Hi ,

The festive season is here!

Whether you’re heading home or staying in Newcastle, we want you to feel supported and connected throughout the Winter Break. 

Take time to rest and recharge. Wishing you a peaceful and enjoyable break — we look forward to welcoming you back in 2026! 

All the best, 

Yvonne 

In this edition: 

📽️ Festive Greetings video

❄️ Winter in Newcastle

🔔 University closure information 

☃️ Wellbeing and the winter closure

🎄 Staying safe this festive season

🧵 Crafts at Christmas

🛍️ Festive Pop-Up Market

🎁 Student-friendly gifts under £10

📲 Getting a new mobile phone?

 📰 Other news

Watch our 2025 Festive Greetings video, featuring some of our brilliant students and colleagues 👇

Watching the video not only spreads some end of year cheer, it's also a great way to learn how to wish somebody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in British Sign Language. 

From all at Newcastle University, we hope you have a wonderful festive season! 

❄️ Winter in Newcastle

Spending December in and around Newcastle? There’s plenty to keep you feeling festive!

Enjoy seasonal treats on campus, sing along to pop-up carols and soak up the city’s winter magic. Plus, take advantage of opportunities to connect with other students who’ll be around too!

🔔 University closure information

With the exception of some facilities, the University will close for the Winter Break at 17:00 on Wednesday 24 December 2025 and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026. 

Please check the ‘Support and General Information’ section on the Winter in Newcastle page for details of opening hours for specific campus facilities, including Eat@Newcastle, Sports & Fitness Centre, Language Resource Centre and the libraries. 

The Student Services Helpdesk at King's Gate, Level 1 will close for enquiries at 14:00 on Wednesday 24 December 2025 and reopen at 09:30 on Monday 5 January 2026.

☃️ Wellbeing and the Winter Closure

Staying on campus this winter? The Wellbeing team has plenty of ideas [accessible version] to help you feel good, stay active, and enjoy the season.

From cosy activities to practical wellbeing tips, make this break a time to recharge and have fun.  

Looking for more inspiration? 

📚 How to survive the winter assessment period: Check out our Burnout Blog from Callum, a Student Content Creator, for practical advice on managing stress and staying balanced during the break ahead of assessments.

🧘‍♀️ Trying the Five Ways to Wellbeing: Student Content Creators Bill and Mia tried out the Five Ways to Wellbeing - see how they got on and pick up some tips for your own wellbeing journey.

🎄 Staying safe this festive season

The festive season is a time to celebrate, relax and enjoy yourself - but it’s also important to stay safe and look out for others.  

Whether you’re in Newcastle or further afield, read our tips to help you celebrate responsibly and make sure everyone has a great time! 

Whether you’re staying in Newcastle over the Winter Break, or heading home, the Library is here to help you access all the resources you need for your studies. 

There are also some fun festive activities taking place: 

• join us for our Crafts at Christmas event, and have a go at making unique paper decorations, cards and tags. 
• browse our Christmas Crafts collection on Libby for further inspiration. 
• try a new read with our book swap at the Philip Robinson Library. We have gift-wrapped books around our Christmas tree, or leave your own for someone else to discover. 

Join START UP for their first Festive Pop-Up Market on Level 1, King's Gate, Thursday 11 December, from 11:00 to 15:00. 

Discover unique, handcrafted gifts from talented START UP students and recent graduates, including personalised artwork, scented candles, children’s books, perfumes and much more! 

Don’t miss this chance to support your fellow talented students and find the perfect festive gifts. 

🎁 Student-friendly gifts under £10

'The tree’s up, the lights have been switched on, all while my wallet gently weeps… But sometimes, even Father Christmas has to operate on a budget.' 

Stuck with your Secret Santa? Bill, our Student Content Creator shares five student-friendly gifts under £10! 

📲 Getting a new mobile phone?

Switching devices over the break? Be prepared! 

Uninstalling the Microsoft Authenticator app from your old phone will disable your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). 

Tip: Set up Microsoft Authenticator on your new phone before removing it from the old one to keep uninterrupted access during the holidays. 

Trading in your current phone? If you're keeping your SIM card/number, see how you can set up MFA using a phone number.