General Views of the University of Toronto St. George campus during the winter 2020. (Photo by Daria Perevezentsev)

current residents

Winter Break 2026

Knox Residence

Winter Break Closure

Knox Residence will be closed from 

12pm (noon), Wednesday, December 23, 2026
to 
9am on Wednesday, January 6, 2027

student

Checkout Date

Residents must check out either

48 hours following your last December exam
or
by 12pm (noon) on Wednesday, December 23, 2026.
(whichever comes first)

Important guidelines

Checking Out

You are not required to complete any forms if you will be away for the entire break. You can leave your belongings in your room while you are away for winter break.

Remember to take your residence keys with you but you must bring them back when you return. Losing or forgetting your key will result in a charge for a lost key and delays in obtaining a replacement key. Key replacements will not be issued until the University reopens due to limited staff availability

Please ensure you tidy your room and remove all garbage and recycling prior to your departure. Double check that you have not left any perishable food or beverages in your room.

bedroom desk at knox residence
Building icon

January Check In

January check in will begin at 8am on Wednesday, January 6, 2027.

To ensure an efficient check in, all residents are required to book a move-in time slot for your return to residence in January.

Login in to StarPortal to book your time slot under ‘Manage my Housing’ beginning in early-November.

Time slots will be available soon and will be bookable is StarRez through ‘Manage my Housing’ and ‘Knox Residence Winter Term 2027’.

Should you require a check in earlier than Wednesday, January 6, 2027, you must apply and be approved for the Winter Break stay as per the process and deadline outlined in the Staying for Winter Break section below.

Winter Closure

New College Dining Commons

New College Dining Commons will be closed after breakfast service on Tuesday, December 22, 2026, and reopen at breakfast on Saturday, January 9, 2027

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walkway at the courtyard

IF YOU NEED TO

Stay in Residence Over the Winter Break

If you would like to stay in residence during the winter break you must notify us by 11:59pm on Monday, December 21, 2026.

There is a $550 charge for staying over the winter break. This fee is not pro-rated, and is a flat rate regardless of how many days you will need to stay during this time.

To notify the Residence Office of your stay, please follow the steps below:

  • Log on to the Residence Portal and select ‘Manage my Housing’.
  • Click on the ‘Select’ button besides the ‘Knox Fall Term 2026‘ booking.
  • Under the ‘Select Next Step’ drop-down menu, select ‘KNOX – Winter Break 2026’, and then click ‘Continue’
  • Review and complete the form

Residents who submit a late notification after 11:59pm on Tuesday, December 1, 2026 will incur a $50 charge.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Residence Office at info.knoxresidence@utoronto.ca.

What to expect

During Your Winter Break Stay

The University will be closed from Thursday, December 24, 2026, to Tuesday, January 5, 2027, inclusive and will re-open on Wednesday, January 6, 2027. Residents intending to stay over the break should be aware of the following:

  • Reduced Service Desk Hours: The Service Desk will be open most days during the winter break, from 12pm to 5pm daily.
  • Limited Services: Some residence facilities and maintenance support will be restricted, returning to normal operations when the University reopens.
  • Dining Hall Closure: The New College Dining Commons will be closed over the winter break, with the last meal before the break on Tuesday, December 22, 2026, and the first meal after the winter break on Saturday, January 9, 2027. Residents staying at Knox Residence over the break must arrange their own meals.
  • No Guests Permitted: No guests will be permitted in the building during the winter break. A guest is defined as someone who is not a current resident at Knox Residence or a current resident who has not confirmed their stay for the winter break.

We recommend that residents staying over the winter break make the following arrangements:

  • Meal Arrangements: Since New College Dining Commons will be closed, please make meal arrangements for the winter break period.
  • Social Plans: No guests will be permitted at Knox Residence during the winter break. If you plan to connect with friends and loved ones over the break, consider making social plans outside the residence.
  • Submit Outstanding Maintenance Requests Before the Break: If you have a maintenance issue requiring support, please submit a maintenance request before the break via StarRez. Non-emergency facility issues will need to wait until after the break to be addressed; however, we will continue to respond to facilities emergencies during the break (e.g., power outages). Please continue to report facilities emergencies as soon as they are discovered.
  • Account for Delays in Packages: If you plan to order packages, be aware that the limited operating hours of the Service Desk may cause delays. Please plan ahead and make your orders early if necessary.