The University will be closed for the winter break from Friday 20 December, reopening on Monday 6 January 2025. During this time, most UoA staff will be out of the office. Please refer to the services below for information on events and support available during this time, as well as the availability of some teams throughout December.
Student Helpline: 24/7 Counselling Support
The Student Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It offers immediate emotional support from qualified counsellors. Contact the helpline by phone using the numbers below or download the free Spectrum.Life app to access the online chat and lots of practical advice to support your wellbeing. Sign-up using your @abdn.ac.uk and institutional code ABERDEEN.
- Student Helpline freephone number (UK) 0808 196 2707
- Outside of UK 00353 1518 0277
Students’ Union Christmas Events
The Students’ Union will host a number of events over the holidays giving you the chance to meet new people while taking part in fun activities. From movie nights to arts and crafts and Christmas Olympics, check out the SU Events page to find out what’s on.
Need a warm place to study?
Several rooms will be available in the MacRobert Building to keep you cosy. Most other UoA buildings, including all libraries, will be closed. Study Spaces, Support & Resources | Students | The University of Aberdeen (abdn.ac.uk)
Medical Care
If you are unwell over the winter break, you can use the services below for medical care.
- GP Support: Contact your GP in the first instance. Remember you need to have a UK phone number for your doctor to call you back. Pick up free SIM cards from Infohub before 4pm on the 22 December.
- Pharmacy: Your local pharmacist can advise and prescribe medication for minor health concerns.
- Emergency Services: In a medical emergency, you should dial 999. You should only call the emergency service when you, or someone else, is seriously ill or injured.
Check the Know-Who-To-Turn-To guide for helpful guidance on NHS services.
December Availability
University Libraries
The Sir Duncan Rice, Taylor and Medical Libraries will close at 5.00pm on Friday 20 December and reopen on Monday 6 January 2025.
Full details of their opening hours in January can be found on the Opening Hours webpage.
9U Shuttle Bus
The 9U shuttle bus will stop at 6.15pm on Friday 20 December and restart at 7:50am on 6 January 2025.
Student Advice & Support
The Student Advice & Support drop-in will be open between 1pm and 3pm, Monday – Thursday, until 19 December. The team can be found on the top floor of the Students’ Union Building for questions about support for disabled students, study-related adjustments, personal and money matters, mental health or wellbeing.
The Student Advice & Support team will be available via email (student.support@abdn.ac.uk) and for pre-arranged appointments, Monday – Friday, 10am – 4pm, until 4pm on Friday 20 December.
The Student Advice & Support Office will close at 4pm on Friday 20 December until 10am on Monday 6 January. Please visit the website or use the Student Helpline for support in a crisis.
Infohub
The Infohub will close at 4pm on 19 December and operate an online service on Friday 20 December until 4pm. The office on the High Street will reopen at 10am on 6 January 2025.
Careers & Employability Service
The Careers and Employability Service will have appointments available until Friday 20 December. Questions submitted via MyCareerHub up to midnight on Tuesday 17 December, will receive a response by 4pm on Friday 20 December.
Queries submitted after this date will receive a response from Monday 6 January 2025. The team will be out of the office during the festive break and appointments resume week beginning 6 January 2025.
Visit the Careers and Employability webpage for further information and resources.
Multi-Faith Chaplaincy
The Multi-Faith Chaplaincy will close at 12.00pm on Thursday 19 December.
LapSafe Lockers
The LapSafe Lockers in the Sir Duncan Rice Library, Polwarth Library and MacRobert Building will be unavailable from 7am on Friday 20 December. Please return loaned devices to the LapSafe locker by 5pm on Friday 20 December. If you are unable to meet this deadline, please make sure the device is stored securely over the break and return it when buildings re-open on 6 January 2025. Fines for overdue laptops will not be issued during this period. The LapSafe Locker at Hillhead Student Village will continue to operate as normal during this time.
Hillhead Student Villlage
Hillhead Student Village will be operational throughout the festive period.
From Monday 23 December, the central building will be open between 2pm - 10pm each day, with 24 hour service resuming on 6 January 2025.
Between the hours of 2pm and 10 pm – residents will be able to access badminton, pickle ball, table tennis, pool tables and also the community hub where they can access the TV room, chill out lounge, reflective space and study area if required.
A resident assistant will be on duty each day for any welfare issues that may arise and also for any interaction with residents over the festive period – there will be tea, coffee available each day for residents as well as mince pies on xmas day.
There will also be some activities days throughout the period and these are to be announced and communicated to residents in December.
The main reception desk will be available 24 hours a day for calls from residents with any issues – all accommodation blocks have a phone at the entrance foyer and the phone numbers to call are at the side of the phone.