Christmas 2023 on Exeter Campuses

Events and activities on campus 

The Students’ Guild 

All events hosted by the Students’ Guild and our societies can be found here. We’ve also put together a handy guide to events happening in Devon over the winter break here (Exeter Guild) 

Pitch Up And Play with the Social Sports

Our Social Sports team have come up with a fantastic range of free sport sessions for you to enjoy and keep you active over the break. For more information see the sport section below or click here. 

Traditional Christmas dinner - Sunday 25 December 

Christmas services

There are a range of events taking place at Exeter Cathedral throughout this month, up to and including Christmas Day. You can find out further details of services here. For details of Christmas church services in Exeter, please contact chaplaincy@exeter.ac.uk or individual chaplains via the Chaplaincy webpages and their facebook pages. 

Dick Whittington at the Nortcott Theatre

Expect plenty of laughs, great music, amazing special effects and full-on fun for every generation with this fabulous rags-to-riches tale.

Sleeping Beauty at the Corn Exchange

For well over a decade Exeter Corn Exchange has been the home of traditional family fun at Christmas time. Join them for this heart-warming panto classic. Will Sleeping Beauty meet her prince?  

Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market

Visit the Exeter's Christmas Market from 17 November - 17 December for some delicious christmas spirit. Ride the Elf Express on Friday evenings, Saturday and Sunday or just browse the stalls. 

It will soon be Christmas and on Christmas day billions of people round the world will celebrate by sharing a Christmas meal with friends and family.   

We are hosting our annual Christmas day event for our student community, where you have a chance to join other students at Lopes Hall for a traditional Christmas Lunch. 

Lopes Hall will be decked out in lots of sparkly Christmas decorations and the tree lights will be on while our team of Chefs will be cooking a Traditional Christmas Lunch, your hosts serve you mulled wine, so you can enjoy the festive day together. 

When lunch is ready, you will be invited in the dining room where you will have enough time to pull your Christmas Cracker, before lunch is served.  There will also be a present from Santa waiting for you on the table. 

When you have finished your 2-course lunch and enjoyed your coffee and traditional mince pies, you will all be invited to the social area to watch the Royal Christmas message.  This is a British tradition which began in 1932. Where a broadcast is made by the Sovereign to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations and is the nation's top live program and is watched by 1 in 3 Britons. This year marks the first speech that will be made by King Charles III  

Tickets are limited and are available to purchase now using the below link: 

https://store.exeter.ac.uk/product-catalogue/residence-life 

Adult ticket £15, Child (8 years old or under) £10 
We have a limited number of tickets available free to students who would like to attend but are in financial hardship. If you would like to be considered for a ticket please email communities@exeterguild.com before 16 December. These tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Tickets sales will close at 12 midday on Monday 19th December. Subject to availability. 

Monday 11 – Friday 15 December
Term time opening hours see here for details:
SID:  https://www.exeter.ac.uk/sid/ 
Hubs: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/infopoints/openinghours/

Monday 18 – Friday 22 December
SID - Phone Lines, SID enquiries open 9.00am - 5.00pm
(SID @Info at St Luke's closed Wednesday - Friday)
Hubs - Info Point Desks/Phones/Hubs open Monday - Thursday 9.00am - 5.00pm
(Hubs and Info Points will be closed on Friday 22^nd December)

Saturday 23 December – Monday 1 January
All Info Point/Hubs and SID closed.

Tuesday 2 – Friday 5 January
Phone Lines, SID enquiries and Info Point Desks open 9.00am - 5.00pm

Forum study spaces

• Open 24/7 throughout Winter Break

Forum Library

• 24/7 from 23rd December – 2nd January (including study spaces)
• Library online chat available 24/7  throughout
• Library staff available at Forum Library,  28^th December 10.00-16.00. Normal service will be resumed on January 2^rd.
• Borrow and return items using the self-service machines
• Board games, festive reading, and films to borrow are available throughout

Student Services Centre study spaces

• 24/7 from 23rd December – 2nd January (including PC provision)

St Lukes campus

• Haighton Library closed  22nd December, reopening 2nd January

Study Zone
Monday 18 until Friday 22 December
Study Zone open 9.30- 5.00pm
Online Drop-ins Tuesday 19th 4.00-5.30pm and Thursday 21st 2.00-3.30pm.
Details: Study skills drop-ins (sharepoint.com)

Saturday 23 December - Monday 1 January
StudyZone services closed.

Tuesday 2 – Friday 5 January
Study Zone open 9.30- 5.00pm
Online Drop-ins Tuesday 2^nd 4.00-5.30pm and Thursday 4^th 2.00-3.30pm.
Details: Study skills drop-ins (sharepoint.com)

Monday 8^th January onwards
Normal service

International Student Support can be contacted in the usual ways until 3pm Friday 22 December after which we will close for the Christmas break. The team will be back at 9am on Tuesday 2 January 2024. 

If your question can’t wait, why not browse through our most popular links to help answer your questions:

Student visa information

Collecting your BRP card from the University

Graduate visa information

Travelling to the UK

Working during my studies

Lost or stolen BRP cards

Wellbeing Services will be operating a reduced service over the winter break. 

Up until Friday 23 December, please call 01392 724381 if you need any support. Our wellbeing and welfare teams are ready to assist you. 

From 4.30pm Friday 22 December, reopening on 9am Tuesday 2 January please contact Estate Patrol on 01392 723999. Estate Patrol is a mobile, response-based service covering all aspects of security, safety and welfare for staff and students. 

There is also a lot of information, advice and guidance on the University’s Wellbeing and Support webpages. This includes apps, webinars and workbooks which you may find helpful. 

You an access a wide range of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy based support online through Living Life to the Full, including courses on low mood, anxiety and stress. You can access Living Life to the Full through our A-Z of support services.

All students have access to Togetherall which is an online support community, offering peer and professional support and is available 24/7, 365 days of the year.

Postgraduate research students can also access Spectrum Life for counselling and support .

If you are experiencing difficulties with your mental health and want to speak with someone you can call First Response on 08081968708 First Response Service | DPT

You can also contact The Samaritans on 116123. Or 999 in an emergency.

The Student Health centre will be offering NHS GP services to students from 8.30am – 6pm Monday to Friday except for Bank Holidays of Monday 25, Tuesday 26 December 2023 and Monday 1 January 2024.

Please where possible continue to use Online Consultations and call 01392 6766676 if you have an urgent request. We can provide virtual appointments via the telephone or video and will arrange face to face assessments if clinically required.  St Thomas Medical Group | NHS GP Surgery

If you would like to request repeat medication please email d-icb.stthomasp@nhs.net detailing the medication you require. If you have not had the medication prescribed by the Student Health Centre team before, please send us an online consultation form.

Outside of these hours please phone NHS 111 for non-urgent medical advice. For medical emergencies please call 999.

CHAPLAINCY

Regular pastoral support will be in place until Friday 15 December.  Please contact chaplaincy@exeter.ac.uk or contact Ramona Nash on 07557 064976 (until 15 December). 

**Please be aware this is not an emergency service and for specific mental health support, please see the Wellbeing Services section**

Muslim Prayer – The Old Library prayer rooms (Streatham) and the prayer rooms at Staff House (St. Luke’s) will remain open during the University's closure period (25 December 2023 - 2 January 2024 inclusive) for students to access the prayer space.  This will be available via swipe card access.

The mosque will be open as usual for daily prayers throughout the Christmas period. Yousef Hindess will be attending evening prayer should you wish to meet with him or you can leave him a message at the office during the day. 

Looking for careers support this Vacation? Between Monday 18 December and Friday 5 January we’ll be open online only 10am to 3pm, excluding weekends. We’ll be there to help you via Live Chat from any page on our website, or email careers@exeter.ac.uk or phone us on +44 1392 72 4493.

We’ll be fully closed from 3pm Friday 22 December to 10am Tuesday 2 January for the University Closure period, but you’ve still got full access to Handshake, My Career Zone Digital and all the info and advice on our website www.exeter.ac.uk/careers

Residence Reception opening hours will differ between Monday 18 December and Tuesday 2 January. To find out your reception’s opening hours, please see here. If your reception isn’t open during this period and you need help with lost keys or any other emergencies, please contact Estate Patrol.

The Digital Hub will be shut for face-to-face support between the following dates:

• Friday, 15 December at 16:00 – opening 09:00, Tuesday 2 January 2024

You can book online 1:1 appointments during the break via the Digital Hub Sharepoint. We have many guides and videos available on the Digital Hub online and also you can find the solution to IT problems via the IT Knowledge Base.

Pitch up and Play

• Monday 18 December: 14:00-15:00 (Sports Hall): Basketball
• Tuesday 19 December: 14:00-15:00 (Studio 3 Sports Park): Table Tennis
• Wednesday 20 December: 14:00-15:00 (Sports Hall): Badminton
• Thursday 21 December: 14:00-15:00 (MUGA, Sports Park): Football
• Friday 22 December: 14:00-15:00 (Tennis Courts, Sports Park): Tennis
• Wednesday 27 December: 14:00-15:00 (Sports Hall): Badminton
• Thursday 28 December: 14:00-15:00 (MUGA, Sports Park): Football
• Friday 29 December: 14:00-15:00 (Tennis Courts, Sports Park): Tennis
• Tuedsay 2 January: 14:00-15:00 (Studio 3 Sports Park): Table Tennis

Sports Park (Streatham Campus)

• Saturday 16, Sunday 17: 08:45-18.00
• Monday 18 - Friday 22: 06:30-22:00
• Saturday 23: 08:45-18:00
• Sunday 24: 08:45-14:00
• Monday 25 and Tuesday 26: CLOSED
• Wednesday 27 - Saturday 30: 08:45-18:00
• Sunday 31: 08:45-14:00
• Monday 1 January: CLOSED
• Tuesday 2: 06.30-22.00 (Back To Normal Hours)

Sport - St Lukes Campus

• Saturday 16, Sunday 17: 08:30-15.00
• Monday 18 - Friday 22: 06:30-20:00
• Saturday 23: 08:30-14:00
• Sunday 24: 08:30-14:00
• Monday 25 and Tuesday 26: CLOSED
• Wednesday 27 - Friday 29: 06:30-15:00
• Saturday 30, Sunday 31: 08:30-14:00
• Monday 1 January: CLOSED
• Tuesday 2: 06.30-20.00 (Back To Normal Hours)

Fitness Class timetables

• We have many great  Fitness classes happening even though the Christmas break at Streatham and St Lukes. 

For the latest opening times of campus retail and catering click here. 

Guild Reception will be closed from Monday 18 December to Monday 8 January inclusive.

Students' Guild will be closed from Wednesday 20 December and will reopen on Tuesday 2 January. 
For more information click here. 

Guild Give It A Go events will be running over the break. Click here for details. 

The Estate Patrol Control Room is staffed 24/7 this includes the Christmas closure period.

Estate Patrol Officers will be available to provide advice, direction and attend incidents as required. The Non-emergency telephone line is 01392 723999, in cases of emergency individuals should contact the emergency services on 999 and then contact the Estate Patrol through their emergency line 01392 722222.  

In the event of an emergency involving student welfare, Estate Patrol (01392 723999) will be able to contact Student Services Senior Management Team staff to co-ordinate a response.

During the Christmas closure period Saturday 23 December to Monday 1 January inclusive, the heating systems in all academic and academic related buildings listed below will be run in an energy saving mode that will maintain a minimum building temperature of around 12’C.

The temperature within buildings will be returned to normal levels within sufficient time to ensure the buildings are up to temperature for our return on Tuesday 2 January.

Buildings run in energy saving mode:

• Amory Building (all except research lab areas)
• Arabic & Islamic
• Business School Blg One
• Business School Streatham Court
• Business School Xfi
• Business School Creative Quadrant
• Byrne House
• Clayden House
• Clydesdale House
• Cornwall House
• CREWW Building
• Duryard House
• Laver Building - excluding the IT Data Centre which operates as normal
• Devonshire House
• Estates Services Clydesdale Rise
• Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
• Forum Offices
• Harrison Building (all except research areas)
• Hatherly Building (all except research areas)
• Hope Hall offices
• Innovation Centre 1
• Innovation 2 Radiators
• Kay Labs
• Kay House
• Knightley
• Lafrowda House
• Lazenby
• Newman and Peter Chalk Centre
• Northcote House
• Old Library (except data centre)
• University of Exeter Medical School admin areas
• Physics (all except research areas)
• Queen’s Building
• Reed Hall
• Reed Mews Careers and Health Centre
• Roborough House
• Thornlea/Alexander Building/Whitehouse
• Science Park V Simulator (except research equipment areas)
• St. Luke’s Baring Court
• St. Luke’s College House
• St.Luke’s North Cloisters
• St. Luke’s Richards
• St. Luke’s Smeale
• St.Luke’s Staff House
• St. Luke’s South Cloisters (except research areas)
• St.Lukes X Keys
• Streatham Farm
• SWIOT Building
• Washington Singer & Sir Henry Welcome (all except labs and aquaria)
• Wellbeing Building

Temperatures in residential buildings will be maintained at normal levels unless it is specifically requested to run them in energy saving mode.

The heating in the following buildings will not be altered:

• Amory Labs,
• Biocatalysis
• Forum Street
• Geoffrey Pope, Labs & Research areas
• Hatherly Labs & Research
• Innovation Centre 2 Air Systems
• LSI Labs & research,
• UE Medical School Labs,
• Northcote Theatre,
• Physics Helium Store
• St. Luke’s Chapel

Normal service until Friday 22 December, re-starting Tuesday 2 January.