Christmas Break in College: What to Do With Your Room

If you live in a student residence and go home for Christmas, you don't lose your room. Your stay is contracted on a monthly basis (at StepHouse, from 1 to 10 months depending on your contract), so leaving for two weeks doesn’t count as checking out: the room is still yours, with your belongings inside, and you’ll find it just as you left it in January. What you do need to do is lock it up securely, notify the front desk, and return in plenty of time, because at almost all universities, exams begin just a few days after Three Kings Day.

Each university publishes its own academic calendar, but the pattern is the same: classes end in mid- to late December, and the break runs roughly from December 22 to January 7. These are the dates published for this academic year:

Faculty calendar. It may vary slightly from one campus to another: always check your faculty's calendar.

There are two things to take away from this table. First: at most Spanish universities, exams resume between January 8 and 11, so the Christmas break is also a time for studying. Second: if you study at Porto, classes resume earlier than in Spain.

Before Christmas, there's also the December long weekend (from the 5th to the 8th in most regions). If you're deciding whether to go home then as well, we'll cover that in December long weekend: go home or stay in the dorm.

This is the question we hear most often at the front desk in December, especially from first-year students and their families. The short answer:

• The contract remains in effect. Your stay covers the period you signed up for, with or without vacation days in between.
• You don't have to take your things with you. Not your clothes, not your notes, and not your laptop if you'd rather not bring it along (though we'd think twice about that last part if you have exams in January).
• No one will stay in your room while you're away. It's yours for the entire duration of your lease.
• The price doesn't change. Your contract is monthly: you pay the same amount even if you spend two weeks at home.

If your contract ends right at the end of the first four-month term (for example, because you’re here on an exchange program only from September through January), things are different: in that case, you’ll need to make arrangements for moving out. Ask at the front desk what the exact date is when your stay ends and how to return the keys.

Leaving ten minutes early will save you from any surprises in January:

1. Empty the fridge. Anything that expires in two weeks goes in the trash. Anything that will last longer (cans, pasta, rice) goes in the pantry.
2. Take out the trash, including the recyclables.
3. Close the window tightly. A window left ajar for two weeks in December means either dampness or a freezing room when you return.
4. Unplug chargers, lamps, and anything else that doesn't need to be plugged in.
5. Water the plants or ask someone who's staying behind to stop by once.
6. Bring along whatever you'll need for studying: notes, a charger, a tablet. And your dorm access card, so you don't have to rely on the front desk if you come back on the weekend.
7. Keep your valuables stored away and keep the door locked.
8. Let the front desk know that you're leaving and when you'll be back. If you're expecting a package during that time, let them know that, too.
9. Buy your return ticket now. Trains on January 6 and 7 are among the most expensive of the year.

Many people stay: international students who don't return to their home countries until summer, interns, or those who prefer to study for exams without the distractions of home. The practical aspects:

• The residence does not close. You still have access with your card, and the security systems are operating as usual (24/7 CCTV and security personnel).
• The front desk is open during its regular hours Monday through Friday, except on calendar holidays (December 25, January 1, and January 6). If you need anything on a holiday, please check in advance to see how to contact us.
• The study rooms and coworking spaces are still available, and with half the residents away, it’s easy to find a spot. Private rooms can be reserved at the front desk.
• Shopping, better planned: Many supermarkets are closed or have reduced hours on the 24th, 25th, 31st, and 1st. Do a big grocery run on the 23rd.
• Shipping: Shipments are slower during this time of year. If you place an order, keep in mind that it may arrive on a holiday and remain at the front desk until the next business day.

To organize your studying these weeks, here's a day-by-day plan on how to prepare for the January exams if you live in a dorm.

The most common mistake is returning on the evening of the 7th when you have an exam first thing on the 8th. With this year's schedule, think of it this way:

• If your first exam is on January 8 (Seville, Málaga, some faculties at Complutense University), be sure to return by the 6th at the latest.
• If you start on the 11th (Granada, Carlos III), come back on the 7th or 8th, and you'll have a whole weekend to study in the dorm.
• If you're a student at the University of Navarra, you’ll have already taken your exams in December: you’ll be returning to start the second semester, which begins on January 11.

When you get back, check the fridge (just in case), open the window for ten minutes, and pick up any packages that have arrived at the front desk.

The most common mistake is returning on the evening of the 7th when you have an exam first thing on the 8th. With this year's schedule, think of it this way:

• If your first exam is on January 8 (Seville, Málaga, some faculties at Complutense University), be sure to return by the 6th at the latest.
• If you start on the 11th (Granada, Carlos III), come back on the 7th or 8th, and you'll have a whole weekend to study in the dorm.
• If you're a student at the University of Navarra, you’ll have already taken your exams in December: you’ll be returning to start the second semester, which begins on January 11.

When you get back, check the fridge (just in case), open the window for ten minutes, and pick up any packages that have arrived at the front desk.

No. Your stay is booked for a specific period, and your vacation falls within that period. The room is still yours, and you can leave your belongings inside.

No. Your contract is monthly, and the price is always the same—even if you leave for Christmas, go on an exchange program, or take a trip.

StepHouse residences do not close during the holidays. You can stay there and come and go using your card. The front desk maintains its regular hours Monday through Friday, except on holidays.

It depends on the university. For example, at the University of Seville, the break begins on December 19, and at the University of Granada, on December 23. At almost all of them, it ends on January 6 or 7.

Yes, at most Spanish universities, the regular exam period for the first semester begins between January 8 and 11. The University of Navarra is an exception: it holds its exams in December.

Throw away or get rid of all perishable items, take out the trash, and leave only non-perishable items in the cupboard. That way, you won't run into any unpleasant odors or surprises in January.

If you're still looking for a spot for the second semester or for next school year, check the availability of StepHouse residence halls.