Winter break
Whatever you’re doing during the Winter Break, we're still here for you. On this page you’ll find information about our support services, service changes and events happening in the city. Most campus buildings and university services will close between 12:00-14:00 on Wednesday 24 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026 for the University’s Winter Break closure period. School offices and askUS will be closed during this time, with askUS closing at 12:00noon.
If you have urgent needs during Winter Break contact:
- Our campus security team (full information below) – easily contacted through the SafeZone app or via phone on +44 (0)161 295 4773 (for non-emergencies) or +44 (0)161 295 3333 (emergencies)
- 24-hour HealthHero telephone helpline for emotional support from trained counsellors
Jump to a section
Closures and reduced opening hours
Information around services and their closure periods, as well as outlets and student services remaining open with reduced hours.
Contacting urgent support
Find out what to do if there is an urgent matter on campus during the Winter Break.
Activities and events
There's lots to keep you busy if you're staying in Salford or Manchester during the Winter Break!
Wellbeing
Find wellbeing advice, guidance for urgent problems and links to local organisations who are able to support you during the winter break.
Closures and reduced opening hours
Although most campus buildings and university services will close during Winter Break, a number of services and outlets will remain open with reduced opening hours. Below you can find information about askUS, Digital IT services, library services, the Faith Centre, eat and drink outlets and more.
Services over the Winter Break
askUS enquiries
The askUS enquiries service will close at 12:00 on Wednesday 24 December 2025, and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026. Please get in touch by 10:00 on Wednesday 24 December to make sure we have time to answer your questions before the Winter Break.
You can self-serve information by visiting the askUS section or current students page.
You can still email askUS on askus@salford.ac.uk and they will respond as soon as possible when the service reopens on Monday 5 January 2026.
DIT provision - your account, software and University IT systems
The Digital IT Service Desk will close at 14:00 on Wednesday 24 December. Normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 08:00-17:00) will resume from Monday 5 January 2026.
Before the Digital IT Service Desk closes, make sure you can access your account during the closure period. For you to be able to access your university account seamlessly throughout the break, we strongly recommended that you set up additional account authentication methods, such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
If you acquire a new mobile device over the closure period, please ensure you update your MFA method to include your new device before losing access to the current device you use. If you fail to do this, you may not be able to access your university account and we will not be able to help you while we are closed.
Eat and Drink outlets
Our Eat and Drink outlets will be closed at various points over the Winter Break. Visit the 'choose a campus' section on the Eat and Drink page for full details. Key dates are:
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From Saturday 13 December the Library Cafe and Stacked will close at 14:00, and MediaCity Cafe will close at 15:00
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At 15:00 on Friday 19 December Allerton Convenience Store will close
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At 13:00 on Wednesday 24 December the rest of the units (including Maxwell Restaurant, Allerton Restaurant, Allerton Starbucks, Maxwell Cafe, New Adelphi Cafe, and Stacked) will close
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All outlets will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026
The Old Fire Station Bakery
The Old Fire Station Bakery will close at 14:00 on Wednesday 24 December, and reopen on Thursday 8 January 2026.
Faith Centre
The Faith Centre will close at 14:00 on Wednesday 24 December, and reopen at 08:30 on Monday 5 January 2026.
Library services
Clifford Whitworth Library will be offering reduced operating hours and service with some closures from Monday 20 December until Sunday 4 January 2026. For the full Library opening times, visit their webpage.
The Cube, Allerton and MediaCity Library will close from 14:00 Wednesday 24 December, and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
If you loan an item from the Library before Wednesday 24 December, you will not need to return them until we reopen fully on Monday 5 January 2026.
Online resources will remain available and you can self-serve information by visiting the Library and Careers website sections:
School offices
School offices will close at 14:00 on Wednesday 24 December, and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
You can self-serve school-based information on Blackboard programme and module sites, but please note that academic staff will not be available to answer questions during this time.
Sports Centre
The Sports Centre will close at 14:00 on Wednesday 24 December, and reopen at 07:00 on Monday 5 January 2026.
Students' Union, Atmosphere and Coffee Hut
The Students’ Union will close on Friday 19 December, and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
Atmosphere and the Coffee Hut will close on Friday 12 December, and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
MediaCity Building
The MediaCity Building will close at 14:00 on Wednesday 24 December and reopen at 07:00 on Monday 5 January 2026.
Urgent support
- Download the SafeZone App - to access emergency assistance on-campus should you need it, including first aid and to report emergency incidents and concerns.
- If you have an urgent problem or a critical need where you need immediate support or you/someone else is at risk of harm, access our advice for urgent support. This includes information about support for crisis events including suicide, self-harm, violence, mental health and risks to others. Our 24-hour HealthHero telephone helpline provides emotional support from trained counsellors. Calls can be made to +44 (0)800 970 1080.
- If you live in student accommodation and have an urgent problem or critical need, your accommodation provider should be able to assist you and connect you to relevant support.
Additional safety advice
Reporting concerns
You can still make reports via Report It if you experience or witness any concerning behaviour during the Winter Break. However, please note that our Respect, Culture and Behaviours team will not be working during this period and will not address reports until after the Winter Break. If you are at immediate risk of harm, please contact our security service through the SafeZone app or the phone numbers listed above, or the appropriate authorities on 999.
Any reports made during the Winter Break will be picked up by the team from Monday 5 January 2026.
Contacting Security
For urgent matters, please call the security team on +44 (0)161 295 4773 (for non-emergencies) or +44 (0)161 295 3333 (for emergencies), and they will escalate to relevant colleagues working over this time.
General safety tips
Although we have a 24/7 security service across campus, we want to remind you of some trusted safety advice when on-campus:
- Keep valuables out of sight as items could be quickly snatched away or dropped accidentally
- Use the well-lit and busiest routes through campus such as the Broadwalk wherever possible, avoiding unlit shortcuts if you can
- Look out for and report anything that looks suspicious
- Look out for each other and call for help if you think someone is in distress
- Download the SafeZone app
- Add our contact numbers listed above into your phone so you have them if you need them
Activities and Events
Staying in Salford or Manchester during the Winter Break? There's lots to keep you busy, whether you want to make friends, get in the festive spirit or try something new. Here are just a few of our favourites...
- Tue 16 Dec: Atmosphere Run Club, Students' Union
- Until Mon 22 Dec: Manchester Christmas Markets
- Until Wed 24 Dec: It's a Wonderful Life film screening, HOME Manchester
- Until Tue 30 Dec: Illuminations at RHS Bridgewater
- by Mon 5 Jan: Design our community garden (and win £500!)
Wellbeing
It's important to look after your mental health all year round, but we know it can be especially challenging in winter as the days get shorter and the temperature drops. Below you can find wellbeing advice, 'tip sheets', guidance for urgent problems and links to local organisations who are able to support you during the winter break.
Stress and anxiety can creep up on us all, even when we least expect it. We want to make sure that you're fully supported in bettering your wellbeing, whilst knowing how to excel in your learning. Please visit the Wellbeing and Counselling page to find support.
