Student support over the winter break
Posted on Friday 5 December 2025
Emergency support on campus
Campus Safety is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - if it's urgent, call 01904 32 3333 or download the SafeZone app for a quick response to any security or safety issue on campus.
Winter vacation and University closure
Vacation runs from Monday 15 December 2025 until Monday 5 January 2026.
Staff and some services may have more limited availability during University closure days from Wednesday 24 December 2025, reopening Monday 5 January 2026.
If you're staying in York
- If you’re staying in campus accommodation over the vacation, see changes to cleaning and reception services, plus information about fault reporting.
- Retail and catering outlet opening times change during the vacation - visit Eat at York opening times to see what is open and when.
- First York operates a limited bus timetable on University of York services from Sunday 21 December 2025 and resumes normal service on Sunday 4 January 2026.
Christmas events
See the MyUoY app or student events for college events and other activities taking place over the vacation - college events are open to all students during the vacation, regardless of which college you belong to. You can also check York Sport opening hours and timetables.
11 December - Carol Service, St Paul’s Church
Come to the Carol service at St Paul’s Church, Heslington on Thursday (11 December) to get into the festive feeling with music and readings from staff and students.
15 December - International Christmas Social, Courtyard, Campus West
Whether you're an International student or just staying on campus for the winter vacation, join York SU for a Christmas Social! Head over to The Courtyard on Monday 15 December for some crafts, free food and drinks, and to chat about winter celebrations around the world. Find out more and book your ticket.
19 December - Wentworth Christmas Movie Marathon, B/R/016
Come along to B/R/016 for a fun start to your festive holiday! With three different films being screened between 1pm - 7pm, and popcorn provided, pop down for some festive cheer. Find out more on our student events webpage.
Winter building closures
We are operating a limited opening or closure programme across a number of buildings on campus over the vacation to help reduce costs and our carbon footprint. However, this will not affect most buildings that students use - communal student areas such as the Library, study spaces and sports centres will remain open.
If you're leaving York
Before you leave, don’t forget to return your library books! They may still be recalled over the vacation.
IMPORTANT: Student visa holders
If you're a student visa holder, you must remain in York until the end of the final teaching week of semester 1 (w/c 8 December) and return to campus for the beginning of the assessment period (from Monday 12 January 2026). This is the case regardless of whether you have any in-person assessments. If you have an urgent reason to be away for longer (for example, a family emergency), you will need to request an absence. There are further details on how to do this on the Absence Requests page.
Keeping connected
Stay connected with the Virtual Private Network (VPN) or the Virtual Desktop Service (VDS). Find out more about working off-campus.
IT Support will close from 5pm on Tuesday 23 December 2025, reopening at 9am on Monday 5 January 2026. During the planned Christmas closure, IT Services staff will continue to monitor services remotely and will respond to any IT emergencies. Please check the IT status page for information on any University-wide issues.
Academic support wherever you are
See key Library dates for the Christmas vacation, including when to return your books, submit request deadlines and Lab opening hours. The main Library is generally open, except on 25 and 26 December 2025 and 1 January 2026. See self service information and contact the Library any time via the Library chat service.
Keep up with your reading list via the Library’s e-resources and check out our online skills guides.
Wellbeing support wherever you are
We know that this can be a difficult time of year for many people and sources of help and support are still available over the break, including Campus Safety.
The Open Door team operate 9am-5pm vacation opening hours from Monday 15 December 2025 until Monday 5 January 2026. Services are closed between 2pm on Friday 19 December 2025 and 9am Monday 5 January 2026.
Download TalkCampus now to get 24/7 wellbeing support over the Christmas break. It's a global network of students from all around the world so whenever you need support, someone is always there.
Looking for connection but don’t know how to begin? Check out the new Dotz wellbeing game on the TalkCampus app - for the moments when you want to reach out but don’t have words yet, when you’re feeling a bit stuck in your head, or when you just want a calm minute with someone else nearby.