The University of the Sunshine Coast will throw open its doors to the community this Sunday (22 July) for its annual Open Day.

Thousands of prospective students and their families from across the state are expected to attend the event from 9.30am to 2pm at USC’s main campus at Sippy Downs.

Media are welcome to attend the Open Day, which has the theme, ‘Rise, and shine starts here’ and aims to provide students with all the information they’ll need to make the most of their university experience.

Visitors will be able to inspect the campus, get questions answered, and learn more about the study programs they’re interested in by chatting one-on-one with USC academics.

They can sit in on real lectures across a wide range of disciplines to see what uni life is like, and attend information sessions that outline study programs and career opportunities.

Special panel discussions will be held from 10am to assist prospective students who know what they want to study, those still making up their minds, as well as those who are unsure about starting university.

The most popular of these is likely to be a ‘Make the USC Experience work for you’ session that highlights the study, career, networking and social opportunities available at USC.

Others will include a ‘Careers of the Future’ forum that will explain how people can prepare for jobs that don’t exist yet, and a ‘Please help me choose’ discussion that will outline how people can determine which study programs and career paths might best match their interests, strengths and goals.

Also on the agenda are talks about: choosing the uni that’s right for you; gender stereotypes in careers; making the most of a gap year; and tips for supportive family and friends.

And to highlight the University’s strong commitment to the environment, USC will present all Open Day visitors with a reusable jute shopping bag.

For more details about USC’s Open Day on Sunday 22 July, go to www.usc.edu.au/open-day