Visiting Keele Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for answers to questions that visitors often ask us when planning their visit to Keele

Absolutely! We would really encourage you to attend our open days and events with family members or friends so that your loved ones also get an opportunity to see campus and are able to help you make the decision on where you wish to study.

You are welcome to bring an unlimited number of guests to our open days and events, however the booking form will only allow you to select a maximum of two. This is for session booking purposes - for some of our busier sessions we may need to restrict the number of guests that each visitor can have accompanying them, although this will not affect the majority of activities. You are welcome to bring as many guests with you as you wish on the day and there is no requirement to register them separately.

Before making their final shortlist of institutions, prospective students are encouraged to attend one of our open days. Applicant visit days are intended for those who have applied to study at Keele.

Although by necessity the programmes for the two types of events are similar in content (for visitors who can only make one visit), we do encourage you to return for an applicant visit day even if you have attended an open day. The applicant visit day will provide the opportunity to get more detailed information on your chosen academic subject(s).

Yes, you will need to book a place as there are capacities on some of our activities. We’ll be in touch the week before the event with a programme and more details on how to book onto sessions.

Full programme details are made available online prior to each event. To ensure that you get a copy of the programme emailed to you in advance of the day, please book your place online. You will also be able to collect a hard copy programme on the day.

Yes, all activity on an open day or applicant visit day takes place at Keele's main campus.

On arrival on to campus, follow the signage for parking or the directions of our parking team, who will be on hand to direct you to the next available car park. During open days and applicant visit days car parking will be free on Keele campus, but please leave your car in a marked parking bay.

Open days and applicant visit days typically run from around 9:00am until 4:00pm, but start and end times may vary slightly and will be advertised in advance of the event.

You do not have to be here at the start but we hope you will use the programme, sent to you via email in advance (if you have booked your place), to plan what you want to do during the day and book onto your preferred activities. The later in the day you arrive, the greater the risk of missing some of the talks/sessions and not being able to fit in all aspects of the programme.

We recommend that you come prepared for the (unpredictable) British weather and wear comfortable footwear, as a number of activities take place outdoors.

The nearest railway stations to Keele are:

  • Stoke-on-Trent (5 miles / 8 km away)
  • Crewe (12 miles / 19 km away)

For national train times and enquiries visit nationalrail.co.uk or thetrainline.com

From the train stations you can get to Keele campus via bus, taxi or cycling.

Taxi: There is a taxi rank outside Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe railway stations. The journey takes 15-20 minutes from Stoke-on-Trent railway station and 20-25 minutes from Crewe railway station

Local bus information: From Stoke-on-Trent train station, 'First' buses operate the No. 25 service. The bus stop is on your left when exiting the station, on the opposite side of the road (opposite the taxi rank). More details can be found on the First Group website.

From Crewe bus station, D&G buses (No. 85 service) to Newcastle-under-Lyme leaves from the stop to the right of the station entrance towards the roundabout. The service takes about 50 minutes, and stops in Keele village or at Barnes Hall.

Free local bus travel for Undergraduate Open Days:

  • As a Keele Undergraduate Open Day attendee, on the day of the Open Day you and your guests can benefit from free local bus travel to and from Keele campus on any bus, with any operator, within "The Potteries" local area.
  • Show your Open Day ticket, emailed to you upon registration, to your bus driver, and you and your guests will receive free travel to and from our campus.
  • Many of our visitors may catch the No. 25 First bus, which travels through Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, stopping at Stoke-on-Trent railway station.
  • More details on all local bus routes and times can be found on the First Group website.

Please find more information about campus accessibility here.

During the open day or applicant visit day, the closest car park to the sign-in point will be the Students' Union / car park E2 on the disabled access map. This car park will be reserved for visitors with mobility issues and blue badge holders.

If you have any questions, wish to discuss accessibility around campus ahead of your visit or to arrange to view our accessible accommodation, please email visits@keele.ac.uk

If you are visually impaired or partially sighted you may request materials in alternative formats.

We are able to provide all of our marketing and course materials electronically and in a Word document which can be accessed by a screen reader. We can also provide all documents electronically in PDF which are accessible if you have software to convert to Word.

If you require a copy of materials in Braille then you are able to obtain a free service through http://robobraille.org/introduction-robobraille

Courtyard by Marriott at Keele is located on campus, for more details and booking information please click here. If you would like to look for accommodation in the local area, please visit www.visitstoke.co.uk

Yes, of course. You can access your event ticket via your booking confirmation email to change the date of your visit. Alternatively, please contact us at visits@keele.ac.uk

Yes, campus is dog friendly and you are welcome to bring your dog along to these events. Please note that there may be some areas of campus where dogs are not able to enter (e.g. accommodation halls of residence).

If your query relating to Keele University's open days or applicant visit days is not answered above, please contact us via email at visits@keele.ac.uk