Going home for the winter holidays?

If you’re heading home over the winter break, it’s important to keep your property safe and to be aware of the latest travel guidance. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to prepare for the holidays and highlight campus opening information.

Keeping your property safe in rented accommodation

Our Student Community Wardens visited students in private rented accommodation in East Oxford last week to share information on how students can keep their property safe while they’re away for the holidays. If you missed the wardens’ visit, here are some of their top tips:

1. Don’t post publicly on social media that you’ll be away from your university accommodation over the holidays
2. Keep valuables such as bikes and laptops out of sight and locked away - and check that all your doors and windows are locked before you head off
3. Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property, or join a neighbourhood watch scheme
4. Use a light switch timer or a “fake TV” device to make it look like you’re still at home.

Find out more by visiting the accommodation security webpage. 

Travel advice

If you’re planning to travel by train, keep an eye on the National Rail website to check whether your journey might be affected by disruption or timetable changes.

If you live in Oxford and you’re being picked up by car, the city’s low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme may mean alternative driving routes are needed:

• East Oxford LTNs
• Cowley LTNs

Campus opening information

From Saturday 21 December 2024 until Wednesday 1 January 2025, a number of Oxford Brookes buildings on campus can only be entered by using your student ID card. Some buildings will be closed during this time - please check the full details of campus opening times if you do need to visit campus over the break.

Need help on campus?

Brookes Security Services: 01865 60 3060

Providing 24-hour emergency support: call if you need immediate assistance on and around our Oxford campuses. You can use an online form to report non-urgent security incidents.

Brookes-managed halls: Residences Information Portal

Visit the portal to get contact information for your hall during office hours and for evenings and weekends.

Reporting harassment

If you have experienced or witnessed any sexual violence, hate crime or harrassment behaviour involving students, you can report it online either with your contact details or anonymously with the University’s reporting tool. Our webpages also have contact details for specialist support services if you need to speak to someone.

Student support and wellbeing

Our student support teams are available to provide advice on a wide range of issues you may face. Get in touch if you need support.