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Christmas Period Operational Arrangements

Access to the University, Buildings, Food Outlets, Other Services and Events in UCD

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The University’s Buildings will close at 17:30, Tuesday, December 23rd 2025, and re-open at 09:00 on Friday, January 2nd 2026. Out-of-hours access arrangements apply during this period for staff and graduate students only.

Graduate students are reminded to ensure that they have made arrangements with their Schools in advance of the building closure if they intend to access the building before the University re-opens in January. 

For any queries related to out-of-hours access please contact us by email at (opens in a new window)estates@ucd.ie or via phone at 01-716-7000.

Building Access

Building Opening Hours

The University’s Buildings will close at 17:30, Tuesday, December 23rd 2025, and re-open at 09:00 on Friday, January 2nd 2026. Out-of-hours access arrangements apply during this period for staff and graduate students only.

Graduate students are reminded to ensure that they have made arrangements with their Schools in advance of the building closure if they intend to access the building before the University re-opens in January. 

There is strictly no access to any buildings between 20:00 on December 24th (Christmas Eve) and 08:00 on 27th December, and again between 20:00 on Dec 31st (New Year’s Eve) and 08:00 on January 2nd.

Buildings with Electronic Swipe Access

Out-of-hours access for card holders in these buildings will operate as normal during this period. Local access arrangements will need to have been made with the access control administrator.

All Other Buildings

Estate Services will admit only staff and graduate students to buildings. Graduate students must carry a copy of written permission with them from their Head of School to access buildings together with their student card. Notification of their intention to visit the building during the period of closure should be emailed by the School to (opens in a new window)estates@ucd.ie before 12:00 on December 19th.

Users are reminded that as the buildings are officially closed no heating will be scheduled to come on. To save energy and for your own safety you are asked to confine your visit to as short a period as possible between 09:00 and 16:00 each day.

Access will be given only through a designated perimeter door – under no circumstances will internal doors be unlocked by Estate Services – you must make prior arrangements for internal access.

Reduced Opening Hours during January 2026

As in previous years, with the exception of Newman and the O’Brien Science Centre, the opening hours of academic buildings will be reduced to out of term times, typically 08:00-20:00 Monday to Friday as detailed on our website, between January 02nd 2026 and the start of Spring Trimester.

For any queries related to out of term opening times in January 2026 please contact us by email at (opens in a new window)estates@ucd.ie or via phone at 01-716-7000.

Gates & Campus Access

The opening times of the gates on the Belfield Campus are described below:

Belfield Campus
  R138 Greenfield Fosters Ave Owenstown Park Rosemount Gate Wynnsward Drive Newstead Richview Wicket Gate Roebuck Pedestrian Merville House Pedestrian & Cycle Entrance Greenfield Gate Pitches Entrance
Mon 22nd Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Tues 23rd Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Wed 24th Dec Closed from 00:00 Open from 00:00 Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Thurs 25th Dec Closed Open Closed Closed Closed Closed Open as normal Closed Closed Open as normal Closed Open as normal
Fri 26th Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Sat 27th Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Sun 28th Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Mon 29th Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Tues 30th Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Closed from 23:59 Open as normal Closed from 23:59
Wed 31st Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Closed
Thurs 1st Jan Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Friday 2nd Jan Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Sat 3rd Jan Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
  1. Traffic barriers to remain open during entire period
  2. Greenfield Gate is open when R138 is closed
  3. Link road between Belfield House & Nova is open when Fosters Ave is and Merville Hse Ped & Cycle gates are closed

The opening times of the gates on the Blackrock Campus are described below.

Blackrock Campus
  Gates Closed Gates Open
Mon Dec 22nd - Tue Wed 24th Gates open as normal
Thu Dec 25th Main Carysfort Avenue Gate closed
Avoca Pedestrian Gate closed		 Avoca Avenue Gate open for Vehicles
Carysfort Avenue Pedestrian Gate Open
Fri 26th Dec

 Main Carysfort Pedestrian Gates Closed
Avoca Avenue Gate Close for Vehicles		 Avoca Avenue Pedestrian Gate Open
Main Carysfort Avenue Gate Open for Vehicles
Sat 27th Dec - Fri 2nd Jan Gates open as normal

Public Transport Services

For information on public transport services over the Christmas period, please check the Transport for Ireland Christmas Services page, linked below:

Blackrock - Belfield Shuttle Bus

The last date for the Blackrock - Belfield Shuttle Bus will be Friday 19th December. This service will return for the commencement of the Spring Trimester, Monday 19th January.

For those commuting between the Blackrock and Belfield campuses during this period, we would recommend using the S6 bus service, provided by GoAhead Ireland.

More information on the S6 Bus Route, as well as Transport for Ireland's Christmas Services, can be found below:

Food Outlets and Catering Facilities

Most of the University’s restaurants will be closed or will close around 15:00 on Friday, December 19th 2025 and reopen at 08:00 on Monday, 5th January 2026.

Download the detailed times below.

UCD Mail Room

Final delivery of daily incoming regular and registered mail will take place on the morning of the 23rd December 2025. The final outgoing post will be collected by An Post at 12:00 on the 23rd December 2025. Please ensure that if you require late outgoing post, that it is delivered directly to the Mail Room by early morning for processing.

The Mail Room closes at 12:00 on the 23rd December 2025 for the Christmas period and reopens on the 2rd January 2026. There will be no deliveries or collections of posts during this period.

For a full list of national & international posting dates or to track a package sent via An Post you are expecting to arrive on campus please use the links below:

Contact Estate Services

UCD Village, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 7000 | E: estates@ucd.ie | Location Map(opens in a new window)