

Open Day participant asking questions to a course adviser

Open Day is one of the few opportunities you’ll have to speak directly with the people who teach, design and support your course. While entry requirements and application processes are important to know and understand, it’s equally valuable to understand what the learning experience will actually be like.

Here are some great conversation starters to help guide your thinking.

Ask about the specific subjects you’ll study, how classes are taught and assessed, and what a typical week looks like. Understanding the day-to-day learning experience can help you to decide whether the course is the right fit for you.
Every university offers similar degrees on paper. Ask what makes this course at Monash unique. Whether it’s industry partnerships, overseas experiences, innovative teaching methods, specialist facilities or research opportunities, this is your chance to understand what sets the Monash student experience apart.
Explore how you can personalise your degree through majors, extended majors, minors and specialisations, double degrees, and unique study experiences such as our Flagship Rich Educational Experience (FREE) units. University is an opportunity to pursue multiple interests and shape a degree that reflects your goals.
Ask how you’ll apply your learning beyond the classroom through work-integrated learning (WIL), internships, clinical placements, or study abroad programs. These are often the experiences that build confidence, practical skills and invaluable professional networks.
If you’re worried about meeting the course entry requirements or prerequisites, ask about our pathways and entry schemes. There may be more than one way to achieve your goal, and staff can help you understand the options available.
Where do graduates go after finishing their degree? Ask about recent graduate outcomes, career pathways, further study opportunities, and the kinds of organisations Monash alumni go on to work with. It can help you picture where your own degree might take you.
Starting uni is a big transition, but you don’t do it alone. Ask about the academic, well-being, careers and accessibility support available from your first day through to graduation, and how Monash helps students thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

What to ask current students

Parent talking with child and Monash ambassador at Open Day

While course experts can tell you what a degree offers, current students can tell you what it's really like to live it.

They’ve navigated the transition from school to university, balanced study with life outside the classroom and campus, and discovered opportunities they may not have known existed when they first started. Their experiences can help you picture what your own university journey might look like.

We’ll also have plenty of student ambassadors there on the day, who are ready and happy to answer any questions you may have. So don’t be afraid to ask open-ended questions and follow your curiosity. Sometimes the most valuable insights come from conversations you weren’t expecting to have.

Current students have lived the experience you’re about to begin. Ask how they’ve found the course so far, what surprised them most, how they’ve managed the workload, and which subjects or experiences they’ve enjoyed the most. Their honest perspective can give you a much richer understanding than a course handbook ever could.
What’s university actually like day-to-day? Ask what a typical week looks like, how much time they spend in classes and studying independently, and how they balance university with work, hobbies and social life. It can help you picture what your own routine might look like.
If you’re still weighing up your options, ask why they chose Monash. What stood out during their decision-making? Was there a particular experience, opportunity or conversation that convinced them? Everyone’s journey is different, and their answers may spark questions or possibilities you hadn’t considered yet.
Some of the most memorable parts of university happen outside lectures and tutorials. Ask how they’ve made friends, whether they’ve joined clubs or societies, attended events, volunteered, studied overseas, or become involved in the wider Monash community. These experiences often shape university life just as much as the degree itself.
If you’re thinking about moving away from home or living on campus, ask what it’s really like. What’s the community like? How easy is it to meet people? What support is available? Understanding the social side of university can help you feel more confident about taking that next step.
Finally, ask what advice they’d give a first-year student, or even their younger self. What do they wish they’d known before starting? Their answers can provide reassurance, practical tips and a more honest understanding of what to expect during our own transition to uni.

Trust your curiosity

As you explore our campuses, be sure to speak with our students and staff. Pay attention to what excites you and sparks your curiosity, and where you imagine yourself genuinely thriving. University is about more than choosing a course. It's about discovering new interests, building lifelong friendships, developing confidence, and creating opportunities that can shape your future in unexpected ways.

Open Day is your opportunity to explore those possibilities. So come prepared with questions, stay curious, and be open to where the conversations might lead. This is your journey, and Open Day is just the beginning.

Good luck!

Best questions to ask at Open Day

The best questions to ask at Open Day!

What to ask the course experts

What to ask current students

Trust your curiosity

Register for Open Day