Winter Break

New College residents can request to extend their stay to a later date during the exam period. Exam period extensions cannot extend past 12:00pm (noon) on December 22nd.

Exam period extensions require that the resident demonstrate a need to stay past their original check-out deadline, such as a booked flight.

Extension Requests

Applications for exam period extensions will be made available to residents in mid November.

Permission to stay is not granted automatically and is subject to the Dean’s approval. After submission, requests will be reviewed by the Office of Residence and Student Life and confirmations will be sent out in early December.

Cost

There is no charge for exam period extensions.

New College residents can apply for a partial or full stay in residence during the Winter Break. Residents can request:

• Winter Break residence: request to live at New College for the full Winter Break, from December 22nd, 2026 to January 9th, 2027;
• Late Departure: TBA
• Early Return: TBA

Winter Break Requests

Applications for partial and full Winter Break stays will be made available to residents in mid November.

Permission to stay is not granted automatically and is subject to the Dean’s approval. After submission, requests will be reviewed by the Office of Residence and Student Life and confirmations will be sent out in early December.

Cost

There is a per-night cost for any partial or full stay in residence during the Winter Break.

Information about these fees will be sent to residents in mid October.

During the University’s Winter Break closure, New College services are limited and few staff are on site.

*2026-27 information will be posted in November 2026.

Wilson Hall Front Desk

Beginning at 11:30pm on Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025, the Front Desk will only be open from 8:00am until 9:00pm daily.

Regular hours will resume after 8:00am on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026.

Winter Break Closures

• The Audrey Taylor Dining Hall is closed;
• The Office of Residence and Student Life is closed;
• The Registrar’s Office is closed;
• The D.G. Ivey Library is closed;
• The IT Services Office is closed;
• Maintenance support is limited;
• The music rooms, Body Works Studio, and Multi-Purpose Room are closed;

On-call staff are available in case of emergency.

Mail and Packages

During the university’s Winter Break period, many courier services pause mail and package delivery to the residences, hold any mail or packages in transit, and then resume delivery after the university re-opens in January.

Residents who have left for the break will not be able to pick up mail and packages while the university is closed. They can resume picking up their mail and packages from the Wilson Hall Front Desk after they return to residence for the Winter term.