How Educational Institutions Can Stand Out with Virtual Tours

Whether you're a university, college, or library, how you present your space online matters more than ever. Virtual tours have become a vital tool not only for wayfinding and access but for outreach, branding, and community connection. They help prospective students, visitors, and partners experience your institution remotely, authentically and on their own terms.

More than just a walkthrough, a well-crafted virtual tour reflects your identity, highlights your values, and creates a strong, lasting impression.

In a competitive higher education landscape, prospective students want to feel a connection to your space—before they ever visit in person. For universities and colleges, a virtual tour is often the first point of contact. It helps students explore the environment, understand the campus layout, and imagine themselves belonging there.

This virtual story invites visitors to explore Metropolia’s purpose-built music and media building. From performance halls to studio spaces, the tour shows the building’s versatility and atmosphere, especially important for international applicants who can’t easily visit. It offers an architectural journalist’s perspective, featuring audio clips from an interview with the building’s chief architect, Miia-Liina Tommila, adding valuable insight into the design process and intent.

For public libraries and cultural buildings, virtual tours offer an inclusive and welcoming experience. They help users understand what to expect, especially those with mobility needs, social anxiety, or unfamiliarity with the space. They’re also valuable for community outreach, educational content, and tourism promotion.

Fyyri’s visually stunning architecture and open interiors are showcased in an intuitive, inviting tour. This project was designed to complement the physical space’s openness with digital accessibility, welcoming users of all ages and backgrounds.

Flagship buildings are often symbols of institutional identity. A high-quality virtual tour is a smart way to share these spaces with a global audience, whether for PR, academic collaboration, or donor engagement.

The Bodleian is more than a library, it's a world-renowned academic landmark. The virtual tour highlights its historic spaces in immersive detail, offering public access to areas that are typically off-limits. This strengthens Oxford’s global profile while supporting public engagement and outreach goals.

Although this blog focuses on higher education and public institutions, independent schools are also recognising the value of virtual tours in student recruitment and international outreach.

This virtual tour was created with a dual purpose: to support year-round student recruitment and to promote the school’s English Language Summer School to international students. The same high-quality imagery serves both audiences, highlighting facilities, boarding houses, and campus life.

The virtual tour of St Edward’s helps international students and families explore the school’s facilities remotely. From the chapel to the sports grounds, the immersive experience gives a strong sense of the school’s character and community.

Virtual tours aren’t just practical tools, they’re powerful assets for engagement and outreach. Whether you’re welcoming new students, increasing access to a public library, or showcasing your institution’s architecture and values, a well-crafted virtual tour helps you connect with your audience in meaningful ways.

By offering an intuitive, immersive experience, you can build trust, communicate your identity, and make your spaces feel open and accessible—no matter where your visitors are in the world.