Student support over Christmas
Find out what student support services are available during the University's winter teaching break.
We’re here to support you year-round, both on and off campus – and that includes from when your Christmas break begins on Monday, 22 December 2025.
Whether you need IT help, mental health support or information on safety and halls of residence, we have the details of where to find it below.
Mental health services
Remember you’re not alone and that we're here for you throughout the festive period, whenever you need it and whatever your concerns.
If you’re in extreme distress and feel you may not be able to keep yourself safe, seek immediate help by visiting your nearest A&E, which will have a dedicated mental health team. Don’t hesitate to get emergency help by calling 999 if you or someone you know is at immediate risk.
The nearest local A&E unit to the University campus is Manchester Royal Infirmary, which provides urgent mental health support as well as help for injuries and medical emergencies.
You’ll find more urgent mental health support resources online.
The Mental Health Support Team will be closed from Tuesday, 23 December at 5pm to Monday, 5 January 2026.
During this period, you can access support and one-off counselling sessions through Spectrum Life. Find out more about help in a crisis and other out-of-hours support.
If you feel at immediate risk of acting on thoughts to hurt yourself or anyone else, please attend your nearest A&E department and ask for the mental health liaison team, who are on duty 24 hours a day.
Spectrum.Life is a 24-hour mental health support helpline and app, which means there is always someone available to offer support when you need it – whatever the time of day or night.
You can access the helpline right away for help if you’re struggling:
- Call UK Freephone: 0800 031 8227
- International: 00353 1 518 027
- WhatsApp: Text ‘Hi’ to 074 1836 0780
If an appropriate advisor is unavailable or on another call, you can request a call-back.
If you feel suicidal or extremely low and need to talk to someone urgently, you can ring any of the following out-of-hours services:
- Greater Manchester Mental Health 24/7 Helpline – 0800 953 0285
- The Samaritans – 116 123 or 0161 236 8000
- Papyrus – 0800 068 4141
Safety support
If you’re staying in Manchester over Christmas, you won’t be alone. Your safety remains our priority, even when some of our services are closed, and we have support in place to keep you safe year-round.
Campus Support and Security can provide additional help and support if you’re remaining on campus throughout the break, and are available around the clock. Whether you need to make a report or get home safely, they should be your first port of call.
Contact Campus Support and Security on 0161 306 9966. You’ll also find this number printed on the back of your student card.
The Advice and Response service will be open on Monday, 22 and Tuesday, 23 December from 9am to 4pm. If you need to report an act of sexual violence, harassment, hate crime or discrimination, visit the Report and Support website and a caseworker will get back to you within 48 hours.
The service will be closed from Wednesday, 24 December to Monday, 5 January 2026.
Please be aware that our ability to respond to reports after 1pm on Tuesday, 23 December will be limited to emergency and high-risk cases. We will respond to all other reports received after this time, with an offer of further support when we return in January after the Christmas break.
If you need urgent support, please contact Campus Support and Security on 0161 306 9966. You can also visit the NHS for additional sources of urgent support, or visit the Student Support site.
If you're staying on campus over Christmas we recommend you download the SafeZone app, which is available on both Google Play and the App Store.
You can use SafeZone to call for help whenever you're located in:
- Fallowfield
- Victoria Park
- The University of Manchester campus
- Manchester Metropolitan University campus
- University of Salford campus.
As part of the Manchester SafeZone Alliance, any student can use the SafeZone app to get assistance on any of these campuses – no matter which of the three universities you attend. The app will directly connect you to the appropriate safety or security team for that area, who will provide the assistance you need. If you leave these areas you can still use the app, which will provide you with your local emergency services number – even if you're outside the UK.
Wellbeing services
Whether you’re at home or on campus, Christmas can be a busy time, making it harder for you to make space to look after your mental wellbeing.
Our wellbeing chat service is here for you daily from 11am to 12pm and 3pm to 4pm.
On Tuesday, 23 December, the chat will be available from 11am to 12pm before closing for the break. The service will reopen on Monday, 5 January 2026.
Find out more about our full range of wellbeing services and support.
Halls of residence
All halls of residence will remain open for residents over Christmas and during the University closure period. Residents are not required to vacate their rooms during this time. The Accommodation Office phoneline and inbox will not be monitored during the closure period.
Your ResLife team is available to help you 24/7 during the closure period, although the ResLife inbox will not be monitored at this time. You can reach the team by calling the duty ResLife Advisor number for emergency assistance between 6pm and 8am, Monday to Friday, and at all times during the closure period.
In the event of an emergency, such as an electricity outage, burst water pipe, break-in, or if you are locked out, a callout system is in operation. This can be accessed by contacting your Duty ResLife Advisor or Campus Support and Security, who will assess the situation.
For leased halls (Denmark Road, Kincardine Court, Park View, Piccadilly Point, Square Gardens, Weston, Daisy Bank Hall, Manchester Gardens, Rusholme Place, or Victoria Point), please contact the reception of your hall directly for further information if required.
All residents will receive emails with more detailed information sent to their preferred email address.
Students on placements and international programmes overseas
We know many students remain in their host country over the Christmas break and may need to get in touch should an urgent situation arise. We have the details of who to contact in an emergency below.
For non-emergency situations within UK office hours, you should continue to contact your placement organiser in the first instance.
In an emergency situation requiring an urgent response, you can contact the University’s insurer AIG for assistance.
- For emergency travel and medical assistance, call +44 (0) 1273 552 922 or email CorporateAssist@aig.com.
If for any reason AIG are unable to provide support, you can contact The University of Manchester's 24-hour emergency helpline on +44 (0) 161 306 9966. They will then refer your case to the University's Emergency Incident Manager.
IT support
If you have any IT queries over the break, IT Services are still here for you.
The IT Support Centre, including the Main Library in-person support desk, is closed from Wednesday, 24 December and re-opens on Monday, 5 January 2026. If you need help outside these times, you can use the 24/7 phoneline or the Connect portal.
- Call 24/7 IT Support – 0161 306 5544
- Search our Connect Portal for step-by-step guides and troubleshooting articles.
- For information on Canvas, our central learning environment, visit the Student Support site.
Visit the Library’s website for more information on the opening hours for the Main Library and Alan Gilbert Learning Commons.
During the break, support for Hornet (Halls of Residence Internet) will operate on a 'best efforts' basis. We are committed to addressing your Hornet-related queries as promptly as possible; however, please be aware that response times may be longer than usual due to the reduced availability of our Hornet representatives.
Find out more at Hornet help and support.
Library
We know that many of you will be studying over the break and we want to make sure you can still access the Library services you need.
Main Library
Main Library will be closed from Wednesday, 24 December 2025 to Friday, 2 January 2026. For detailed opening hours please see the Main Library calendar.
John Rylands Research Institute and Library
The Rylands will be closed from Monday, 22 December 2025 and will reopen on Wednesday, 7 January 2026. More information is available on the John Rylands website.
Other University libraries
Find additional information on Library opening hours.
Alan Gilbert Learning Commons
AGLC will be closed on Thursday, 25 and Friday, 26 December. For detailed opening hours, see the AGLC calendar.
From Wednesday, 24 December 2025 to Friday, 2 January 2026, Library Chat will be monitored by our partner institutions.
Students' Union
The Students' Union Building will be closed from Friday, 19 December to Monday, 5 January 2026, in addition to weekends. Check the SU website for opening times on specific days.
Visit the Students' Union website to explore a range of support resources.
We know many of our students will remain on campus over Christmas, and you'll find plenty going on if you are. Check out the list of festive events below:
- A Taste of Christmas visit – Monday, 22 December, 1.30pm, Albert Square
- The Muppet Christmas Carol screening – Wednesday, 24 December, 12.15pm, HOME
- Whitworth visit – Sunday, 28 December, 1.30pm, The Whitworth
- Manchester Museum visit – Saturday, 3 January, 1.30pm, Manchester Museum
The International Society have events and meetups running throughout the break. Find out more on the Students' Union events page.
The SU Advice Service will be closed for the Christmas break from Friday, 19 December, 4pm to Monday, 5 January 2026, 10am. During this time, the team will be unable to read or respond to emails, and will get back to you as soon as possible when they reopen in January.
For further information on where to access support over the break, visit the SU advice site.
Careers
During the Christmas break, you can still access online support from our Careers Service.
The Careers Desk in the Atrium (first floor, University Place) will be closed from Friday, 19 December and will reopen on Monday, 2 February 2026.
You can still book an online careers appointment, attend an online 1-1 drop-in session or email the team at careers.info@manchester.ac.uk. Our extensive careers website and on-demand resources are also available even when our desk is closed.
If you're applying for part-time jobs, graduate schemes, internships, or placements over Christmas, take a look at our applications and interview support, which covers everything from CVs and cover letters to assessment centres and interviews.
Whether you want to practice interviewing, get your CV checked, or prepare for graduate scheme assessments, we have plenty of free online tools to help you learn at your own pace, whenever and wherever you want.
Staying active
We have plenty of ways for you to keep active over the festive season. Visit UoM Sport for a full list of suggestions. If you're staying on campus over Christmas, check out our workout videos and sports centre opening hours below:
If you're keen to work out at home over the break, UoM Sport have got you covered. Browse their workout videos, which cover all levels of ability.
Armitage Sports Centre
Visit the Armitage Sport Centre website for its winter opening hours.
For any further queries, please contact armitagecentre@manchester.ac.uk.
Manchester Aquatics Centre
Visit the Manchester Aquatics Centre website for its winter opening hours.
Things to do
We want you to enjoy yourself over the break and make the most of any free time you have. If you’re staying in Manchester and find yourself at a loose end with time to fill, there are plenty of ways to stay busy. We’ve listed a few ideas below:
You can take a self-guided historic tour of campus by downloading our Visit UoM app.
You’ll find plenty of opportunities to volunteer if you’re staying on or near campus over the break. Visit our Volunteer Hub to learn more.
We’ve pulled together a list of 100 things you can see and do in the city. See how many you can fit into your festive break.
Faculty support
If you wish to contact your School's Student Support Hub, a full list of contact details can be found on the Student Support site.
The details of each Faculty’s available support this Christmas is listed below:
School of Medical Sciences
On Monday, 22 December and Tuesday, 23 December the SMS Student Support Hub will be open and available for drop-ins and appointments between 10am and 4pm. It will resume its regular hours from Monday, 5 January 2026.
It will be closed during the University closure days from 4pm on Tuesday, 23 December until 9am on Monday, 5 January.
To arrange an appointment, please email sms.hub@manchester.ac.uk or call 0161 306 0460.
School of Biological Sciences
On Monday, 22 December and Tuesday, 23 December the SBS Student Support Hub will be open and available for drop-ins and appointments between 10am and 4pm. It will resume its regular hours from Monday, 5 January 2026.
It will be closed during the University closure days from 4pm on Tuesday, 23 December to 9am on Monday, 5 January.
To arrange an appointment, please email sbs.hub@manchester.ac.uk or call 0161 275 1387.
School of Health Sciences
On Monday, 22 December and Tuesday, 23 December the SHS Student Support Hub will be open and available for drop-ins and appointments between 10am and 4pm. It will resume its regular hours from Monday, 5 January 2026.
It will be closed during the University closure days from 4pm on Tuesday, 23 December to 9am on Monday, 5 January.
To arrange an appointment, please email shs.hub@manchester.ac.uk or call 0161 306 7811.
Alliance Manchester Business School
- Wednesday, 17 December – closed
- Thursday, 18 December to Friday, 19 December – 9am to 5pm
- Monday, 22 December to Tuesday, 23 December – 10am to 4pm
- Wednesday, 24 December to Friday, 2 January 2026 – closed
- Monday, 5 January to Wednesday, 14 January – 10am to 4pm
- Thursday, 15 January onwards – normal opening hours
The AMBS Student Support Hub can be reached via:
- Location: Room 2.091, Second floor, Alliance Manchester Business School Building
- Tel: 0161 529 3830
- Email: ambs.hub@manchester.ac.uk
School of Arts, Languages and Cultures Student Support Hub, Samuel Alexander Building
You can find us at the SALC Hub, next to Lime Café, on the lower ground floor of the Samuel Alexander Building. If you can’t visit us in person, you can use our Interactive FAQ & Contact form or email us anytime.
- Monday, 22 and Tuesday, 23 December – 10am to 4pm
- Wednesday, 24 December to Monday, 5 January 2026 – closed
School of Environment, Education and Development, Student Support Hub, Humanities Bridgeford Street (Ground floor)
To get in touch, please email seed.hub@manchester.ac.uk or phone 0161 275 2817.
- Open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
- Wednesday, 24 December to Friday, 2 January – closed
School of Social Sciences, Arthur Lewis Building
Located in the Arthur Lewis Building, ground floor (turn left through the main doors). To get in touch, please email soss.hub@manchester.ac.uk or phone 0161 529 3377.
- Monday, 22 December to Tuesday, 23 December – 10am to 4pm
- Wednesday, 24 December to Friday, 2 January – closed
- Monday, 5 January to Friday, 9 January, 10am to 4pm
- Monday, 12 January onwards – Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Faculty of Humanities Doctoral Academy Support Hub, Ellen Wilkinson Building
The Doctoral Academy Support Hub will be open during the usual hours (10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday) up to and including Tuesday, 23 December.
The Hub will then close from Wednesday, 24 December and re-open on Monday, 5 January 2026.
During opening hours, you can call into the Hub on the ground floor of Ellen Wilkinson Building. You can also contact the Hub directly by emailing hums.doctoralacademy@manchester.ac.uk or calling 0161 275 1200.
School of Engineering, Nancy Rothwell Building (First floor, 1A.042)
- Monday, 22 and Tuesday, 23 December – open and available for drop-ins and appointments between 10am and 4pm
- Wednesday, 24 December to Monday, 5 January 2026 – closed
- Monday, 5 to Friday, 9 January – open 10am and 4pm
- Monday, 12 January onwards – open 9am and 5pm
To arrange an appointment, please contact your School team.
School of Natural Sciences, Alan Turing Building (Ground floor)
- Monday, 22 and Tuesday, 23 December – open and available for drop-ins and appointments between 10am and 4pm
- Wednesday, 24 December to Monday, 5 January 2026 – closed
- Monday, 5 to Friday, 9 January – open 10am and 4pm
- Monday, 12 January onwards – open 9am and 5pm
To arrange an appointment, please contact the Hub directly by emailing Sons.hub@manchester.ac.uk or calling 0161 529 4517.
Contact us
24/7 support is available for all students through our Campus Support and Security and ResLife teams over the festive period.
If you need help or advice, please contact your School support team.