Vacation accommodation

During the winter vacation, the University closes from Friday 20 December 2024 to Thursday 12 January 2025, meaning some services may be unavailable during this period or operate differently (see below). However, you can always check the Christmas on Campus page, which will be updated in December, to see what's going on locally for those who will be spending Christmas and New Year with us.

We are also planning to carry out scheduled maintenance in various accommodations across the campus, including reducing the heating temperature in unoccupied residences. If you are staying on campus between 20 December 2024 and 2 January 2025, please complete the Staying on Campus form by 11 December 2024 so we can ensure the heating remains unaffected within your accommodation.  

If you are staying on campus or locally for the festive season there is loads of support and activities on offer. This page also outlines facility opening times, 24/7 support services, and how to connect with others on campus for the break.

Self-catered

If you live in self-catered accommodation you don't need to move out, just please let us know you'll be staying on campus before Wednesday 11 December. If you are leaving campus, we ask that you follow our leaving checklist so that your accommodation is ready when you return. 

For those who live at Pier Quays, Unite Students will be in touch with you.

Part-catered

If you live in part-catered accommodation where the vacation periods are not included in your contract you will need to move out or book vacation accommodation online at least one week before you are due to move out if you wish to stay on campus. Vacation accommodation is available in Darwin College, but please note you will not be able to access your room during the vacation period, but you can leave belongings in your room if you wish. When leaving your room we kindly ask you follow our leaving checklist so that your accommodation is ready for when you come back.

• If you live in Becket Court or Keynes College (Block F,G, and H), you can only book for the fixed 28 nights of the winter vacation costing £554.68 (£19.81 per night).  You will need to check-in on Saturday 14 December 2024, and leave by midday on Saturday 11 January 2025. Should you wish, keys can be collected on Friday 13 December for no additional charge.
• For Eliot and Rutherford College students, you will only need to book vacation accommodation for the 13 nights not covered in your accommodation contract. This will cost £257.53. You should check-in on Thursday 19 December 2024, and should depart by midday on Thursday 2 January 2025. Please note you will not be charged for the nights of the 20 or 21 as these are already included in your contracts.

All vacation accommodation will need to be booked before Wednesday 11 December 2024. If you book vacation accommodation you will need to collect your key from Darwin College reception between 9 - 10am on your arrival date and return your term time key to your current college reception by 10am on Saturday 14 December for Becket Court and Keynes College residents or Friday 20 December for Eliot or Rutherford residents.

Meal plans

Please note all meal plans come to an end for the vacation period from Saturday 14 December 2024 - Saturday 11 January 2025. Vacation accommodation is available on a self-catered basis only and you will have access to a kitchen to cook your own meals. No towels or bed linen is provided so you should bring these from your room. 

Whether you're leaving for a short period, vacation or at the end of the year, there are a few things you need to do before you go.

Always

• Remove all rubbish from your accommodation, kitchen and bins. Please recycle responsibly and to check where your nearest bin store is.
• Turn off all electrical items and lights (but not the fridge!) 
• Dispose of, or take with you, any perishable foods.  Permanent donation points are located at the Mandela building and Kent Union building (Woody's) at Park Wood for tinned or dried foods if you wish to donate these to the Union food bank.
• Collect any mail/parcels from your letterbox/reception.
• Close your windows, leaving the vent open.
• Check that all your doors are locked before you leave.
• Take any valuable/important items with you or lock them in your room if you're not required to remove your belongings.

If you live in part-catered accommodation and are leaving for a vacation period, you will also need to return your keys or fob to reception. You can use your reception's drop box if you are leaving out of hours. (Becket Court and Keynes College residents leaving for spring vacation also need to follow the below steps).

At the end of your contract or if you are leaving early

In addition to the above, we also ask that when leaving at the end of the year (or moving out of Becket Court or Keynes College for the spring vacation) that you:

• Pack/remove all belongings by 10am on your move-out date as we are unable to store any items on campus. If you need to store or ship items there are a number of local and national companies that provide this service. Plus, you can donate unwanted items including clothes, electrical items and books by donating to Kent Union's STUFF, placing items in the British Heart Foundation banks in various locations across campus - see our bins and recycling map for your nearest location. 
  
• Be careful not to cause any damage when removing items as you may be charged for the repair. For example paint damage caused by removing adhesive LED light strips.
• Return your keys or fob to reception before you leave. You can use your reception's drop box if you are leaving out of hours or if the reception is closed.
• Dispose, donate or take with you all your food. Perishable items should be disposed of and not left anywhere in the accommodation. Any dried or tinned food that you don't need can be donated to help feed others. Permanent donation points are located at the Mandela building and Kent Union building (Woody's) at Park Wood.
  
• Update your postal address. It is important to update your address and notify anyone/any companies who send you letters or parcels (including your bank, phone company and any online stores who have saved your preferred delivery address) so that all your mail still reaches you after you have moved out. This is true even if you are returning to campus accommodation next year, as we cannot accept or forward on parcels for students not currently in residence. Read the Post Office's guidelines on mail redirection.
• If you are departing earlier than the original contract end date you will need to complete an Application for an Early Termination of the Agreement including details to your circumstances. Please note, completing the form doesn't mean your accommodation agreement will be ended early. Please see the information about early departure eligibility in your Accommodation T&Cs, Accommodation Handbook or our FAQS.
  

Information about the spring 2025 vacation accommodation will be available here in late February/March.

Please check back in May when information about Summer vacation accommodation, including how to book and facilities, will be available here.   

Live off-campus and want to revise close to your exam?  Or need to return after the end of your contract for resit exams?

Don't worry we offer short-term accommodation at a discounted rate for students. More information about what rooms are available this year will be available in the spring.

Have a guest coming to visit? University guest accommodation is ideal for when you have friends or family visiting who want to stay on our Canterbury campus for the duration of their visit.    

You can check room availability and book online in advance with special discounts for repeat bookers or long stays.

Whether you're looking to store your belongings for one of the vacation periods or planning to get some extra cases shipped home before you arrive, there are lots of external services available that can help. Additionally, you can also authorise a friend to pack belongings on your behalf using the procedures below.

Some local companies offering storage facilities include:

• Lock & Leave Self Storage email Canterbury@armadillostorage.co.uk - or call +44 (0)1227 470700
  
• Student Move & Store - contact Steven Brazier, +44 (0)1227 272170 or +44 (0)7788 501998
• All Van Services Canterbury All Van services  +44 (0)7999 446 400

National and international companies offering a range of packing, storage and shipping services:

• One Stop Worldwide
• Seven Seas Worldwide

Please note that the University does not accept any liability or responsibility for any of the services provided by these companies.

If you have already left and are unable to return to remove your personal possessions yourself from your accommodation, you can authorise another University of Kent student or a third-party company to pack and remove your belongings on your behalf. 

To arrange this you would need to email the Accommodation Office with at least 3 working days notice. In the email you should include:

• Your name 
• Your student number
• Your campus address 
• Your contact number
• Name of your friend or company
• Their student number if applicable
• A contact number for them
• The date they are coming.