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Information on closures and support over the holiday period

Find all the information you need to know about opening times and availability of services during the Christmas closure.

Published:
Christmas 2020

Holiday opening hours

Our campuses will remain open throughout the holiday period with study space available every day. However, there will be changes to opening hours and availability of services.

Please be aware that all central University buildings (with the exception of the Libraries and study spaces, and some outlets) will close from 5pm this Friday, 18 December, and will reopen on Monday 4 January.

Staying on campus over the holidays? 

Residential Support staff have organised a huge number of activities for residents over the Christmas holiday period, some of which are being delivered in tandem with the Students’ Union. Find out more.

Help in a crisis

For advice and guidance about how to access help and support in times of crisis, please visit the Help in a Crisis webpage.

If you are in immediate danger of harming yourself or others, call 999.

Support over the holidays: look after yourself

Please visit the alternative support to counselling pages for a carefully curated list of websites, helplines and email counselling, blogs and lots of advice and information.

  • QMSU's Study Well campaign is an initiative to support and improve your mental health and wellbeing during your studies here at Queen Mary.
  • Be Kind To Your Mind has helpful tips for looking after your own mental health and wellbeing from your Students’ Union.
  • Togetherall can help you get support, take control and feel better whether you’re struggling to sleep, feeling low, feeling stressed or unable to cope with student life. It provides a safe space online to get things off your chest, explore your feelings, get creative and learn how to self-manage your mental health and wellbeing. It also provides access to a 24/7 online community and professional support from trained counsellors. To join Togetherall, sign up using your Queen Mary email.
  • We’re aware of the increased media coverage about getting together with families at Christmas this year, which of course is not the case for very many people, and can feel difficult. If you do find this a difficult period, the organisation StandAlone has produced a Festive Guide for those who are not in touch with their families.
  • Given the uncertainty of the pandemic, you may be worried about what might happen during the Christmas break. Student Space has published a range of articles to help you think about, plan for and manage the end of term.
  • Mind has a page exploring difficult feelings about Christmas during the coronavirus pandemic. It has tips to help you cope, including if you're spending Christmas alone.
  • Join the QMUL On Campus & In London at Christmas 2020 group on Facebook to stay connected and make plans with other Queen Mary students who will be staying in London and on campus over the holidays.
  • The Counsellors in our Advice and Counselling Service will be publishing articles on managing motivation and mood as we come to the end of term and on looking after your emotional wellbeing during the festive period in the counselling blog. There is a blog post on managing exam stress and managing wellbeing during exams in the New Year so follow the blogs and look out for those!

It’s a good idea to prepare for difficult feelings that might come up over the holiday and plan what you will do if that happens. Have a think about what you might find helpful or what has helped in the past. Is there someone you can reach out to connect to? Are there activities you enjoy that improve your mood?  Here are some ideas of support such as helplines for when we are closed:

List of services available during the holiday period 

Libraries and study space bookings

Mile End Library

  • Saturday 19 to Wednesday 23 December: 10-10pm
  • Thursday 24 to Monday 28 December: CLOSED
  • Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 December: 10am-10pm
  • Friday 1 January: CLOSED
  • Saturday 2 to Sunday 3 January: 10am-10pm

Whitechapel Library

  • Saturday 19 to Sunday 20 December: 10am-10pm
  • Monday 21 December to Friday 1 January: CLOSED
  • Saturday 2 to Sunday 2 January: 10am-10pm

West Smithfield Library

  • Saturday 19 to Sunday 20 December: CLOSED
  • Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 December: 12 noon-8-pm
  • Thursday 24 to Monday 28 December: CLOSED
  • Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 December: 12 noon-8pm
  • Friday 1 January to Sunday 3 January: CLOSED

 

From Monday 4 January to 22 January, both the Mile End and Whitechapel libraries will be open from 8am until 12 midnight daily.

Canalside and Graduate Centre study spaces

NEW! Library Services are pleased to announce that you can now turn up and book into study space on the day, as long as spaces are available. We do advise that you book ahead where possible though. You will be able to book space for exams from 16 December.

Please note: The Hive will be close from Saturday 19 December to Sunday 3 January.

Find out more details about opening times over the holiday, revision and exam period.

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IT Service Desk: 24/7 live chat and phone support available

IT Services is providing 24/7 phone and live chat support over the holidays. If you call the IT Service Desk on 020 7882 8888 or click the IT Help Chat button, you will be put through to an operator who can offer general advice and help with requests such as password resets, login issues and Wi-Fi connection issues.

Find out more about IT support available over the holidays.

Staying safe online

Make sure you stay safe online over the holidays. Queen Mary's Information Security team have put together some useful information to help you think before you click.

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Security

Security will be providing normal cover, patrolling and monitoring all Queen Mary campuses on a 24-hour basis during the holidays. The Security Control Rooms at Mile End, Whitechapel and Charterhouse Square will be open as usual to respond to any requests and enquiries that need immediate action during this time.

A member of Security can always be contacted on 020 7882 5000.

In case of emergency, call 020 7882 3333. You can also call the Police on 999.

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Residential Services and Support

Residences Reception in France House will be open as usual (i.e. 24/7) throughout the holiday period.  Residents remaining on campus for all or part of this period should come to the Residences Reception for assistance with any urgent maintenance issues in their accommodation and for wellbeing support.

Residential Support staff have organised a huge number of activities for residents over the Christmas holiday period, some of which are being delivered in tandem with the Students’ Union. Find out more.

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Advice and Counselling Service

Queen Mary’s Advice and Counselling Service will close on Friday 18 December and reopen on Monday 4 January.

Please visit the Alternative Support to Counselling pages for a carefully curated list of websites, helplines and email counselling, blogs and lots of advice and information.

During the closure period, students may find content on the international student information pages helpful. Similarly, ‘How to stay in the UK Information’ is available for EU/EEA/Swiss students given that Brexit will take place over the Christmas closure period and will include the latest advice that we can provide.

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Student Enquiry Centre

The Student Enquiry Centre (SEC) will close on Friday 18 December and reopen on Thursday 7 January for face-to-face enquiries. You can still log enquiries through SEC Online in your MySIS portal.

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Fees Office 

The Queens' Building Cashiers Office and Fees Office will be closed from Monday 14 December 2020 to Sunday 3 January.

On campus services will resume on Monday 4 January, and opening times will be Monday-Friday 10am-4pm.  

If you need to contact the Fees Offfice over the holidays, please continue to send in communications to the following email addresses:

Communications will be monitored over the holiday closure, but please be aware that you may experience delays in the response. 

You can make online card payments

Queen Mary banking information can be found on the Queen Mary website. 

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Student Health Service

The Student Health Service on campus will close from Monday 21 December and reopen on Monday 4 January.  

Registered patients at the Student Health Service can visit the Globe Town Surgery while the Student Health Service is closed. The two sites are fully linked (ie they have access to the patient’s medical records at both). Opening hours for Globe Town Surgery during this period are available on the Student Health website.

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Disability and Dyslexia Service

Queen Mary’s Disability and Dyslexia Service will close on Friday 18 December and reopen on Monday 4 January.

For information on Examination Access Arrangements is available on their website.

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The Chaplaincy

St Benet’s will not be open for drop-in over the holidays.

If you need to speak to someone, Reverend Ella Sharples can be reached by phone/text/email/zoom at any time over the holidays. Her contact details are 07740547689 and e.sharples@qmul.ac.uk.

She also have details of local churches who are very happy to personally welcome any students to their Christmas services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – you don’t need to be a Christian. 

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The Curve

The Curve at Mile End will be open as follows: 

  • Thursday 17 to Friday 18 December: 8am-5pm
  • Saturday 19 to Sunday 20 December: 10.30am-2.30pm
  • Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 December: 9am-4.30pm
  • Thursday 24 to Monday 28 December: CLOSED
  • Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 December: 10am-3.30pm
  • Friday 1 January: CLOSED
  • Saturday 2 to Sunday 3 January: 10am-3.30pm
  • Monday 4 to Friday 8 January: 8am-7pm (usual semester offer but scaled down)
  • Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 January: 10.30am-2.30pm
  • Monday 11 January onwards: Normal opening hours

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Café Grad

Café Grad located in the Graduate Centre at Mile End will be open as follows:

  • Thursday 17 to Friday 18 December: 8.30am-3.30pm
  • Saturday 19 to Sunday 3 January: CLOSED
  • Monday 4 to Friday 8 January: 9am-3.30pm
  • Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 January: CLOSED
  • Monday 11 January onwards: Normal opening hours

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Nucleus

Nucleus located on the ground floor of Centre of the cell at Whitechapel will be open as follows:

  • Thursday 17 to Friday 18 December: 8am-3pm
  • Saturday 19 to Sunday 3 January: CLOSED
  • Monday 4 January: 9am-3pm (limited food offering)
  • Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 January: 9am-3.30pm (limited food offering)
  • Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 January: CLOSED
  • Monday 11 January onwards: Normal opening hours

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Students’ Union Hub, BLSA Building, Qmotion, Village Shop and other QMSU outlets including shops and cafe

Hub and BLSA Building 

The Students’ Union Hub is now closed until early January.

The BLSA Building is open 11am-5pm until Friday 18 December. It will close from Saturday 19 December and reopen on Monday 4 January.

Qmotion

  • Thursday 3 December to Sunday 20 December: Weekdays - 7am-9pm / Weekends - 10am-6pm
  • Monday 21 December to Wednesday 23 December: 10am-6pm
  • Thursday 24 December to Friday 1 January: CLOSED
  • Saturday 2 January to Sunday 10 January: Weekdays - 7am-9pm / Weekends - 10am-6pm
  • Normal hours from Monday 11 January

Village Shop

The Village Shop will be open between Christmas and New Year for the first time to support students remaining on campus or studying in the Library. 

  • Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December: 12noon-8pm
  • Monday 14 to Friday 18 December: 9am-4pm
  • Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December: 12noon-4pm
  • Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 December: 9am-3pm
  • Thursday 24 December until Bank Holiday Monday 28 December: CLOSED
  • Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 December: 9am-3pm
  • New Years Day to Sunday 3 January: CLOSED
  • Monday 4 January to Friday 8 January: 9am-4pm
  • Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 January: CLOSED
  • Normal hours from Monday 11 January 

Visit the QMSU website for full opening time details. 

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