Support for students and staff over the winter break 2025/26
As semester one of the 2025/26 academic year draws to a close, please see LJMU’s opening times for buildings and services over the coming weeks. The support available for students and staff plus our LJMU wellbeing resources are also detailed below.
Campus opening hours: LJMU buildings
The university and most student services will close at 5pm on Tuesday 23 December 2025 and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
Campus Services will close buildings from 5pm on Tuesday 23 December and will resume normal operations from Monday 5 January 2026.
The Student Life Building will be the only generally accessible building during this time.
Student Life Building will remain open 24/7
The Student Life Building will remain open 24/7 over the winter break, including Christmas Day, and security will be based at reception.
Catering outlets will remain closed although vending machines will be available.
Security can always be contacted via the phone number on the back of student or staff ID cards (0151 231 2222) or via the SafeZone app. The SafeZone mobile app connects you with the University’s Security Team at the touch of a button. Whether you need urgent help, first aid, or just some advice, SafeZone ensures support is always nearby.
Other buildings on campus
Most university buildings will close on Tuesday 23 December at 5pm and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
The university also plan to operate condensed hours from Monday 15 December to Monday 22 December 2025 in all the main buildings, with each closing down at 7pm.
The only exceptions will be the Student Life Building which will remain open 24 hours. The Libraries will operate as usual until Tuesday 23 December when they close at 5pm. The Libraries will then reopen on Monday 5 January.
Receptions and Estate helpdesk
From Monday 15 December, reception desks and the Estate helpdesk will be staffed between the hours of 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. The Estate helpdesk will follow normal out of hours procedures from 4pm and calls will continue to be answered. After 5pm on 23 December, any helpdesk calls will be diverted to security. Normal operating hours will resume on Monday 5 January 2026.
Support Services for Students
Student Life and Wellbeing
The Student Advice and Wellbeing services at the Student Life Building will close at 4pm on Tuesday 23 December 2025 and reopen Monday 5th January 2026. Services at Byrom Street will close on Friday 19 December at 4pm and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
Although support services are suspended for the winter break, the Student Life Building will be open throughout the period, and Staff from Student Life and Wellbeing will be available between 10am and 4pm on:
- Monday 29 December
- Tuesday 30 December
- Friday 2 January
This service will offer general support for any queries that you might have, and to book an appointment for you when services reopen. For further information about services offered during usual opening and to access additional resources and advice, please visit our Student Support pages.
Student Futures: Careers, Employability and Enterprise
Walk-in Careers Zone services, 1:1 career advice and guidance appointments and drop in CV Cafes are available until Friday 19 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026. A comprehensive range of digital employability tools and resources is available on the Careers Zone 24/7 platform.
Walk-in Unitemps services will close in the Student Life Building and Byrom Street campus from 5pm on Tuesday 23 December until 9am on Monday 5 January 2026.
Unitemps’ main mailbox (unitemps@ljmu.ac.uk) will be available from 24 December to 5 January for any queries or concerns.
The latest round of Discovery Internships will close on Sunday 14 December, and no applications can be accepted after this date.
Library buildings and services
Mount Pleasant and City Campus libraries will close on Tuesday 23 December at 5pm and reopen on Monday 5 January at 8.45am.
Library services staff will be available in the Student Life Building from 10am to 4pm on the following days:
- Monday 29 December
- Tuesday 30 December
- Friday 2 January
Remember you can always access thousands of books and journals online via Discover.
The Academic Success team’s drop-in will be closed inclusively from 5pm on Friday 19 December to Monday 5 January 2026.
Don’t forget you can still access useful self-study resources to help you with assignments and studying for exams, during this time. There’s also further guidance on your study and assessment which includes further information on applying for personal circumstances or what to expect from January exams.
LJMU Sport Building & Physical Activity Facilities
The LJMU Sport Building will close at 5pm on Tuesday 23 December 2025 and reopen Monday 5 January 2026 at 7am.
During the winter break a ‘pop-up gym’ will be provided in the Student Life Building. This will be based in the JMSU Activity Space from Tuesday 23 December at 5pm and throughout the winter break.
There may also be access available to gym facilities within our LJMU partner student accommodations. Please check our LJMU Move Instagram for specific information regarding locations, dates and times.
International Students
International student ambassadors will be in the Student Life Building for a chat and to offer support to international students, over the winter break, 10am to 4pm on:
- Monday 29 December
- Tuesday 30 December
- Friday 2 January
John Moores Students’ Union (JMSU)
To find out more about JMSU support over the winter break visit the JMSU website.
Support for LJMU Staff
LJMU staff can use the Vivup Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) service to speak to a trained counsellor 24/7, 365 days a year.
To access the support line, call 0330 380 0658 and mention you are LJMU staff or visit the Vivup website.
You can also find resources on the Staff Wellbeing Hub.
Wishing all our students and staff a happy and safe winter break!
