A university open day is one of the biggest opportunities to welcome future students, families, staff, alumni and community members onto campus. It is not just a showcase of courses. It is a full event experience that needs clear information points, comfortable outdoor spaces, organised faculty zones, food areas, wayfinding, gathering spaces and shelter that keeps everything running smoothly.
At Instant Marquees, we hire out marquees, umbrellas and structure marquees across Melbourne for outdoor events that need quick, portable and flexible shade and shelter. Our team delivers equipment on time and sets it up safely and quickly, which helps organisers focus on the event instead of the logistics.
For a university open day, the right event hire setup can make the campus easier to navigate, more welcoming and more functional. Instant marquees, umbrellas and structure marquees all play a different role. Used together, they help organise people, information, departments, staff and outdoor spaces in a clear and professional way.
Why Shade and Shelter Matter at a University Open Day
Open days involve movement. Visitors walk between buildings, attend talks, meet faculty staff, ask questions, collect brochures, join tours and explore different parts of the campus. Without enough outdoor cover, queues can become uncomfortable, information areas can feel hard to find and outdoor activations can lose impact.
Marquees and umbrellas help solve this by creating clear, sheltered zones across the campus. They can mark important locations, protect staff and visitors from the weather and give each faculty, school or service area its own dedicated space.
A good open day setup can support:
- Course information booths
- Faculty and department zones
- Student services areas
- Registration and check-in
- Campus tour meeting points
- Food and drink areas
- Outdoor seating
- Parent information areas
- International student support
- Accommodation and transport information
- Merchandise or university shop stalls
- Sponsor and partner activations
- First aid and event management points
The goal is simple. Visitors should know where to go, who to speak to and where they can stop comfortably between sessions.
Instant Marquees for Faculty and Course Information Zones
Instant marquees are one of the most practical choices for a university open day. They are fast to set up, flexible and cost-effective compared with larger structure marquees that require more time and labour to build. They are suited to events where fast bump-in and bump-out is required, making them a strong option for busy campus event days.
For open days, instant marquees work particularly well as course information tents. A university can dedicate one marquee to each faculty, school or study area, making it easier for visitors to find the information that matters to them.
For example, separate marquees can be used for:
- Arts and humanities
- Business and commerce
- Engineering
- Health sciences
- Education
- Design and architecture
- Science
- Law
- Information technology
- Student accommodation
- Scholarships and admissions
- Clubs and societies
This creates a clear outdoor information hub where future students can compare options without needing to search through multiple buildings.
Our instant marquees are available in a range of sizes, which makes it easy to match the marquee to the purpose. A 3m x 3m instant marquee provides 9 square metres of cover and is suitable for around 12 people standing. A 4.5m x 3m marquee provides 13.5 square metres of cover and is suitable for around 18 people standing. A 6m x 3m marquee provides 18 square metres of cover and is suitable for around 25 people standing.
For a small faculty stand, a 3m x 3m marquee may be enough. For a larger course area with multiple staff members, brochure tables and strong visitor traffic, a 6m x 3m marquee gives the space more room to breathe.
Creating a Clear First Impression at Entry Points
The entrance is one of the most important parts of a university open day. It sets the tone for the entire visit. A clearly marked check-in marquee or welcome marquee helps visitors understand where to start, where to collect maps and how to find the sessions they want to attend.
A well placed marquee can also act as a visual landmark. Visitors may not know the campus, so a visible shelter point can make directions easier. Instead of saying, “meet near the east lawn,” staff can direct guests to the marquee near the main entrance or the information marquee outside the library.
Umbrellas for Outdoor Seating and Rest Areas
Open days can be long, especially for families attending multiple course talks, tours and information sessions. Outdoor seating and rest areas give visitors somewhere to pause, check their schedule, have lunch or wait between activities.
Our umbrellas are ideal for these areas because they provide versatile shade for outdoor events. We offer a wide range of umbrellas for hire in Melbourne. Umbrellas work especially well in spaces where a full marquee may feel too enclosed or too formal. They create relaxed pockets of shade around seating areas, food vendors, courtyards, lawns and outdoor lounges.
For a university open day, umbrellas can be used for:
- Outdoor dining areas
- Coffee cart seating
- Student lounge areas
- Parent rest zones
- Campus lawns
- Food truck areas
- Outdoor waiting areas
- Social spaces near faculty stands
Our umbrella hire range includes 2.8m octagonal umbrellas, 3m square umbrellas and 5m octagonal Jumbo umbrellas. Depending on the size, they can suit around 8, 10 or 25 people standing.
This gives organisers flexibility. Smaller umbrellas can be scattered around courtyards and pathways, while Jumbo umbrellas can create larger shaded seating zones near food and drink areas.
Making Outdoor Areas More Comfortable
A university open day is not only about information. It is also about helping visitors imagine themselves on campus. Comfortable outdoor areas can make the event feel more welcoming and give prospective students a better sense of campus life.
Umbrellas are a simple way to soften outdoor spaces. They add shade, structure and visual appeal without blocking movement through the campus. They are also available in many colours, making it easier to match the university’s branding, themed zones, club colours or faculty areas.
For mixed surfaces, umbrellas are practical because they can be installed to suit the site. We have pegged options for grassy areas and weighted versions for solid surfaces, making them suitable for lawns, paved courtyards, hardstand areas and other outdoor campus spaces.
This is useful for university campuses, where one event may cover grassed quadrangles, concrete forecourts, paved courtyards and open walkways.
Structure Marquees for Large Open Day Hubs
Some areas of a university open day need more than a pop-up marquee. A major information hub, central presentation space, large dining zone or alumni area may need a larger and more polished shelter solution.
That is where structure marquees are a strong option.
At Instant Marquees, we offer clearspan structure marquees in 3 metre, 6 metre and 9 metre widths, with multiple length options. They can be installed with a clear roof or white roof, depending on the look and function required for the event.
Our clearspan structures provide an open internal space free of poles. For a university open day, this is a major benefit. Internal poles can interrupt layouts, block sightlines and limit how furniture, signage, display stands and walkways are arranged. A clearspan structure gives organisers more freedom to create a functional open space.
Structure marquees are ideal for:
- Main information halls
- Course expo areas
- Large faculty showcases
- Food courts
- Parent presentation areas
- Event briefings
- VIP or alumni areas
- Sponsor and industry partner displays
- Large student services zones
- Campus activation spaces
They also create a strong visual point of difference. Our unique dome-shaped roofs help the structures stand out, which is useful for important open day destinations that need to be easy to find.
Using Structures for Presentations and Gathering Spaces
A university open day often includes scheduled talks, welcome sessions, faculty introductions and Q&A areas. While some of these happen indoors, outdoor structures can help create additional covered gathering spaces when lecture theatres are full or when organisers want a more open event layout.
A structure marquee can be used for a central open day hub where visitors gather before tours, attend informal sessions or speak with staff. Because the interior is open and free of internal poles, it can be set up with rows of chairs, display counters, information desks or lounge-style seating.
Structure marquees also help create a more premium event feel. For universities, presentation matters. A well-installed structure can make an outdoor area feel intentional, organised and professional.
Our structures are designed to provide quick, portable and flexible shade and shelter for companies, corporate functions and events. We deliver the equipment on time and set it up safely and quickly, so event organisers can focus on the event itself.
For a university open day, that means less pressure on internal teams and more confidence that the major outdoor areas will be ready when visitors arrive.
Matching the Right Product to Each Open Day Area
The best open day setup usually uses a combination of instant marquees, umbrellas and structure marquees.
Each product has a different role:
Instant marquees are best for faculty stands, registration points, clubs, information booths, support services and smaller activations.
Umbrellas are best for outdoor seating, food areas, rest zones, courtyards, lawn areas and casual shaded spaces.
Structure marquees are best for major hubs, large information areas, food courts, expo-style layouts, presentations and feature zones.
A university could use 3m x 3m instant marquees for individual course areas, 6m x 3m marquees for admissions and student services, umbrellas around food trucks and seating areas, then a large structure marquee for the main open day hub.
This creates a layered setup that helps the campus feel organised. Visitors can move between zones easily, staff can manage crowds more effectively and each part of the day has the right level of cover.
Supporting Wayfinding and Visitor Flow
One of the biggest challenges at a university open day is helping visitors move through the campus without confusion. A well-planned marquee and umbrella layout can support wayfinding by creating obvious destinations.
For example, marquees can be grouped by faculty. Umbrellas can mark rest areas. A large structure can act as the central hub. Smaller instant marquees can be positioned at tour meeting points or building entrances.
This helps visitors understand the event layout at a glance. It also gives staff clear reference points when giving directions.
For universities with large or multi-building campuses, this is especially valuable. Not every visitor will be familiar with the grounds. Clearly defined shade and shelter points can reduce confusion and make the day feel easier to navigate.
Practical Benefits for Staff and Volunteers
Open days are busy for university teams. Staff, student ambassadors and volunteers spend hours answering questions, directing visitors and managing activity zones.
Marquees and umbrellas help protect those teams from the sun and weather while giving them a practical base to work from. A covered booth can hold brochures, laptops, signage, merchandise, enrolment information and support materials. It also gives staff a recognisable place to return to throughout the day.
For event managers, our hire service also helps reduce the workload. Our experienced staff deliver and erect marquees quickly and efficiently, making the hiring process stress free and successful.
Structure marquees must be installed by experienced and trained staff, which ensures the larger event spaces are handled correctly.
Plan for Weather, Space and Timing
A university open day usually has a tight event schedule. Bump-in, setup, visitor arrival, presentations, tours and pack-down all need to run smoothly. That is why it is important to choose the right product for the right area.
Instant marquees are suited to fast bump-in and bump-out. Umbrellas provide flexible shade across different surfaces. Structure marquees are better for larger covered areas where a more substantial setup is required.
Weather exposure should also be considered. Instant marquees may not be well suited to very long hire periods or areas exposed to very strong winds, so it is important to discuss site requirements and choose the most suitable shelter for each location.
By planning early, universities can create a layout that works for visitor comfort, staff operations and the overall flow of the day.
Create a Better University Open Day With Instant Marquees
The right shade and shelter setup can make a university open day feel more organised, professional and welcoming. Marquees help define information areas. Umbrellas create comfortable outdoor seating and rest zones. Structure marquees provide large, open, impressive spaces for major activations and event hubs.
At Instant Marquees, we hire instant marquees, umbrellas and structure marquees across Melbourne for outdoor events, corporate functions and large public gatherings. For a university open day, we can help create a practical setup that supports visitors, staff, students and event organisers from start to finish.
Whether you need individual marquees for course information, umbrellas for food and seating areas or a clearspan structure for a central open day hub, we have the equipment and experience to help your campus event run smoothly.
