Student Guide to going home at Christmas: A Complete Checklist

By Student Cribs | December 17, 2025 | Reading Time: 8 minutes

The end of term is finally approaching, and now it is nearly time to say goodbye to your uni friends and say hello to family. Deadlines are wrapping up, exams are creeping closer whilst campus slowly turns into a desert. For most students it is a well deserved break, but for many it is frantic race to finish notes, meet deadlines and cram months’ worth of lecture content in the space of a couple weeks. Whilst the majority of the country see Christmas as a time to relax, students often use this period to balance festive plans with the pressure of upcoming assessments.

Whether you are looking to switch off completely or plan to use the break to catch up on studies, getting organised now can ensure that your festive period is smoother than ever. From packing, to sorting out accommodation for next academic year, here is everything you need to sort out before heading home.

Planning Your Journey in Advance

Travelling home for Christmas can become increasingly stressful if everything is left to the last minute. As prices rise, trains start filling and winter weather starts causing delays, planning ahead can make your journey much easier and affordable.

Book Travel Early: National rail and coach prices rise exponentially during the festive periods, secure your ticket as soon as possible so you can save your student finance on presents for family and friends. Early booking also gives you a better range of times to choose from, so that you can avoid those dreaded peak time crowds.

Buy a Railcard: As a student living away from home, purchasing a 16-25 railcard is an essential. You can benefit from huge savings, especially during those busy travel periods. If you are lucky enough to have a railcard, make sure you have it downloaded and ready on the day, one thing less to worry about.

Arrange a lift with family or friends: If someone can pick you up, plan in advance. Coordinating dates and times early helps avoid the classic last minute rush.

Check for Travel Disruptions: Winter travel is always unpredictable. Always keep an eye out for engineering works, delays or cancellations before heading home. Make sure to leave plenty of time for error, to avoid the stress of plans changing unexpectedly.

Getting University Work in Order

January exams and coursework deadlines can often creep up unexpectedly, especially during the festive period. It’s important that your studies are organised to save the stress later down the line. Whether you are planning to switch off entirely or spend the break revising, a small amount of preparation can ensure you’re ready for the semester ahead.

Complete Revision Notes: If you do have exams, try make sure that you have all your notes done for the required modules before it is time to head home for Christmas. Arriving home with everything ready means that you can fully focus on revision when you get back (or take a few days off without guilt).

Download Lectures and Reading Lists: One thing for sure is that you can never trust the WiFi connection at home. Downloading all the content you need ensures that you can work from anywhere over the Christmas break.

Holiday Revision Timetable: During the festive period it can become very easy to fall into the “I’ll start tomorrow trap”. A revision timetable or weekly to do list can help you stay on track whilst still making time for Christmas plans, family days out and seeing home friends.

Packing

Now it is time to think about what you’ll take home. Packing for the Christmas holidays doesn’t have to be stressful, but it can be easy to forget essentials during that end of term rush.

Don’t Overpack: Keep in mind that you are only back for a few weeks. You don’t need to take your entire wardrobe with you. Think realistically about what you will be wearing over the break. What you don’t want to do is overpack and then have no space to bring your Christmas presents back to university.

Bring Your Essentials: If you plan on revising at home, make sure you pack your charger laptop, readings and any notes you may need over the break. There is nothing worse than sitting down to work and realising your notes are halfway across the country. You also want to avoid forgetting any other home essentials. These can often be overlooked when you are in a rush but can be the most annoying to forget.

The House

Before leaving for Christmas, it is important to make sure your student house is left clean, safe and energy efficient. The last thing you want to do is return in January to bad smells, wasted money and maintenance issues, especially in the lead up to exams.

Heating – If everyone in your house is going home, it is important you leave the heating on. Make sure you set your timer on for a few hours a day to prevent your pipes from freezing. If you are with Student Cribs, and you don’t know how to do this or you have already gone home, please log an issue on your Student Portal “Set Heating Empty Crib” and we will call round and do this for you.

Cleaning and Rubbish – It can be very easy to forget the food you bought weeks ago, especially in a shared household. Clear out the fridge, throw out anything that could go off (even if it’s not yours!) and empty all the bins. You’ll thank yourself later.

Security and Safety– Double check that all doors are locked, windows are shut and valuables are well out of sight. You may even want to leave a communal light on. Winter can be a prime time for theft, especially in student areas where houses are expected to be empty over Christmas.

Thinking about next year’s accommodation

Although the Christmas break is a time to unwind, it is also when many students start thinking ahead about where they will be living next academic year. Student house hunting season can be stressful but also exciting at the prospect of living with your friends. Finding the right student house is about balancing convenience, comfort and community. Here at Student Cribs, you can have access to a wide range of accommodation in 25 cities., each offering a blend of comfort, modern amenities, and style. Enquire now to find out more.

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