Subject Taster Days
Our interactive subject taster days usually include two or three academic-led taster sessions, a tour of our facilities, and the chance to chat with current students about university life.
Our Subject Taster Days are a fantastic way for students in Years 12 and 13 (or equivalent) to get a hands-on introduction to the courses we offer at University of Gloucestershire.
Taster Days are available throughout the academic year from 2 September to 31 July, with the day lasting from 10am to 2.30pm. The location varies depending on the subject (see below).
If you are interested in joining us for a Taster Day, please email us via [email protected]
Location: Francis Close Hall (FCH), Cheltenham – Directions to FCH
Mix and match the following sessions to build a taster day on campus. Most sessions last 60-90 minutes.
- Solving wildlife crime using the force of nature
- The staggering diversity of life*
- DNA extraction*
- Dissection*
- The immune system and ELISA
- Transfusion Confusion*
- Life through a lens*
- Why do we count birds?*
*also suitable for pre-16 groups.
Location: Francis Close Hall (FCH), Cheltenham – Directions to FCH
Students will immerse themselves in the world of criminal investigation with practical tasters in our ‘Crime House’. Complimentary lectures and workshops are also available in the following subjects:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Policing
- Forensics
- Sociology
- Social Work
Location: Francis Close Hall (FCH), Cheltenham – Directions to FCH
Mix and match the following sessions to build a taster day on campus. Most sessions last 60-90 minutes.
- Solving Climate Change?*
- Integrating GIS into your Geography NEA
- Literature searching for your Geography NEA
- Ice Cores, Volcanics & Mud: the Science of Climate Change
- Responses to Refugee Challenges
- Crisis Gaming
*also suitable for pre-16 groups
Location: Oxstalls Campus, Gloucester – Directions to Oxstalls
Get hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art facilities, meet our expert teaching staff and explore what it is like studying on our programmes.
A day of taster sessions suited to your students’ interests, which can include (but not exclusive to) entrepreneurship, marketing, business management, accounting and finance, and tourism.
You will also get the chance to chat with our current students, and take a guided tour of our beautiful campus.
Location: Oxstalls Campus, Gloucester – Directions to Oxstalls
Marketing is more than glossy adverts and catchy slogans – at its heart, it’s about people. During this day, you will discover how understanding human behaviour, social trends and target audiences is essential for creating campaigns that inspire action.
Academics will help you explore how factors like culture, gender, and peer influence shape decisions and how marketers use these insights to promote products, tackle social challenges, and drive change.
You’ll also touch on the practical side of marketing: managing budgets, timelines, and projects. By the end, you will see how marketing isn’t just about selling, it’s about shaping ideas and influencing behaviour.
Location: Oxstalls Campus, Gloucester – Directions to Oxstalls
Join us for an immersive health and social care experience at University of Gloucestershire this autumn. Students will take part in three 45-minute workshops with our academic experts in subjects such as nursing, paramedic science, radiography, social work, physiotherapy and much more!
Please note, as a Health and Social Care Taster Day, some of the practical sessions will be medical in nature and may use simulation learning with manikins/models etc. Please ensure that your students are comfortable with this prior to attending.
History
The Truth is in the Telling: The power of the Historian
Duration: 1 Hour
Audience: Suitable for Years 9 and above
The aim of the session is to encourage students to become detectives of the past; conducting research, finding new interpretations and forming arguments based on the facts that they discover. We will also discuss the skills needed to become a historian, as well as the jobs available to you when you study History.
The African American Experience in the 1930s
Duration: 1 Hour
Audience: Suitable for Years 11 and above
This session examines the different ways in which African Americans attempted to tackle the effects of the Great Depression and Jim Crow segregation.
English
What makes good writing?
Duration: 1 Hour
Audience: Suitable for Years 11 and above
Students are introduced to some of the key elements of prose – plot, character, and setting – through a series of practical exercises that can help enhance their construction and writing of short narratives.
Be Me Write Free
Duration: 2 Hours
Audience: Suitable for Years 11 and above
This workshop provides a quiet, safe space where young people will be guided through different writing activities to explore thoughts and feelings about various aspects of their lives. There is no pressure on the sharing of the writing – this is at the discretion of the individual – although there will be reflective conversations after each session. Suitable for those aged 11-18, but groups are limited to 15. Sessions will be tailored around the dynamics and needs of the group.
Censorship: Should anybody be able to tell us what we can and cannot write?
Duration: 1 Hour
Audience: Suitable for Years 12 and 13 or equivalent
Suitable for Year 12 and 13 (or equivalent), this debate and discussion session explores censorship from the Ancient Greeks to ‘cancel culture’, and asks whether there is any topic that writers, ethically, shouldn’t tackle, and who should have the power to decide this.
RPE
AI: Computer intelligence or human greed?
Duration: 1 Hour
Audience: Suitable for Years 11 and above
We will be exploring the ways in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) is shaping our lives and raising complex philosophical, ethical, social and political questions.
The Climate Crisis and Ethics
Duration: 1 Hour
Audience: Suitable for Years 11 and above
The climate crisis is one of the most urgent issues facing humanity. This session will ask what are the moral and political questions raised by climate change?
Art and Design
Portfolio Session
Duration: 1 Hour
Audience: Suitable for Years 11 and above
This session will support students to compile a professional portfolio that showcases their technical skills and creativity, with helpful hints and tips about exactly what universities are looking for. This is perfect for students looking to study Fine Art, Design, Photography, Architecture, or any other creative degree, at University.
Artist Talks
Duration: 1 Hour
Audience: Suitable for Years 11 and above
Curious about how ideas become artwork? In this session, students will gain a valuable insight into the experiences of professional artist and learn more about creative education pathways.
Performing Arts
Audition Prep Sessions
Duration: 1 Hour
Audience: Suitable for Years 11 and above
This session will provide advice and guidance to any students considering studying Dance, Drama, or Performing Arts at University. Our academics will share their top tips about how to successfully prepare for auditions and stand out from the crowd.
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“The students especially enjoyed the subject taster sessions and commented on how knowledgeable and enthusiastic the lecturers were. It was a great opportunity for them to explore subject areas in more depth and gain insight into university-level learning. Thank you again for such a positive experience – we look forward to future collaboration.”
Sixth Form Supervisor, Henley Bank High School, July 2025
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Travel funding
We recognise that rising costs can make organising travel challenging. To help, funding is available to support travel to and from campuses for our activities. Please get in touch to discuss what your school or college may be able to claim.*
*Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and must be claimed within 30 days of your visit. Schools and colleges are responsible for arranging travel directly with a provider. Reimbursement will be made to the school or college, subject to minimum student numbers and all paperwork being completed correctly within the timeframe.
Taster Days Gallery
Get in touch
You can get in touch with the Outreach Team using the options below.
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