If you are staying on campus or in Cornwall over Christmas, this information offers a brief guide to opening hours for facilities and services in the University.
Christmas & New Year in Cornwall
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Christmas in Cornwall 2024
Staying on campus or in Cornwall over the winter break and Christmas? If so, check out the pages below to find out what facilities, services and events are available within the University.
Most campus services will be available as normal until Tuesday 24 December, and will re-open for normal business on Thursday 2 January 2025. Between these times they may be closed or operating limited opening hours, so we advise you to check the details on this page.
Digital Hub Christmas Message
A message from the Digital Hub ahead of the festive season; if you are lucky enough to get a new phone over the holidays don’t forget to update your security settings. Find out more
Monday 16 – Thursday 24 December 2024
Phone Lines, SID online enquiries and Info Point Desk open 09:00 - 17:00.
Wednesday 25 December 2024 – Wednesday 1 January 2025
All Info Point and Hub services including Mitigation application processing will be closed.
Thursday 2 - Friday 3 January 2025
Phone Lines, SID online enquiries and Info Point Desk open 09:00 - 17:00.
Monday 6 January 2025 onwards
Resumption of normal services from 08:45
Phone Lines, SID online enquiries and Info Point Desk open 08:45 - 17:00. The Penryn Info Point phone number is 01326 371800.
Penryn Compass Helpdesk
Closed from Wednesday 25 December up to and including Wednesday 1 January 2025.
Open Thursday 2 January and Friday 3 January 2025, 09:00-17:00.
Term-time opening hours resume Monday 6 January 2025 (09:00-19:00 Monday - Friday)
Penryn Campus Library
- Friday 20 December (staff to finish at 17:00) – library to close at 20:00.
- Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December open 10:00-20:00
- Monday 23 December open 09:00-20:00
- Tuesday 24 December open 09:00 (staff to finish at 16:00) - Library to close at 20:00
- Wednesday 25 December- closed
- Thursday 26 December - closed
- Friday 27 December open 09:00-20:00
- Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 open 10:00-20:00
- Monday 30 December open 09:00-20:00
- Tuesday 31 December open 09:00-20:00
- Wednesday 1 January 2025: Closed.
When no staff are available the campus Safety and Support team will be present to patrol the space. Should you need them, they are contactable via the SafeZone app, or by calling 01326 254444.
Falmouth Campus Library
The library opening times will be as follows:
- Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December 2024 - closed
- Monday 23 December - open 09:00-17:00
- Tuesday 24 December - open 09:00-16:00
- Wednesday 25 December - Monday 6 January - closed
From Monday 6 January 2025 normal term-time hours of 09:00-21:00 resume.
For immediate welfare concerns over the holidays contact
- Halls Team
From 17:00 on Tuesday 24 December - Tuesday 2 January please contact Glasney Lodge on 01326 253503 if you are living on campus and have any immediate welfare concerns. This number is available 24/7. - Safety and Support Team
Safety and Support team will also be available on campus 24/7, their emergency number is 01326 254444 or you can contact them via the SafeZone app.
Student Support Team
Until 5pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 student services will follow normal opening hours.* Normal services will resume on Thursday 2 January 2025.
In term-time they are usually open 09:00-17:00 Monday to Friday.
Wellbeing
Support via Spectrum Life
Spectrum Life provide 24/7 access to a helpline, an online portal, and specific treatments like counselling. You can download the Spectrum Life app by searching for it in your app store – use code FXPlus when asked for your ‘organisation’.
If you want to talk to the helpline or access talking therapies you can call/text:
Phone UK based: 0800 0318227
International number: 00353 15180277
Whatsapp: Text “Hi” to 07418360780
There is also an online self-help portal which you can access using the code FXPlus when asked for your ‘organisation’
Togetherall online support
All students have access to Togetherall which is an online support community, offering peer and professional support and is available 24/7, 365 days of the year. They also have a blog about coping with complicated feelings over the holidays.
Silvercloud
You could also try the online mental health programme Silvercloud which is free for Uni students.
You can find more resources on our Wellbeing pages and the SU's welfare page.
Education Welfare Team
Penryn Education Welfare Team will be unavailable during the University holiday closure period. Wednesday 25 December 2024 up to and including Wednesday 1 January 2025.
You can find out more about the Cornwall Education Welfare Team and Support here.
* Please note. There are no Accessibility and Inclusive Learning drop-in sessions out of term-time.
International Student Support is available in the usual ways until 15:00 on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and the team is back at 09:00 on Thursday 2 January 2025.
If your question can’t wait, why not browse through our most popular links to help answer your questions:
I’m starting a new programme in January 2025, when will I receive my CAS?
Career Zone opening times
We’ll be in the Career Zone, Ground Floor, Exchange, every weekday 12:00 to 16:00 up to Friday 13 December 2024. You are welcome to pop in to talk about part-time jobs, Handshake set up, CVs, finding placements and study and work abroad.
During the holidays the Career Zone will be available online from 10:00-15:00 and closed on bank holidays and university closure days.
You can speak with one of our team between 10:00 – 15:00, Monday to Friday via Live Chat on the Career Zone website, emailing careers@exeter.ac.uk or calling +44 (0)1392 724493.
The Career Zone will be closed from 15:00 on Tuesday 24 December and will reopen again at 10:00 on Thursday 2 January 2025.
Term time hours will resume on Monday 6 January 2025.
Career Zone contact details and opening hours can be found here.
The SU
The Falmouth and Exeter Student's Union (The SU) seasonal signposting page has information on support services available over the holidays and their opening times.
The SU is also setting up a WhatsApp group for you to connect with other students staying in Cornwall over the Winter break. You can sign up here, you will need to log in first.
Multifaith Chaplaincy
The Multifaith Chaplaincy (Tremough Barton Cottage 8) will be open Monday - Friday 09:00-17:00 throughout the festive break. However, no chaplains or staff will be present during this time.
The Muslim Prayer room will remain open over the Winter break and there will still be Jummah each Friday.
You can find all the Chaplaincy events here.
You can find out about events planned for those staying over the festive break on both the events on campus page and the Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union (The SU) website.
This includes:
The Intercultural Cafe Christmas Celebration on Wednesday 11 December, 15:00-16:30 in the International Student Lounge in Tremough House. All are welcome whether or not you celebrate Christmas, come and try Christmas-themed snacks, drinks and decoration making, and chat about winter traditions from your culture.
Meet and Mingle on Wednesday 18 December 15:00-16:30 in the Students' Union, Penryn Campus. You can meet other students spending the winter holidays on campus and enjoy free drinks and festive snacks.
Christmas at the SU, Monday 23 December, 11:00-14:00 in the Students' Union, Penryn Campus. You can join the SU for a cosy and festive afternoon of games, music and snacks. Find out more.
Glasney Lodge Christmas Drop-in, on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25 December) and Boxing Day (Thursday 26 December) Glasney Lodge will be open as usual. They will have mince pies, sweets and a few other snacks available and you are welcome to go in at any point for a chat or cup of tea/coffee.
The ResLife team will be around until 15 December you can find out about any events they have planned by following @fxreslife on Instagram.
Food and Drink on Campus
To find the opening times for the food and drink outlets on campus visit the FX Plus Winter on Campus page.
Normal opening times and any disruptions to service are listed on the service status page.
Our virtual desktop service is available throughout the year. It allows you to remotely access a huge range of learning resources that you may need for your course.
With an internet connection and suitable device (including Windows, Mac and Chromebook) you can access:
- A software directory with download links for you to install software on your own devices.
- Windows Virtual Desktop, providing secure access to a suite of applications to support your study.
*The software available remotely will depend on the department in which you are studying.
To find out more visit the virtual desktops webpage. If you need more detailed guidance, the Digital Hub can help.
We recommend using OneDrive for Business to store your work, you can find more information on the files and storage page.
If you encounter issues, please contact SID. You can also book time with an expert for an introduction to virtual desktops.
Digital Hub
Digital Hub face to face appointments will close at 16:00 on 13 December 2024 and reopen at 09:00 on Monday 6 January 2025.
There will be online appointments available from 16-20 December and the 2 and 3 January 2025.
The Digital Hub will reopen as usual on Monday 8 January 2025.
FX Plus IT Support
The FX Plus IT helpdesk will be open as usual until 17:15 on Tuesday 24 December and then reopen again at 08:45 on Thursday 2 January 2024.
The Campus Safety and Support team provides security services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more information visit the FX Plus website.
Campus Safety and Support: 01326 255875
24/7 Emergency Line: 01326 254444
Glasney Lodge will remain open 24/7 over the Christmas period.
Email: safetyandsupport@fxplus.ac.uk
You can also use Safezone to contact safety and support on Campus
SafeZone is a quick and easy way of connecting you to the safety and support team when you are on campus. You don’t have to remember any numbers and it allows you to send additional details like your exact location and photos.
If you’re studying alone, or outside of regular hours you can also “check in” with the safety and support team through the app. You can ask the app to do this automatically if you want. This will make the team aware of your presence and can be used to share your location in an emergency.
On Cornwall Campuses once you have downloaded the App, for free, from the Apple or Google store you will need to select FX Plus as an organisation after you’ve logged in using your Exeter credentials.
Find out more about Safezone here.
The Sports Centre
The Sports Centre opening times are as follows:
- Open Monday 23 December, 06:30 – 22:00
- Open Tuesday 24 December (Christmas Eve), 06:30-18:00
- Closed Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day)
- Closed Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day)
- Open Friday 27 December, 08:30-1800
- Open Saturday 28 December, 08:30 – 18:00
- Open Sunday 29 December, 08:30 – 18:00
- Open Monday 30 December, 08:30 – 18:00
- Open Tuesday 31 December, 08:30 – 18:00
- Closed Wednesday 01 January 2025 (New Year’s Day)
Normal opening times resume from Thursday 2 January 2025.
Little Wonders Nursery
The nursery will close at 17:30 on Friday 20 December 2024 and reopen at 08.30 on Thursday 2 January 2025.
Local events in Cornwall
There's lots going on in our local area. Check out the Falmouth town website for more details or the visit Truro events page.
Check before you travel
If you plan to travel in Cornwall using public transport, be aware that some bus and train companies will be offering reduced services or certain services may not be running.
Check timetables and social media updates for the latest information: First Kernow and Go Cornwall for buses and Great Western Railway for trains in Cornwall.
Transport outside Cornwall may also change, so it is always best to plan ahead and check before you travel.
Think ahead when going out
Now the dark nights are fully upon us, think about your visibility to other road users when walking and cycling in the dark, especially when crossing roads. Your eyes have adjusted to the dark however you may not be as visible to other road users.
If you’re going for a night out, make sure that you have a plan for how to get home, especially if you end up on your own. Try to stay with your friends, and keep a taxi number on you, or better still book your taxi in advance.
If your battery dies, ask to use your friend's phone or, if you get separated, ask in a shop or pub.
You can find more guidance on keeping safe on the stay safe web pages or view the Devon & Cornwall Police advice site for some tips to ensure your night is safe.