Over the winter break we close most of our campus to reduce our environmental impact and ensure our buildings are secure. Whilst our official closure begins at 1pm on Wednesday 24 December, a number of buildings will start to close from Friday 19 December. Here’s what you need to know:
Wednesday 17 December: Due to a maintenance issue, the Fusion Building is closed from 12pm on Wednesday 17 December, re-opening on Monday 5 January.
Tuesday 23 December: All remaining buildings and areas – aside from the three below – will be locked from 8pm on 23 December. No access will be allowed after this time and they will be hard locked until Monday 5 January.
From Friday 24 December to Monday 5 January, the following areas will be open:
- Bournemouth Gateway Building (Library/Open Access)
- Sir Michael Cobham Library (Library/Open Access - ground and first floor only)
- Faith and Reflection/prayer facilities in Poole House (P221/P226) and in BGB (BG-301) will available. Please notify respective security/receptions on arrival and departure.
If you’re on campus over the holidays and experience or notice any issues with buildings or facilities, please talk to the staff in Poole House or Bournemouth Gateway Building receptions who can let our Estates team know. If you’re involved in, or witness an emergency on campus, call 01202 962222.
Please also check our cost of living support page for resources both on and off campus.
For urgent welfare issues, BU’s Welfare Duty Officers are on call and can be contacted by calling 01202 962222.
Check the alternative opening hours over the break:
Additional Learning Support (ALS)
The ALS office will be closed from 4pm on Tuesday 23 December, and re-open on Monday 5 January at 9am.
If you have a query please complete our Online Enquiry Form and a member of the team will reach out when the office re-opens.
AskBU
AskBU will be available at The Hub in Poole House until 4pm on Tuesday 24 December, and at Bournemouth Gateway Building until 4.30pm on Friday 19 December. The phone line will be open until 12pm midday on Wednesday 24 December. During the break, you can access our online chatbot for more information.
You can submit enquiries via our Online Enquiry Form throughout the Christmas break but we won’t respond until we return, week starting 5 January. We aim to respond to any enquiries submitted by Tuesday 23 December before we close fully for the break.
CareersBU
The CareersBU Team will be available in The Careers Zone at Talbot Campus until 4pm on Friday 19 December. Between Monday 23 December and 12pm on Wednesday 24 December, there will be some availability for online career appointments.
Over the winter break, you can access the online resources on MyCareerHub 24/7.
Faith & Reflection
The Faith & Reflection Centre will be closed from 8pm on Friday 19th December until Monday 5th January. Prayer facilities in P221/P226, Poole House and in BG-301, Bournemouth Gateway Building will available. Please check in with the building reception on arrival and departure.
Should you require support around accessing a Muslim prayer space over this period, please email Sister Tama Merdaci; [email protected].
Future Students Enquiries
The Future Students Enquiry Team service will be closed for the winter break from 4:30pm on Tuesday 23 December and will reopen at 9am on Monday 5 January 2026.
IT Services
Phone support
The IT Service Desk phone lines will remain open 24/7 throughout the break. Calls for basic IT issues will be handled by our Out of Hours team, and any emergency or major issues will be directed to the appropriate BU support. Call 01202 965515 or Freephone (UK only) 0808 196 2332
Live chat
Live chat will be unavailable from 12 noon, Wednesday 24 December – 8am, Monday 5 January.
Self-service portal (Hornbill)
Any self-service tickets logged between 12 noon, Wednesday 24 December and 8am, Monday 5 January will be reviewed when the university reopens on Monday 5 January.
Off-campus access to computers
Over the break, you will still be able to connect to a BU computer to access the software and applications you need for your work or studies using the VMware Horizon or VPN services.
Libraries
The Weston Library on Lansdowne Campus and parts of the ground and first floors of The Sir Michael Cobham Library on Talbot Campus will be open 24/7 throughout the winter break. There won’t be any library staff on site from 1pm on Wednesday 24 December until 10am on Monday 5 January, but self-service will be available. However, please note that there will be no access to books in The Sir Michael Cobham Library during this period.
Please be aware that you’ll need your student or staff ID card to get into both libraries.
Library staff will be operating their online chat service until 1pm on Tuesday 24 December and it will reopen at 10am on Monday 5 January. We will continue monitoring emails sent to e-resources help and library support throughout the break (other than bank holidays), but please allow one working day for a response to your query.
Medical Centre
The on-campus medical centre will close at 5pm on Friday 19 December and will reopen on Monday 12 January at 8.45am. If you need medical advice, you can:
- Speak to a local pharmacy for minor illnesses
- Call Talbot Medical Centre in Wallisdown, 63 Kinson Road, BH10 4BX on 01202 636400 or use the online form
- Call NHS 111 or download the NHS App
- If it is an emergency, please call 999
- For emergency contraception, please contact Sexual Health Dorset on 0300 303 1948.
Residential Services
Residential Services and LettingsBU will be closed from 1pm on Wednesday 24 December and will reopen at 9am on Monday 5 January. The teams will not be responding to emails or telephone calls during this time.
- If you’re a first-year student living in one of BU's halls of residence, you will have a site-based member of staff available 24/7 for all enquiries over the period. Your accommodation team should have sent you out who to contact over the Christmas and New Year period, but you can also call or go to the hall's main reception desk for assistance.
- If you’re living in St Johns, Unilet, Student Village or a university-managed LettingsBU property, you should continue to use your usual out-of-hours support. If you are unsure, please call 01202 965001 for assistance.
- If you’re living in any other private student accommodation, you should have been given contact details to call by your landlord, agent or halls of residence provider. If you have yet to receive these, please contact your accommodation provider directly.
If you’re staying in one of BU's student halls of residence, the Student Village or a Unilet property over Christmas and New Year, the ResLifeBU team has activities lined up for you. The team will be sending you details of how to get involved, or you can visit their LinkTree for more information.
For emergency situations, please call the main BU emergency number 01202 962222.
SportBU
SportBU will be closed from 8pm on Tuesday 23 December (last entry 7pm) and will reopen at 8am on Monday 5 January.
Student welfare and support
If you need wellbeing support over the winter break, you can call our Student Assistance Programme, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to speak to a trained counsellor or adviser. The team can offer emotional and practical support on a variety of issues.
The University Retreat will close at 9pm on Saturday 20 December and reopen at 2pm on Monday 5 January. During this time, you can access The Retreat at Hahnemann House, Bournemouth town centre, or virtual support is available at Community Front Rooms, or you can call the 24/7 mental health helpline Connection on 0800 652 0190.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also wish to contact the following organisations: Shelter on 0344 515 2000 for housing support, the Samaritans on 116 123 for personal support, the NHS 111 (for physical and mental health support).
Please also see the external and online resources section below.
For urgent welfare issues, BU’s Welfare Duty Officers are on call and can be contacted by calling 01202 962222.
Student Wellbeing Service
The Student Wellbeing service will close from 4:30pm on Friday 20 December.
University Music
The Music Practice Rooms will be unavailable from 4pm on Friday 20 December - please make sure you collect your personal instruments from the store by this time, if you’re taking them home for the holiday. The Practice Rooms will reopen at 9am on Monday 5 January.
The Music Office will closed at 5pm on Thursday 18 December and reopen at 9am on Monday 12 January, when we’ll respond to enquiries that have been sent over the break to [email protected].
Vacation bus services
The U1 bus won't be running between Monday 22 December and Friday 2 January. The U3 will be running on a reduced vacation basis. Please check the Unibus website for timetables.
Buses operated by Morebus will continue to run over the Christmas period. If you need to travel between Talbot and Lansdowne campuses, you can catch the numbers 6 or 17 buses which run regularly. Please visit the Morebus webpages for detailed timetable information.
Campus food outlets
The Atrium coffee shop in Poole House (Talbot Campus) will be open:
- Monday 22 December, 8:30am - 4pm
- Tuesday 23 December, 8:30am - 4pm
- Wednesday 24 December: 8am - 12pm
The Alumni Cafe in Bournemouth Gateway Building (Lansdowne Campus) will be open:
- Monday 22 December, 8:30am - 3:30pm
- Tuesday 23 December, 8:30am - 3:30pm
- Wednesday 24 December: Closed
Our outlets will reopen on Monday 5 January – check the website for specific times for both Talbot and Lansdowne Campus.
Parking
You're reminded that parking enforcement remains in place during vacation times and anyone parking in a BU permit holder car park must hold a valid permit.
External and online resources
While the university services are closed over the winter break, you may find the following external services helpful if you need immediate support:
- NHS 111 (the non-emergency number to contact the NHS)
- Police 101 (the non-emergency number to contact the police if it is less urgent than a 999 call)
- Student Assistance Programme (free 24/7 confidential helpline and digital resource)
- Connection (24/7 mental health helpline)
- Dorset Mind
- Samaritans or Samaritans Bournemouth & District (for urgent emotional support)
- Steps 2 Wellbeing (for anxiety, depression, stress, mental health and wellbeing)
- Student Space (for wellbeing resources and advice from Student Mind)
- The Retreat (mental health support from 4.30pm-11.30pm every day)
- The Shores (if you have experienced sexual abuse)
- UKCISA (for concise and student friendly guidance on all aspects of international student support including immigration)
- GOV.UK - Find an immigration adviser (if you need urgent immigration representation).
Returning to BU
As we prepare for reopening the campus on Monday 5 January 2026, we’ll let you know if there’s a weather warning for ice and snow. We’ll open the campuses as usual, but if weather and travel conditions are severe, updates will be posted on Facebook, the university website, Brightspace and by email to your university accounts.
You can also call BU’s Information Line – 01202 968999 – which will provide regular recorded updates in the event of adverse weather. Please be aware that the campuses will remain open unless otherwise notified.
