SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES ACTIVITY
WHO WE ARE OUR TEAM
Climbed 68 places in the Complete University Guide in three years from 2022 to 2025
Ranked 4th in the UK for Teaching and Feedback Satisfaction
(Guardian University Guide 2024)
Ranked 2nd in the East of England for Graduate Prospects
(Complete University Guide 2024)
Achieved an ‘Outstanding’ award for producing world-leading and internationally excellent research in the Research Excellence Framework 2021
Ranked 1st in the UK for ‘Quality of Work’ for HESA
The Student Recruitment team (SR team) works with schools and colleges across the UK. The team hosts a range of taster days and talks at the University of Suffolk throughout the academic year, and Recruitment Officers attend large-scale events around the country. The SR team also provides prospective students with information about studying at the University of Suffolk to enable them to make informed decisions about their future.
EVENTS
Social Sciences and Humanities
Taster Day
Wednesday 20 November 2024
9.45am-2.30pm
Taster Sessions in:
• Childhood/Childhood with QTS
• Criminology
• English
• History
• Law
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology
Business, Computing and Games
Taster Day
Wednesday 22 January 2025
9.45am-2.30pm
Taster sessions for the event include:
• Business
• Accounting and Finance
• Computing
• Games Development
• Esports
To register your interest for our events, please email us at schools@uos.ac.uk. Further events and conferences may be added to the academic calendar throughout the year.
Health and Life Sciences
Taster Day
Wednesday 5 February 2025
9.45am–2.30pm
This taster day is a chance for students to learn about people-focused careers. Sessions to choose from will include:
Paramedic Science, Radiotherapy and Oncology, Diagnostic Radiography, Physiotherapy, Sports, Biomedical Science, Nutrition and Human Health, Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation Science, Adult Nursing, Children’s Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Midwifery, and Psychology and Counselling.
Ipswich UCAS Fair
Wednesday 11 June 2025
9.30am-3.00pm Booked via UCAS
Bring students along to our Waterfront Campus for a chance to meet various universities and employers face-to-face from across the UK. There will be a range of talks on offer throughout the day including the UCAS application process and Student Finance.
Arts Degree Show
End of June 2025
Throughout the day
Students will begin with a short talk about our Arts on offer and careers in the creative industry, followed by a guided tour of the Arts Degree Show exhibition.
Lesson in a Box introduced us to the academic environment of university from the comfort of our own classroom... my interest was sparked towards Higher Education by the focus on the ‘real’ academic nature of the lectures throughout, which intrigued me.
Libby Rolfe Year 12 Student
LESSON IN A BOX
Our boxes are interactive taster sessions designed to be delivered from the convenience of your own classroom without the need for an academic.
Aimed at Year 12 students, our boxes introduce different courses on offer at the University of Suffolk.
Each box can be used with groups of up to 20 students and will contain easy-to-follow lesson plans, replenishable materials for activities and digital footage to guide the teacher/ course leader through the session.
Lesson in a Box gives students a real insight into studying a range of degree subjects to build their confidence and interest in Higher Education.
To find out more and see the subjects we have available, visit uos.ac.uk/content/lesson-box.
ACADEMIC TASTER SESSIONS
All sessions last for approximately one hour and are suitable for sixth form and college students. Sessions can be delivered on campus or in school/college unless specified.
Our departments run a number of other courses in addition to the ones listed.
To see the full list, please visit uos.ac.uk/courses
Subject Sessions
Adult Nursing Assessing the Patient
To book any of the academic taster session or to discuss a specific requirement for any other subjects, please email schools@uos.ac.uk
How do we go about assessing a sick patient? What skills do nurses develop in order to competently assess, diagnose and treat sick adults. We will explore the knowledge and skills needed to manage unwell adults within a modern health service.
Adult Nursing The deteriorating patient simulation
In this session, we will use some of the simulation equipment and technology to recreate a patient scenario with students able to experience working in an acute hospital setting. Please note, this taster session is delivered on campus.
Architecture How do architects play with light?
Architecture is one of the most complex and beautiful design disciplines, yet when we look at the finished building, we often see only an arrangement of bricks, mortar and glass. This session explores how architects use light and its relationship to atmosphere, proportions and the built environment. Participants will work on their own designs, requiring a pencil and some A4 paper at the ready.
Biomedical Science Growing cells in the lab: how is that possible?
In this session, students will access the Biotechnology Unit labs and will be experiencing an exciting session learning about eukaryotic cells and how these can be used, visualised, grown, and manipulated in the lab for diagnostics, treatment of disease, production of enzymes, and other interesting applications. The session includes a demonstration of eukaryotic cell culture procedures to appreciate how cells behave under the microscope.
Biomedical Science The magic of stem cells
This session will introduce the wonders of stem cells and their amazing potential to regenerate our bodies. Students will learn what stem cells are, how many types there are and where they come from, as well as some interesting applications in medicine. The session is interactive and makes use of Kahoot! Expect quizzes and group discussion to reflect on the properties and ethics concerning stem cell applications.
Business Management Accounting and finance
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be a numbers whizz to succeed within accounting. It’s actually more about common sense than you might think. Our practical session tackles the world of budgeting and forecasting, and will help to build your confidence within the world of accountancy.
Business Management Digital marketing
Digital marketing is a fundamental part of marketing now. The use of social media plays a huge part in how we communicate and consume. Brands are constantly creating content to drive sales and improve their brand awareness…but what is good content? This interactive content creation session looks at what ‘good content’ is and gives you the opportunity to put your social media skills into action.
Business Management Enterpreneurship
Do you need to be someone ‘special’ to start your own business? Are entrepreneurs born or made? Explore what it takes to be an entrepreneur and ask the important question, what if?
Business Management Leadership
Have you ever wondered how people in positions of power get others to listen to them? This interactive session uses a specially designed card game to discover how persuasion works within the workplace. Learn what it takes to motivate and lead others.
Business Management Logistics and supply chain
Suffolk plays a huge part in the UK’s supply chain and, with large infrastructure projects in the pipeline, this is set to continue to grow and will offer a huge amount of career opportunities in the coming years. Play ‘Business on the Move’ with our academics to learn about the supply chain world. The game consists of running your own logistics company and you’ll need to move your products around the world by air, land and sea as quickly as you can — whilst making a profit and looking after the environment too!
Childhood Children and inclusion
All children are different and unique! This session examines the topics of inclusion and diversity, and how these can be supported when working with children. This session has an accompanying Lesson in a Box and can be taught independently of an academic, should it be required.
Childhood Children and learning
Children are learning from the moment they are born. In this session, we will look at what children can learn from their environment. This session has an accompanying Lesson in a Box and can be taught independently of an academic, should it be required.
Childhood What is ‘childhood’?
It’s time to question our ideas of what it means to be a child! This session explores many different sociological and psychological constructions of childhood to try to decide what childhood actually is.
Childhood What shapes children’s lives?
Each child’s life is different depending on a wide range of factors; from family members, relationships and exposure to media, to physical and mental health. We will look at some of these factors that could affect a child’s life and we will discuss how these relate to the areas of education, society and welfare, disability, health and wellbeing, and how we can view a child’s life holistically.
Creative Writing Creating fantastic characters
An interactive workshop focusing on characterisation and fantasy writing. Students will explore creative writing techniques working up to creating memorable and complex characters. Please note, this taster session is for 20-30 students.
Criminology Why do some people commit crimes and others do not?
When reading a newspaper or watching television, it is likely there will be some representation of ‘crime and deviance’; county lines drug dealing, illegal raves and political protests which extend into criminal activity. Criminologists try to understand why only some people engage in these activities while most conform to mainstream norms and values. This then raises the question of who determines what mainstream norms and values are, and how we reach an agreement. Participants in this session explore theories seeking to explain crime and deviance.
Diagnostic Radiography
Heads, shoulders, knees and toes: We see right through you!
From skeleton puzzles to smashing carrots, what doesn’t this session include?! Diagnostic radiographers must have an in-depth knowledge of anatomy. By utilising different materials, we can demonstrate the radiographic appearances of fractures with different mechanisms of injury. During this session, students will gain an introduction into the everyday life of a diagnostic radiographer, including the equipment used and the variety of career options available.
English What is language? How do we study it? Why is it a science?
There are many facets to analysing language, from how it’s produced and describing the air stream from our lungs, to how we acquire it as children and the impact it has on social cohesion and identity. We explore what it means to produce language and challenge our own perceptions on language myths such as ‘women talk more than men’ and ‘not pronouncing your t’s is just lazy’. You may just be surprised by the answers.
English Who’s afraid of the dark? Horror fiction and its youth audiences
Children’s horror is now a recognised category in mainstream entertainment, with many popular children’s and young adult books relying on horror tropes to attract their respective audiences. Adult views on horror becoming a dominant mode of enjoyment for young people are complex, ranging from the argument that horror is ‘good’ for children to more serious concerns about the potential damage. These responses often reveal more about adult perceptions of children and horror than the stories themselves or indeed ways that young individuals might engage with forms of fictional horror. This session will explore these issues and offer an insight into the BA (Hons) English degree module Stranger Things: Young Adult Fiction.
Fine Art Drawing workshop
This session brings students into the studio to draw. Whether drawing is new or very familiar, we focus on observing and recording using a range of materials and techniques. Led by artist tutors, they will be guided to explore drawing as a quick, notational activity and a completed outcome. Different sessions will focus on either life drawing with live models, landscape sketching or experimental drawing that might include shadow or string marking. Please note, this taster session is delivered on campus.
Fine Art or Graphic Design/ Graphic Illustration Printmaking
This session offers a range of printmaking skills from monoprints to risographs. Skilled artist, designer and illustrator tutors and technicians will guide students through the process from image construction to printed outcome; a wonderful way to learn about the possibilities of printmaking, as well as refining skills they may already have. This session is run with either a Fine Art or Graphic Design focus; please mention which you are interested in when booking. Please note, this taster session is delivered on campus.
Games Development Introduction to games design
Participants will have a go at designing systems that make up the core loop of a game. They’ll learn some practical techniques based on behavioural psychology, used by designers to motivate players. By the end of the session, they will understand more about being a games designer and have a framework to build upon for future game development.
Graphic Design/ Graphic
Illustration
Visual messages
Graphic design surrounds us wherever we go and whatever we do. In this taster session, students will explore the communication potential of working with images and typography for a range of different applications and outcomes. Delivered by lecturers who are also practicing designers and illustrators, this interactive session will be highly creative and hands-on, whilst also firming-up the relationship between design education and future employment. Please note, this taster session is delivered on campus.
Law Mock court sessions
The Law team offer a range of different Law sessions in the University’s mock courtroom. These can be one or two hour sessions which introduce the sentencing process used in criminal courts. In the session, students participate in a mock sentencing hearing. We also offer schools/colleges the opportunity to bring groups of students onto campus for a Mock Trial Day in which students participate as lawyers, witnesses, defendants and jury members in a short preprepared mock trial (approximately two hours). Students can also attend sessions on other legal topics to get a full day’s experience. Please note, mock court sessions are suitable for students aged 16+ and work best for groups of 20 students
Law Model United Nations: Zombies!
Dr Willis is a bit of an expert when it comes to zombies in the classroom. We can bring the zombies to your school in a mini-simulation using the official Model UN format, where students represent governments responding to a zombie outbreak.
Law She’s a witch! An introduction to defamation law
In this session, students will learn about the Law of Defamation from the Law of Slander in the 1600s, focusing on the widespread witch hunts which took place in England and America, and through to the modern day. Students will then use their newfound knowledge in a mini-trial, exploring hands-on how the law would work today if someone were falsely accused of being a witch.
Please note, this taster session can take place either in our mock courtroom or at your school/college.
Law The power walk
A deeply immersive activity where students learn about human rights through the eyes of those whose rights might be denied or violated. Students engage in a deep discussion about these issues and, most importantly, what we can do about them. All participating students are given a special human rights passport at the end of the session to take home.
Please note, this taster session is also suitable for students in Year 10+ (maximum 25 students).
Law Yes, Gloria, one woman can change the world!
Using her experience in strategic litigation for women’s rights, Dr Willis shares the very powerful stories of three women whose tragedies led to landmark legal cases in the UK, the EU and internationally. Students will learn about how the law is used to ensure that women’s human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. Please note, this taster session is suitable for students aged 16+ as sensitive topics are discussed.
Midwifery Physiology of birth
Exploring the physiological processes that occur during the labour and birth process. The session includes both video and small group discussions.
Nutrition and Human Health Knowing your metabolic rate and energy expenditure
The human body is an energetic system that burns foods exactly as you would burn it outside, but in a more controlled fashion. It generates essentially the same amount of heat produced in both cases. In this practical session, you will use indirect calorimetry to estimate the heat output produced by the body and, consequently, determine the basal metabolic rate (daily energy requirements to keep you alive). You will also learn about oxidative hierarchy and body fuel utilisation (carbohydrate vs fat burning).
Physiotherapy Think like a physiotherapist: How do we walk?
This session will focus on movement analysis, one of the fundamental skills of a physiotherapist. It will explore theory and practical aspects of walking, and think about the key skills a physiotherapist needs to assess and rehabilitate someone to help them with their walking. Please note, this taster session is delivered on campus for a maximum of 15 students.
Radiotherapy and Oncology
How technology and science target cancer
In this session, students will explore the technology and physics that are used to treat cancer. They will work in groups to consider how X-rays are needed to see tumours in different areas of the body. Once they have identified the tumour, they will learn how X-rays are used to deliver targeted cancer treatment (radiotherapy).
Sociology Are things getting better? Worldwide happiness and wellbeing
This session will explore how we can subjectively measure happiness and wellbeing. It will outline changes in the objective wellbeing of people across the world in the 21st Century. The session is interactive and will allow participants to check their own knowledge of how well we are living.
Sociology Thinking about inequality and prejudice
This session will focus on important aspects of the real world that are complex and challenging, such as inequality and prejudice, with attention on social categories, including class, gender and ethnicity which often intersect. It will deepen students’ understanding about social inequality and prejudice by exploring contemporary social issues.
Sport and Exercise
Science
Wildlife,
Ecology and Conservation
Science
Elite athletes: Nature or nurture?
In this session, we will explore the levels of performance required by elite athletes in sports that rely on aerobic endurance, and those that rely on anaerobic power and strength. We will attempt to understand if the ability to perform at those levels is a result of the physiology you are born with (nature) or the physiology you develop through training (nurture).
Please note, this taster session is for a maximum of 15 students.
Wildlife Sound and Conservation Technology
Hear some sounds you’ve never heard before and see some hi-tech research tools in action, as we learn how students from the University of Suffolk use ‘bioacoustics’ to study wildlife around the world.
From yodelling monkeys in the Amazon Rainforest, to the rare bats discovered in student’s gardens! Monitoring biodiversity with sound can help us slow the decline of animals and habitats and ensure that the food we eat is produced in a ‘wildlife-friendly’ way.
TALKS
We offer a wide range of talks to prepare students for their journey into Higher Education. To book, please email schools@uos.ac.uk
Why Go To University
Why Go To Suffolk
How to Apply — The UCAS Process
Personal Statements
Student Finance and Budgeting
Student Life
Bespoke activities
Please get in touch with us via schools@uos.ac.uk to discuss other ways that the University can work with your students. We can organise bespoke campus visits, and provide Student Ambassadors for Student Life sessions. Academic teams may be able to offer other sessions based on specific curriculum requirements and some can also offer short careers-focused sessions.
Undergraduate Open Days at the University of Suffolk’s Ipswich campus
Saturday 12 October 2024
Saturday 9 November 2024
Saturday 29 March 2025
Saturday 5 July 2025
Students can register at uos.ac.uk/opendays