It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

We thought it would be nice to bring you some ideas of things you could do or might like to know this festive season, whether you are staying in Sheffield for Christmas, heading home or going on holiday:

1. First of all, don’t forget you might have exams in January! It certainly can be a hard time of the year to get down to revision, what with all the temptation to sit back and relax, watch some Christmas TV or go out and get involved in the festivities.  However, it does pay to plan your time effectively so that you can enjoy the festive period and also get the grades. For tips on preparing for your exams, you may find this article on Christmas time revision useful. This article on revision could also be relevant for January exams.

2. Watch a basketball game on Friday 18 December.  Come and cheer on the Sheffield Sharks basketball team for only £5. . On the day of the game meet our student crew at the Main University entrance at 6.00pm and they will take the tram with you to the game. We will provide vouchers on the day of the game.

3. Drink lots of water over the Christmas break, so you’re on great form for January and don’t over indulge on alcoholic drinks! See the NHS website and Drinkaware site for information about safe Christmas drinking and check out this alcohol unit calculator. Also, have a look at SHU Student Wellbeing’s Ten things you can do to look after yourself guide for some great ideas on looking after mind and body. Good for the festive season and beyond.

4. Go ice skating on Wednesday 16 December. Meet at the main entrance, City Campus at 6:30pm. Whether you are an accomplished ice skater or have never tried it before – come along, everybody is welcome. You will need to bring around £8 to pay for the skating, skate hire and your tram fare.

5. Don’t forget to return your library books. Remember our Learning Centres are open 24/7/365 and as always you will need your SHU Card for access. See http://library.shu.ac.uk for more information.

6. Get festive with a screening of ‘Love Actually’ on Tuesday 22 December. The film will be shown on the large screen in The Void Lecture Theatre on Level 1 of the Owen Building.  The screening will start at 4:30pm and end at approximately 7.30pm and free popcorn will be served.

7. Take some time off.  While it’s important to make sure you spend time studying if you have exams or other forms of assessment in January, it’s also important to recharge your batteries so you feel fresh for the next semester.  Take some time for yourself, to do what you like to do.

8. Join us on Tuesday 29 December for a trip to the historic city of Nottingham, home of Robin Hood and the impressive Nottingham Castle. We advise you to buy your train tickets in advance and then meet our student crew at the main entrance, City Campus at 9.30am. Also, we will include a short trip by bus to Wollaton Hall, home of many Batman films. Train tickets cost approximately £9 return with a railcard. Please also bring £3.50 for the bus fare with your Student ID card to Wollaton Hall.

9. Join us for a trip to Leeds! Leeds is a cosmopolitan city in West Yorkshire. We will be taking the train and go to the Royal Armouries Museum (admission free). In the afternoon you will have time to explore the city’s shops, galleries and museums. We will buy train tickets on the day – these will be approximately £9 return with a railcard. Meet at the Main University entrance at 9:30am.

10.  If you need someone to talk to or some help and support over the holiday period, have a look at SHU Student Wellbeing’s blog post where you’ll find useful information on organisations that are there for you over the Christmas period and beyond. Remember also that the Samaritans are available 24/7 if you need somebody to talk to over the holidays or any time. You can contact them on 0114 276 7277 or 08457 909 090 or email jo@samaritans.org.

11. Santa Claus is coming to town! Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, join us for a magical celebration with interactive games, wonderful prizes and a live band organised by the Global Community society. We have a photo corner with exciting accessories and you can ask our professional photographer to capture those memorable moments with your friends. This is a free event open to everybody on Friday 11 December, Heartspace level 2.

12. Join us for the brilliant Conversation Club: one of the best ways to meet new friends in Sheffield! Come along to this special Christmas Conversation Club with mince pies, Christmas games and lots of opportunities to meet new people; Wednesday 9 December 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

And finally, have a lovely break and come back to University feeling refreshed and ready for the New Year. And remember, you can find out about the full range of activities available over the Christmas period here.