Make the most of your Spring break and beyond

23 March 2026

Whether you’re staying on campus over the Spring break, planning ahead for Term 3, or thinking longer term about your UCL experience, there’s plenty happening across the university to get involved with.

Things to do now and over Spring break

Whilst term ends this week, you can still access support available over the Spring break , and our Student Support and Wellbeing Services have some great tips for making the most of it if you’re staying in London. Wherever you’ll be over the break, here are a few things you can get a head start on now.

Things to do before term ends

Make the most of the final week of term with standout events and last-chance exhibitions happening across campus:

Sign up for ExtendED Learning activities

Registration for ExtendED Learning is now open , giving you the chance to build future-ready skills through nearly 50 practical activities running in Term 3 (18 May-12 June).

Choose from consultancy challenges, masterclasses, workshops and conferences designed to boost your confidence and experience.

Some sessions are already filling up, so prioritise signing up this week!

Get ready for the UCL Campus Run

The UCL Campus Run returns on Wednesday 29 April, with 5k and 10k routes open to all’abilities. Tickets are on sale now and Spring break is the perfect time to start training, or simply to get outside and enjoy some fresh air.

Join the Sustainability Leadership Conference

The Sustainability Leadership Conference on 21-22 April is co-delivered by Sustainable UCL and Students’ Union UCL. This conference brings together students, experts and organisations to discuss the biggest sustainability challenges facing the world today and what we can do about them. A great option if you’re interested in climate action, leadership, or making a positive impact.

Apply early for your Student Finance

If you’re a home undergraduate, applications for tuition fee and maintenance loans open at the end of March. Applying early means your funding is more likely to be confirmed before the new academic year begins in September.

Start your housing search for next year

Spring break is an ideal time to begin looking at accommodation options. Whether you’re hoping for a different location, better facilities, or simply more choice, here are good places to start:

Boost your skills and confidence

Spring break is a great opportunity to upskill. Why not brush up on your library skills with a training session or find out how UCL Careers can help you by checking out their careers guide?

Museums and exhibitions to visit

This is a perfect time to discover UCL’s museums, exhibitions and public art across campus and East London. Whether you’re looking for a quick visit between study sessions or a full afternoon of exploring, here are some highlights to check out.

Join a UCL200 walking tour

Discover the hidden stories and landmarks that shaped UCL with a guided walking tour. The next tour is on 22 April, with monthly dates running throughout 2026.

UCL200 exhibitions

Two Centuries Here : The flagship UCL200 exhibition celebrating people, places and moments that shaped the university. Free and open throughout 2026.

London Intersections - Bartlett UCL200 exhibition : Discover how built-environment research shapes London and everyday life. This new exhibition opens on 26 March as part of the UCL200 celebrations.

If you’re heading to the Main Library, take the time to explore the display in the entrance stairwell , which looks at 200 years of collecting at UCL

Explore UCL’s museums

Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology has one of the world’s leading collections of Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology. If you make it to the Petrie Museum before 16 May, you’ll have the opportunity to view two unique displays: The Land Carries which explores Sudanese history, culture and nationhood through contemporary art and Broken, Burnt, Buried , which explores ritual breaking practices in ancient Egypt.

Grant Museum of Zoology : A cabinet of curiosities filled with skeletons, specimens and endangered species.

UCL Art Museum : Home to works by Turner, Kathe Kollwitz, Paula Rego and more.

UCL East exhibitions

If you’re not based at East campus, here are four good reasons to head over there, and if you visit regularly, you have no excuse for missing these great exhibitions:

Manifesting - UCL Urban Room : Exploring whether a space can be a manifesto. Using sound, text and design to question exclusion, imagine belonging, and invite collective gathering, reflection and disruptive futures.

Common Ground - UCL East Public Art : An installation of work by James Berrington and a series of events that invite us to contemplate a single woodland scene, and to consider the role of nature in shaping our mental health, identity and sense of self.

People Powered Prosperity - The Bartlett : Looking at what it means to lead a prosperous life in today’s world.

Finally, if you’re at East campus after 18 April, take the opportunity to visit The Music is Black: A British Story at the nearby V&A East, celebrating 125 years of Black music-making in Britain.

Things to do in Term 3 and beyond

Whether you’re graduating this year, or continuing with us, now is a great time to look ahead to Term 3 and plan how to make the most of the opportunities on offer.

Make use of Dissertation and research project support

The Academic Communication Centre (ACC) is here to support you while you are researching and writing your dissertation / research project, including dissertation writing courses, webinars on a range of topics, one-to-one tutorials with ACC tutors, and writing retreats.

for top tips and strategies to enhance your dissertation / research project writing process, or find more information on Moodle.

Attend ExtendED Learning

Once you’ve signed up for all these brilliant activities (see above), don’t forget to actually attend them! From 18 May-12 June we have a packed programme of hands-on activities designed to build future-ready skills.

Take advantage of UCL job opportunities and support

Looking for work experience? Here are a few ways to get ahead:

Part-time work and volunteering opportunities from the Students’ Union

Students’ Union Jobshop: part-time, seasonal and temporary work. Check out available jobs and sign up to our newsletter Students’ Union Social Impact team - choose from over 300 active volunteering opportunities across London and find out how you can connect social impact opportunities with your career.

Apply for student roles

Apply to become a Transition Mentor. Recruitment opens today for any student who’ll be returning to study in September. You can also apply to become a Welcome Ambassador (by the 8 May deadline) and/or a Welcome Presenter (by 13 April).

Boost your job search

Are you looking for a summer job, work experience, or graduate role? Explore UCL Careers guides on job hunting , designed to help you plan and strengthen your job search. You’ll find practical tips on where to start, how to find opportunities, build networks, and navigate the transition from study to work.

Plus, keep an eye out for the UCL Careers Jobs Market on Friday 29 May to meet employers hiring for summer jobs, internships and graduate schemes - bookings will open in May.

Join UCL200 celebrations

There’s some fantastic events coming up as we celebrate our bicentennary year:

SU Summer Festival : a highlight of the UCL200 celebrations.

artsUCL Fringe Festival : theatre, comedy, dance, cabaret, music, drag and more taking over campus this year.

Cosmic UCL (6 May): a mash-up of science, comedy and music at the Bloomsbury Theatre.

Plan for leaving your accommodation

It might seem a long way away, but it’s worth thinking about moving out and sustainability. Those of you in UCL Accommodation can get involved in the annual Reuse scheme in UCL halls by leaving your unwanted items in your hall for incoming residents moving in September. Last year students saved over a tonne of waste!

Current full-time students can also apply to stay in UCL Accommdation over the summer. If you, or anyone you know, are looking for short stays instead, UCL Summer Residences are open to the public and offer flexible, hotel-style bookings.

Want more tips and updates? Keep an eye on the weekly student newsletters every Monday throughout Term 3. They’re packed with opportunities and advice to help you make the most of your UCL experience.

University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT (0) 20 7679 2000