Opportunities in and near Southampton

University of Winchester Clearing is a support and admissions route for prospective undergraduate students who want help finalising their next steps into higher education. It is designed for students whose grades are lower than expected, who have changed their mind about where or what to study, or who are considering university for the first time. The Clearing team offers personalised guidance to help applicants understand their options, including course choices and Foundation Year pathways. The page highlights a range of ways to get support, including Clearing Advice Days, campus tours, a clearing webinar, priority updates and direct contact with the admissions team. Students can speak with Admissions, Housing and Student Support teams, and can also contact the university through live chat, phone or WhatsApp. The priority updates signup offers early access to advice and results-day information. The university also promotes practical student benefits connected to Clearing, including guaranteed accommodation for eligible first-year undergraduates and a free first-term gym membership. The overall message is that Clearing can be a positive route into university, with tailored support to help students choose a course and feel confident about their plans.

A weekly art and design club for teenagers run by SPUD, aimed at young people aged 13-18. Sessions have a set structure but encourage personal projects and portfolio work; occasional multi-week sessions are offered for larger projects. Participants can bring coursework for guidance and support. Each session runs on Tuesdays from 17:30 to 19:30 during the school term. Activities include material and technique workshops, peer and tutor critiques every few weeks, and tailored help for students preparing portfolios or coursework. No previous experience is required and the club supports creative development and confidence-building. The club meets at spudWORKS in Sway. The monthly membership fee is £33 (covers tuition and materials); bursary support is available (free for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals recipients - contact tom@spud.org.uk). The venue is accessible by public transport (Sway train station is across the road) and is wheelchair/mobility-aid accessible. Adult supervision is not required and the club supports Duke of Edinburgh Award activities.

Levelling Up: STEM is a free support programme run by the University of Portsmouth for A-level (or equivalent) students who are under-represented in STEM. It is aimed at students who want to study Physics, Mathematics or Computing at university and is designed to run alongside students’ A-level studies, giving participants access to a dedicated tutor and a mentor from the University of Portsmouth. Participants take part in regular guided tutorials, mentoring sessions and subject-focused activities to prepare them to apply for and succeed at university. Most sessions are delivered online, with two dedicated in-person visits to the University of Portsmouth. Students join one of three parallel subject streams (Mathematics, Physics or Computing/Computer Science) and must meet the subject-specific entry criteria (A-levels or equivalent) for their chosen stream. The programme is targeted primarily at Year 12 students (Year 13 in Northern Ireland / S5 in Scotland) and prioritises applicants from Portsmouth and the surrounding area, those eligible for Free School Meals or the 16-19 bursary, care-experienced students, first-generation university applicants, students from low-progression neighbourhoods (POLAR/ACORN criteria), and students attending schools with low progression rates to higher education. The university also particularly welcomes applications from Black heritage students, female students in some STEM subjects, and disabled students.

University of Winchester Campus Tours are guided visits led by a current student ambassador. Tours take you around the King Alfred and West Downs Quarters and include a short introductory talk about the university before the guided walk. Tours typically last around one hour; please note there is a hill between the two Quarters and you should inform the student ambassador of any mobility needs. These tours are intended for prospective students and visitors. They are not open days (no academic or professional services will be present) and student accommodation cannot be shown as part of the tour. Dates and times for campus tours are added throughout the year. If you prefer a self-guided visit, pick up a campus map from Main Reception between 08:00-17:00 Monday to Friday which includes a walking tour of the city and highlights of Winchester's history. A virtual tour is also available online, and to book a guided campus tour email opendays@winchester.ac.uk.

The University of Southampton Undergraduate Open Days are events (both on-campus and virtual) for prospective undergraduate applicants to explore courses and life at Southampton. Activities include subject talks and taster lectures, accommodation tours, admissions advice, sessions on how to apply, careers information, and opportunities to hear from current students via panels. The events are designed to help A-level and other school-level students decide whether the University and particular subjects are the right fit for them. Multiple campus open days and virtual sessions are scheduled across the year. Live virtual open days are offered and recordings of Virtual Open Day sessions are available on demand after registration. Visitors are invited to register for updates and to access recorded sessions via the registration links provided on the University’s open days pages.

The University of Portsmouth runs Undergraduate Open Days for people thinking about joining the university as undergraduates. The events are aimed at prospective undergraduate applicants and offer an opportunity to learn more about studying at Portsmouth. If you are considering applying for an undergraduate degree, you are invited to book a place at one of the upcoming Open Days. Bookings are made through the University of Portsmouth website.

Solent University invites prospective undergraduate applicants to attend on-campus open days in 2026. These events let visitors meet academics and current students, tour campus facilities, and learn about course content and student support services including finance, wellbeing, disability support and accommodation. The university offers travel support for attendees: eligible students who pre-book can apply for an Amazon travel voucher of up to £50 (vouchers issued in £5 denominations) to cover travel costs, and discounted rail or ferry fares are available through partner offers. Claiming the travel voucher requires submission of a VAT itemised receipt and completion of the travel voucher claim form by the stated deadline. For queries about travel vouchers or discounts, attendees are directed to the open days contact email provided by the university. If you cannot attend an on-campus open day, Solent also offers guided campus tours led by student ambassadors and online information about studying and life in Southampton. Prospective applicants should book their place via Solent’s open days page to receive pre-event emails and further information.

This Midwifery Open Day at Bournemouth University’s Portsmouth campus is designed for people who are interested in studying midwifery and want to find out more about the course, the campus, and what it is like to study there. It is aimed at prospective students who expect to study at the branch campus in Portsmouth, with placements across Portsmouth, Winchester, the Isle of Wight, Chichester and Reading. During the morning, visitors can meet academic staff and get detailed information about how the course runs in Portsmouth. There will also be an opportunity to speak with current students, explore the learning facilities, and see the practice skills labs used for training. The event ends with an informal chat and a chance to ask questions. Bournemouth University also notes that a £50 travel bursary may be available for eligible visitors who have been in receipt of Free School Meals or have been in care within the last five years.

Solent University's Careers at Sea open days give prospective students an insight into careers in the maritime industry and the training programmes that qualify cadets as ship's deck officers, engineers or electro-technical officers in the Merchant Navy and on superyachts. Attendees can tour maritime facilities including bridge simulators, hear general presentations about life as a deck or engineer officer, speak with course leaders, meet current cadets, and get information from recruitment and shipping companies. There are also sessions covering accommodation, admissions, student support and the student experience. Events are offered on-campus and virtually (including an on-demand virtual open day). The on-campus event takes place at The Spark, East Park Terrace, Southampton, and includes campus and accommodation tours. A travel voucher scheme (Amazon voucher) is available to help cover travel costs for eligible attendees; prospective attendees are sent the voucher application form after booking.

The University of Southampton, in partnership with University Hospital Southampton, offers a LIVE virtual Medicine work experience programme delivered via Microsoft Teams for Year 12 (first year of college / lower sixth) students who are interested in studying Medicine. The programme is designed to give insight into hospital-based roles and clinical pathways and is aimed at students currently studying A Level Biology.

Typical timetable elements include sessions in an operating theatre environment, outpatient clinics, multidisciplinary meetings, opportunities to take a patient history in practice, and chances to speak with current medical students and a variety of clinicians representing Medicine and Allied Health Professions. The programme is delivered as live sessions (usually between 9:00 and 16:00) and may change day-to-day depending on hospital activity.

This programme is open to all students based in the UK, with specific places reserved for applicants who meet two or more widening participation criteria. Applicants are expected to attend all scheduled sessions; students who are late or who fail to attend will be removed from the programme. Application windows and exact session dates are published on the programme page and applicants should apply during the listed application period for each intake.

Workshop 1: Foundations of Photography teaches GCSE students how to operate their cameras in manual mode and understand core settings such as aperture, shutter speed and ISO. The session emphasises putting theory into practice immediately, so students experiment with lighting, angles and composition to build confidence and improve coursework.

The workshop runs for approximately 2-3 hours and is delivered on location in Portsmouth (typical meeting places include Southsea Common or Portsmouth Historic Dockyard). Activities are hands-on and focused on composing shots effectively in a variety of real-world settings, helping students gain creative control over their images.

Booking is done via the Andy Hornby website; the listed price is A3175.00. Participants must sign in or register to purchase. After payment the organiser will email within 24 hours to arrange a suitable date, time and meeting location.

Blake Morgan is a UK law firm offering a range of opportunities for students interested in exploring a legal career. The page brings together insight days and work experience across legal practice and legal operations, giving participants a chance to learn about the firm, meet lawyers and support staff, and see how different teams work together. The legal insight day is designed for students in Year 11 or beyond. Participants hear about legal career pathways, receive application and interview tips, complete a research activity, and speak to members of the legal team. A separate legal operations insight day focuses on roles that support the wider firm, including business services such as finance, IT, HR, marketing and compliance. Blake Morgan also offers legal work experience for undergraduates and graduates, with placements running over two weeks during the year. Students spend time in different practice groups doing research, drafting and other fee-earning tasks, while working closely with trainees, qualified lawyers and partners. A legal operations work experience week is also available, giving insight into support functions across the business. Travel and accommodation are not reimbursed for attendees.

Tune Supply’s online "Dance the Tune" workshop with Nic Gareiss explores the musical potential of percussive step dance. Through imitation, idiomatic ornaments, and extended techniques for shoe sounds and textures, participants learn how to shape rhythm lines that echo melody and create rhythmic counterpoint, while developing listening, responsiveness, and sonic awareness.

The workshop is designed for dancers and interested instrumentalists of all levels. It is taught by ear and recorded for registered students, so you can join live or catch up later. Participants should wear comfortable smooth-soled shoes with a low or no heel to get the most from the session.

Hearing the Archive is an online Tune Supply workshop led by Cleek Schrey that explores how contemporary traditional musicians can learn from historic audio and digitized field recordings. The session focuses on listening deeply to archival sound, identifying what counts as musical information, and translating older styles into present-day playing.

Participants will take part in shared listening, close analysis of specific historic performances, and practical discussion of the technical, technological, and aesthetic challenges of working with archive recordings. The workshop is designed for players of all melody instruments and all levels, and it is presented in a way that welcomes both new and experienced participants.

Attendees receive a curated roadmap of historic performances, a resource guide for finding online traditional music archives, and a framework for turning style, tone, and inflection from old recordings into usable ideas in their own music-making. Registered students also receive the class recording after the session, so they can revisit the material later.

This online Tune Supply workshop focuses on building strong tune sets for traditional music performance and session playing. Participants will explore how to construct consonant sets by paying attention to keys, moods, and the movement from one tune to the next, including both seamless and more dramatic transitions.

The session draws on historic sets as a template, but it is also highly practical and participant-led: learners will work with family favourites and ideas shared in the Zoom room. The workshop is suitable for all melody instruments, and accompanying players may also find useful material for their own playing.

The class is taught by ear and is open to all levels. Registered students receive the recording after the workshop, so it can be useful both for live participation and later review.

This workshop looks at the music of Pádraig O’Keeffe through his manuscript notation and the slides and polkas that have come down through the Sliabh Luachra tradition. It introduces the ideas behind his notation methods and how his bowing directives shape the rhythmic personality of these tune types. Participants will learn a number of tunes from the manuscripts while also gaining context about one of the most influential Irish traditional musicians of the twentieth century. The class combines ear learning with sheet music, and the recording is made available to registered students after the workshop.

This conversational workshop explores the elements that make a beautiful Irish slow air, with an emphasis on listening, discussion, and practical application. Although the class is based around whistle playing, the ideas and techniques are framed so they can be adapted to any musical instrument. Class participation is encouraged throughout, with time for shared reflection and musical exploration. The workshop is taught by ear and includes a recording for registered students, so it can be enjoyed live or revisited later.

This online Tune Supply workshop explores how to build tasteful variations into traditional Irish flute and whistle playing. The session focuses on why tunes often change subtly from one repeat to the next, and how players can use chord structure, rhythmic shifts, and melodic ideas to create variation that still feels authentic and musical.

The workshop goes further into the instrument-specific details that shape variation on flute and whistle, including octave jumps, breathing placement, and characteristic notes such as the hard D and bent C natural. Participants will also look at how these ideas can be applied to specific well-known traditional tunes, making the material practical and directly usable in performance or session settings.

The class is suitable for flute and whistle players at all levels, and it is taught in a combination of ear learning and sheet music support. Registered students receive the class recording immediately after the workshop, so it is designed to work both for live attendance and for later viewing.

This workshop focuses on effective chord shapes and progressions for Irish guitar playing in standard and drop-D tuning. The class is centred on building ease and fluidity in accompaniment, with an emphasis on supporting traditional Irish music and songs. The session is taught by ear and is designed for players who want practical tools they can use straight away in session or performance settings. A class recording is provided to registered students, making it suitable for both live attendance and later practice.

Lancaster University’s Practical Budgeting webinar is designed for applicant students who are due to commence their studies in the 2026/27 academic year. It introduces practical money-management skills for young people who may be living independently for the first time, covering everyday costs such as meals, rent, household items, toiletries, haircuts and bus tickets. The session aims to help attendees understand how to budget effectively and make smarter spending decisions as they prepare for university life. There will be time at the end for questions, giving applicants the chance to get advice and clarify any concerns about managing money. This is an open event and registration is required. Participants can use an alias when signing up and do not need to switch their camera on, making it easy to attend comfortably and privately.