King’s College campus will be swollen by thousands of visitors today as the University of Aberdeen holds its Open Day.
Around 5,000 potential students and their parents are due to descend on Old Aberdeen for the eighth staging of the annual open doors event.
Visitors will enjoy a packed programme of subject presentations on everything from Accountancy and Finance to Zoology, as well as a range of other general talks and exhibitions on issues such as accommodation, careers and student finance.
Attractions on the day include:
· Bands in The Hub - The Aberdeen music scene comes to campus courtesy of local venue The Tunnels. Steven Milne, of Aberdeen favourites The Little Kicks, will appear fresh from their T in the Park debut along with local singer/songwriter, Felix D'arcy. The performances are at 10.30am-11am, 12noon-12.30pm and 2pm-2.30pm.
· Fresh from the Fringe - Students from the University Students' Drama Societies will perform a one-act play written by one of our current students in the amphitheatre behind Taylor Building. If the weather is inclement the plays will take place in Room 055 of the MacRobert Building. Performances will take place at 11am and 1.30pm.
· Student Radio – There will be a chance to have a sneak preview of the new Aberdeen Student Radio Station (ASR), due to launch in September, and speak to the roving Open Day reporters.
· Photo Competition – There is an opportunity to encapsulate the atmosphere of the Open Day and win a digital camera. Photos should be emailed to href="mailto:openday@abdn.ac.uk"><strong>openday@abdn.ac.uk</strong></a> before September 12, 2007 along with your name, contact details and a description of the photo. A panel of judges, including two photographers from local newspapers, will choose the competition winners. The best shots will be displayed on the Open Day website www.abdn.ac.uk/openday
· Global Challenges Question Time – Quiz the Profs on global issues such as pollution and third world poverty. A prize worth £25 will be awarded for each question selected and put to the panel. The event takes place at 12noon at King's College Centre.
There will also be a barbeque on the lawn outside Zeste from 12noon-2pm, while open top bus tours of the city will also leave regularly from the bus stop across from King's College. Tours of Hillhead Halls of Residence will also take place throughout the day.
Visitors will be able to take away a memento of the day by picking up a free copy of The Gaudie – the University's weekly newspaper. A 'Best Of' edition of the paper, which has been a part of University life since 1934, has been specially produced for the Open Day.
Lesley McLennan, the University's Open Day Co-ordinator, said: "The Open Day is a huge event for the University so we're delighted to again welcome so many prospective new students on to campus.
"There's always a tremendous buzz around Old Aberdeen during the Open Day and this year has been no different. A huge amount of work has gone into ensuring that every visitor gets a real taste of what student life is all about. It's a pleasure to be able to show them what the University of Aberdeen has to offer."