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Your open day

Welcome to Francis Close Hall Campus

Saturday 18 October, 10am – 3pm

Your open day

Get the best possible feel for what it’s like to study at UoG at our open day.

There’s so much on offer! You’ll get to talk to lecturers and specialist teams such as Accommodation, Admissions, Money Advice, Student Support and Disability and Wellbeing. Plus, student ambassadors will be on hand all day to answer your questions and show you around.

If there’s anything you need that’s not covered on this page, you can take a look at the FAQs.

What to expect from your open day?

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Francis Close Hall covered in autumn leaves

Getting here

The campus address is: Francis Close Hall, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 4AZ

There’s limited parking onsite, so we recommend you head to the Racecourse Park and Ride (GL50 4SH) and catch the free bus to the campus. Accessible parking spaces will be available at Francis Close Hall for blue badge holders.

When you arrive our friendly student ambassadors will direct you to check in.

You can also travel to us via public transport.

Maps

Open day travel bursaries

Got concerns over how you’ll pay for travel to UoG? 

Two bikes on bike rack at Francis Close Hall campus

Your schedule

View your schedule below, including various talks and opportunities to explore our campus.

Tip: you can open each section for more information on each, including course talk times.

Tours and important extras – available all day

The newly opened biomedical science laboratory at Francis Close Hall.

Cutting-edge laboratories

Our recently refurbished biomedical labs at Francis Close Hall contain a range of equipment including teaching laboratories and research facilities.

Equipment includes class 2 biological safety cabinets, qPCR systems, plate reading spectrophotometers, flow cytometer, ultra centrifugate and fluorescent microscopes.

guaranteed accommodation

As a first-year student studying at FCH, you’re guaranteed accommodation near to the campus.  

You’ll be able to view off-campus accommodation at Pittville Student Village as part of your open day.  

Pittville has around 800 rooms, a regular bus service, 24/7 security, a gym, studio, laundry facilities, refectory, study-suite and social spaces. 

Student working at a desk with a laptop in a university halls of residence room.
A group of happy students walking together

Getting around

Use the FCH campus map to navigate around the campus, locate the rooms you need to visit for talks, and get a feel for the buildings, facilities, spaces and layout.

Visit the campuses page to find out about the other UoG campuses and more about Pittville Student Village.

Explore your new home on campus

Francis Close Hall

Francis Close Hall provides an inspiring setting for your studies – one where ideas and creativity can be rooted in 21st century realities. Known as the ‘Hogwarts campus’, the gothic grounds dating back to 1847 sit alongside modern structures and facilities.

It’s just a short walk from both Cheltenham town centre and The Brewery Quarter, an entertainment hub popular with students which offers shops, restaurants, pubs, a cinema, and bowling. It’s also only 20 minutes’ walk from Pittville Student Village.

Student doing work in the library

You’re likely to become familiar with the main library. The mix of historic architecture, modern facilities, and social study spaces provide the perfect atmosphere to research, write, and collaborate.

With a full range of resources and support available, you’ll be able to ace your assignments and develop professional skills.

A woman reading from a notebook in front of a microphone

Make the most of the local festival culture, with opportunities to perform, contribute, and display your work at Cheltenham’s notable Literature and Poetry Festivals, and at Gloucester’s History Festival.

You could see your work performed on stage by professional actors or displayed in public exhibitions, and will benefit from trips to historic sites and cultural events.

Students sitting outside a shop in Cheltenham town centre

Explore Cheltenham

If you have time to spare, why not make your way into the centre of Cheltenham and get a feel for this vibrant festival town that you’ll call home.

It’s a 10-minute walk or short drive from FCH Campus and has some great options for shopping on the promenade, and plenty of places to eat and drink in the Brewery Quarter.

If you have any questions…

Speak to a member of staff or Student Ambassador who will be happy to help, or take a look at the open day FAQs page.

If you have any questions following your open day, please use the Contact us page to find details of the relevant department to speak to.