Holiday opening hours and support

Find out more about support, activities and opportunities to connect with others and have fun during holidays.

The University will be closed 21 December 2024 to 1 January 2025

Wednesday 25 December, Thursday 26 December and Wednesday 1 January are UK bank holidays. 

Many businesses and services will either be closed or have amended hours over the holiday period. 

Some core University services will be available during this time, but the majority of staff will return to work on Thursday 2 January. 

Before making plans, or heading out, check holiday transport timetables/opening hours and buy food and other supplies in advance.

  • If you’re an international student on a visa who will be travelling abroad during the holidays, check our out-of-term travel and immigration advice page for important information on documents you might be asked to show at border control.

In Leeds and looking for events and activities?

You can find a programme of out-of-term activities on our Leeds and You pages and via LUU Engage – these will continue to be updated with new events and activities so make sure you keep checking back!

Looking for somewhere to study? 

Check the opening hours for our libraries and galleries on campus. You can also use Spacefinder to find alternative study spaces on campus, along with their opening hours.

Looking for somewhere to pray? 

The Emmanuel Centre will be closed from 21 December 2024 – 1 January 2025.  An out-of-hours chaplain telephone service (07780 613862) will be available to offer support to students during the winter closed period.

The Green Room and the prayer space in the Chemical and Process Engineering Building will both be closed from 21 December 2024 – 1 January 2025. Temporary prayer space and prayer mats will be available in the Laidlaw Library from 09:00 – 17:00 between 21–24 and 27–31 December 2024, in the Weston Room on the ground floor and in the faith room on Level 3. 

Support services 

Student Information Service

The Student Information Service, including the Helpline will be closed from 21 December 2024 to 1 January 2025 and will reopen at 9am on 2 January.

Emails received during the closure period will only be read and responded to once the helpline re-opens.

Normally, email studentinfo@leeds.ac.uk or call +44 (0)113 343 7000 (from outside of the UK) or 0800 915 0402 (from inside the UK). This is a freephone number, and you won’t be charged for calling this from your mobile or landline.  

Emergency support

If you need emergency support outside of these times, contact Security Services on 0113 343 5494 or 0113 343 2222 or Whatsapp video call 07876 866747. Security can help you with a range of issues from lockouts to crime prevention advice. If you have an issue during the closed period and don't know who to contact, get in touch with Security Services and they will help or direct you to the right person.

If you need immediate support or help, consider calling 999 or (if you are on campus or in University residences) call the University Security Services on 0113 3432222.

Wellbeing services

The Student Counselling and Wellbeing, Harassment and Misconduct Team and Disability Services are closed on Bank holidays.

If you need mental health and wellbeing support during the holidays, check out the Mindwell and StudentSpace guidance. Support is also available from:

  • Mindwell – Leeds Mental health services
  • Togetherall – Free online peer and professional support is available 24/7, 365 days a year to our students. It’s anonymous, so no one will know you’ve chosen to use it unless you tell them!   
  • Student Space – A national support service from Student Minds offering telephone, webchat and text-based support through the day and during evenings and weekends.  
  • Leeds Mental Health helpline – Confidential support, advice, information and guidance for anyone concerned about their mental health and is available 24/7. Trained telephone advisors will provide support for people who need someone to talk to. They can also refer people to services for further help. Call the helpline on 0800 183 0558. 
  • While the Harassment and Misconduct Team are away, you can find information about support from local and national services with our support articles. 

Chaplaincy support

An out-of-hours number is available for pastoral support during the whole break. Call 07780 613862 to speak to the chaplain on duty. 

IT Help

The IT Service Desk, will be closed on bank holidays.  

IT self-help and logging a ticket

Get self-help and find tips and information here on the IT website. You can also chat with Falco, IT’s 24/7 chatbot.  You will need to be logged in to get the most from the IT website. Information on how to log a ticket or to request something new can be found at this quick guide.

Find out more information about what do when the Service Desk is closed.

Help with digital education systems

Staff Guides and Student Guides for our digital education systems are available at the Digital Education Systems Help website.

Logging tickets

All digital education systems will be monitored to ensure service provision during this period. It will still be possible to log tickets with the IT Service Desk, which will be looked at when the University reopens. We also have a basic out of hours phone service (0113 343 3333), which will be available 24/7.

Healthcare support 

If you are ill but it’s not an emergency, read through the advice on the NHS website. If you don’t have internet, you can dial 111 from your phone to speak to someone from the National Health Service (NHS).  

  • If it’s an emergency and you need to call an ambulance, dial 999 from your phone. 

Find out more information on our healthcare pages on healthcare services and how to use them.

Stay connected

Join our current student Facebook group, follow @UniversityofLeeds on Instagram, @UoLStudents on X (formerly known as Twitter) or the University of Leeds on Weibo. 

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