The day of activities entitled University Uncovered provided an introduction to the university, its campus, students and the range of courses on offer.
The pupils learned the differences between university and school, including the fact that The University of Manchester has 40,000 students! Other interesting facts included the amount of taught study time for various courses, with Geography students spending 6 hours in lectures compared with 35 hours for Medicine.
On the campus tour, the students investigated the university’s John Rylands Library, home to 4 million books. The Manchester Academy learners were astounded to find out that it would take an astounding 10,900 hours to read the contents of the library. They also learned that university students use other sources of information called journals which have up-to-date research findings.
The students also visited the Students’ Union and inspected the Andesite Boulder, a 20-ton rock which was moved 80 miles from Cumbria by glacial drift and discovered close to Oxford Road.
The university’s Student Ambassadors, current undergraduates shared their experiences of studying and living in Manchester. They discussed the university courses that they are currently studying. They also talked about their living accommodation and how they spend their free time, including participating in university clubs and societies.
The rest of the day was spent taking part in University Challenge – this involved a range of activities highlighting the areas of study on offer in the university.
Overall, the Year 7s thought the day had been highly beneficial. They thought it had made them think about the future, consider new options and make better informed decisions.
Steve Leach
Careers Advisor