Student support over Christmas
Find out what student support services are available during the University's closure period.
We’re here to support you year-round, both on and off campus – and that includes from when your Christmas break begins on Monday, 16 December 2024.
The University will close for Christmas at 5pm on Friday, 20 December and reopen on Thursday, 2 January 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 closure 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 Counselling and Mental Health Service will be closed over the Christmas closure period (Monday, 23 December 2024 to Thursday, 2 January 2025), but you can continue to access Health Assured and Qwell. Find out about available out-of-hours crisis 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.
Health Assured is a 24-hour mental health support phone line and app, which means there is always someone available to offer support when you need it – whatever the time of day or night. This phone line is available in 240 languages via a translation service.
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 the winter, 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 closed during the University closure period, from 4pm on Friday, 20 December 2024 until 9am on Thursday, 2 January 2025. 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 once the service reopens in January. Please note that our response may be longer than our usual 48 hours at this time.
If you need urgent support, please contact Campus Support and Security on 0161 306 9966.
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.
A wellbeing chat service is available to students during the Christmas break (11am–12pm and 3pm–4pm), with the exception of the University closure period from Friday, 20 December at 4pm to Monday, 2 January at 11am.
Halls of residence
Many students choose to remain on campus during the break, rather than go home.
All halls of residence will remain open for residents over the University closure period and Christmas. Residents are not required to vacate their rooms during this time. Please be aware that the Accommodation Office phone line 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 during 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 closure period.
In case of an emergency, such as an electricity outage, burst water pipe, a 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 (Brook Hall, Denmark Road, IQ Salford Student Quarter, Park View, Rusholme Place, Weston Hall, Manchester Gardens and Wilmslow Park), please contact the reception of your hall directly for further information if required.
All residents will receive emails to their preferred email address containing more detailed information.
Students on placements and international programmes overseas
We know many students are overseas on placement during Christmas and may need to get in touch should an urgent situation arise. We have the details of who to contact in an emergency below.
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.
The Placements and International Programmes Office will be closed from 4pm on Friday, 20 December and will re-open on Thursday, 2 January 2025.
IT support
If you have any IT queries over the break, IT Services are still here for you.
The IT Support Centre, including the Kilburn Building in-person support desk, is open throughout the Christmas break as normal from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding the University closure days of Monday, 23 December to Thursday, 2 January. If you need help outside of those times, you can use the 24/7 phone link, or the Connect portal.
- Call 24/7 IT Support – 0161 306 5544
- Search our Connect Portal for step-by-step guides and troubleshooting articles.
Visit the Library’s website for more information on the opening hours for the Main Library and Alan Gilbert Learning Commons.
If you think you may need to use Blackboard while the University is closed, we suggest you sign in before Friday, 20 December to check you have access to all of the correct course material. If any course information is missing, get in touch with your lecturer or course administrator as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can contact your eLearning team.
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.
From Saturday, 14 December 2024, library service opening hours will be as follows:
Opening hours for Main Library
- Saturday: 9am to 5pm
- Sunday: 9am to 5pm
- Monday: 8am to 8pm
- Tuesday: 8am to 8pm
- Wednesday: 8am to 8pm
- Thursday: 8am to 8pm
- Friday: 8am to 8pm
From Saturday, 21 December 2024 to Wednesday, 1 January, Main Library is closed.
From Thursday, 2 January, library service opening hours will be as follows:
- Thursday: 8am to 2am
- Friday: 8am to 2am
- Saturday: 9am to 2am
- Sunday: 9am to 2am
- Monday: 8am to 2am
- Tuesday: 8am to 2am
- Wednesday: 8am to 2am
From Saturday, 25 January 2025, Main Library is open as usual.
Opening hours for the John Rylands Research Institute and Library
The Rylands is open Wednesdays to Saturdays, but will close over the Christmas period from Sunday, 22 December 2024 to Thursday, 2 January 2025.
- Monday: closed
- Tuesday: closed
- Wednesday: 10am-5pm
- Thursday: 10am-5pm
- Friday: 10am-5pm
- Saturday: 10am-5pm
- Sunday: closed
Find additional information on Library opening hours.
Opening hours for the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons
Study spaces will be available at the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons
(AGLC) over the Christmas period, when it will be staffed by Security.
Between Friday, 13 December 2024 and Wednesday, 1 January 2025, the AGLC will be open as follows:
- Friday 13: midnight to 8pm
- Saturday 14: 9am to 5pm
- Sunday 15: 9am to 5pm
- Monday 16: 8am to 8pm
- Tuesday 17: 8am to 8pm
- Wednesday 18: 8am to 8pm
- Thursday 19: 8am to 8pm
- Friday 20: 8am to 8pm
- Saturday 21: 9am to 5pm
- Sunday 22: 9am to 5pm
- Monday 23: 8am to 8pm
- Tuesday 24: 8am to 8pm
- Wednesday 25: closed
- Thursday 26: closed
- Friday 27: 8am to 8pm
- Saturday 28: 9am to 5pm
- Sunday 29: 9am to 5pm
- Monday 30: 8am to 8pm
- Tuesday 31: 8am to 8pm
- Wednesday 1: 8am to 8pm
- Thursday 2: open as normal
Library Chat will be available 24/7 during the summer and managed by our out-of-hours partners.
Students' Union
The Students' Union Building opening times will vary depending on the gigs and events taking place. Check the SU website for opening times on specific days.
Visit the Students' Union website to explore a range of support resources.
Careers
During the Christmas break, the Careers Service is available to support you online.
During the Christmas break and exams period, the Careers Service is available to support you online – book Zoom appointments, pop along to 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 available even when our service is closed.
- Wednesday 18 to Sunday, 22 December 2024 – Careers desk closed, Careers Service open online
- Monday, 23 December 2024 to Wednesday, 1 January 2025 – Careers Service closed
- Thursday, 2 to Thursday, 23 January 2025 – Careers desk closed, Careers Service open online
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 speed, whenever and wherever you want.
Staying active
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
The Armitage Sport Centre opening hours are as follows:
- Friday, 20 December – 7am to 10.30pm
- Saturday, 21 December – 8.30am to 7.30pm
- Sunday, 22 December – 8.30am to 7.30pm
- Monday, 23 December 2024 to Wednesday, 1 January 2025 – closed
- Thursday, 2 January – 7am to 10.30pm
For any further queries, please contact armitagecentre@manchester.ac.uk.
Manchester Aquatics Centre
The Manchester Aquatics Centre opening hours are as follows:
- Thursday, 19 December (GLL Communication Day) – closed
- Friday, 20 December – 5.30am to 10pm
- Saturday, 21 December – 6am to 6pm
- Sunday, 22 December – 9am to 6pm
- Monday, 23 December – 5.30am to 10pm
- Tuesday, 24 December – 9am to 2pm
- Wednesday, 25 December (bank holiday) – closed
- Thursday, 26 December (bank holiday) – closed
- Friday, 27 December – 8am to 6pm
- Saturday, 28 December – 10am to 4pm
- Sunday, 29 December – 10am to 4pm
- Monday, 30 December – 8am to 6pm
- Tuesday, 31 December – 9am to 2pm
- Wednesday, 1 January 2025 (bank holiday) – closed
- Thursday, 2 January – 5.30am to 10pm
Sugden Sports Centre
The Sugden Sports Centre opening hours are as follows:
- Thursday, 19 December (GLL Communication Day) – closed
- Friday, 20 December – 7am to 10.30pm
- Saturday, 21 December – 9am to 7.30pm
- Sunday, 22 December – 9am to 7.30pm
- Monday, 23 December 9am to 7.30pm
- Tuesday, 24 December – closed
- Wednesday, 25 December (bank holiday) – closed
- Thursday, 26 December (bank holiday) – closed
- Friday, 27 December – 9am to 7.30pm
- Saturday, 28 December – 9am to 5pm
- Sunday, 29 December – 9am to 5pm
- Monday, 30 December – 9am to 7.30pm
- Tuesday, 31 December 2024 (bank holiday) – closed
- Wednesday, 1 January 2025 (bank holiday) – closed
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:
2024 is our bicentenary year and we have so much going on. Discover the exciting programme of events and activities we have planned for our bicentenary year and you’ll find plenty to keep you busy.
You can also 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 Christmas.
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:
From Monday, 16 December, the Faculty’s Student Support Hubs (School of Medical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences and School of Health Sciences) will be open from 10am to 4pm.
They will then close from 4pm on Friday, 20 December and will resume their usual opening hours of 9am to 5pm from Thursday, 9 January 2025.
Alliance Manchester Business School
- Wednesday, 11 December 2024 – partial afternoon closure. Please visit another Student Support Hub if required
- Monday, 16 to Tuesday, 17 December 2024 – 10am to 4pm
- Wednesday, 18 December 2024 – closed
- Thursday, 19 to Friday, 20 December 2024 – 10am to 4pm
- Saturday, 21 December 2024 to Wednesday, 1 January 2025 – closed. Emails will not be accessed during this time
- Thursday, 2 to Wednesday, 8 January 2025 – 10am to 4pm
- Thursday, 9 January 2025 onwards – open as usual
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, 16 December to Friday, 20 December – 10am to 4pm
- Monday, 23 December to Wednesday, 1 January (inclusive) – closed
- Thursday, 2 January to Friday, 8 January – 10am to 4pm
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 (with the exception of bank holidays)
- Monday, 23 December to Wednesday, 1 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 – the telephone line will be available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm throughout the winter break, apart from the University closure days.
- Monday, 16 to Friday, 20 December – 10am to 4pm
- Monday, 23 December to Wednesday, 1 January – closed in-line with University closure days
- Thursday, 2 to Friday, 3 January – 10am to 4pm
- Monday, 6 January onwards – 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Faculty of Humanities Doctoral Academy Support Hub, Ellen Wilkinson Building
The Doctoral Academy Support Hub will be open between 10am and 4pm up to and including Friday, 20 December. We will reopen after the Christmas closure period on Thursday, 2 January from 10am to 4pm.
- Monday, 16 December to Friday, 20 December – 10am to 4pm
- Monday, 23 December to Wednesday, 1 January (inclusive) – closed
- Thursday, 2 January onwards – 10am to 4pm
To arrange an appointment, please contact the Hub directly by emailing hums.doctoralacademy@manchester.ac.uk or calling 0161 275 1200.
School of Engineering, Engineering Building A (First floor, 1A.042)
From Monday, 16 to Friday, 20 December, the Student Support Hub will be open and available for drop-ins and appointments between 10am and 4pm. It will resume its regular hours from Thursday, 9 January.
It will be closed from Saturday, 21 December to Thursday, 2 January.
To arrange an appointment, please contact your School team.
School of Natural Sciences, Alan Turing Building (Ground floor)
From Monday, 16 to Friday, 20 December, the Student Support Hub will be open and available for drop-ins and appointments between 10am and 4pm.
It will be closed from Saturday, 21 December to Thursday, 2 January.
The Student Support Hub will reopen on Friday, 3 January from 10am to 4pm. It will resume its regular hours from Thursday, 9 January.
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 Christmas period.
If you need help or advice up to Friday, 20 December, please contact your School support team.