Groups in Community are one of the most powerful ways to help incoming students find their people before they even arrive on campus.
By creating targeted spaces for different interests, backgrounds, and needs, you can build belonging, reduce melt, and set the stage for a smoother transition into university life.
Here’s how to approach creating Groups for your offer holders and new students, along with some best practices and inspiration for the types of Groups that work well.
Who can join my Groups?
Any member of your Community can join any public Group you include. Community is designed to be self-select, so students can freely join any Group which aligns with their experiences or interests.
Best Practices for Groups in Community
Start broad, then go niche
Begin with a few core Groups (e.g., subject-based or housing) and expand as students join and express their interests.Encourage student-led activity
Assign Student Ambassadors to key Groups, who can answer questions, monitor what's happening, start conversations, and keep groups lively.Keep it simple and relevant
Avoid overwhelming students with too many options. Focus on the types of Groups that directly support their transition.Promote inclusivity
Ensure there’s a mix of Groups where every student can see themselves represented - academic, social, and support-based.Use clear names and descriptions
A group titled “Psychology Offer Holders 2026” is more effective than “Psychology Chat.”
Ideas for Groups You Can Create
🎓 Academic Pathway Groups
Help students connect with their future course-mates:
By faculty or department (e.g., “Engineering Offer Holders”).
Grouping by degree program (e.g., “BA History 2026”) works if you don't have too many, but can become too saturated if you have hundreds of programs.
🏡 Housing & Accommodation Groups
Support students as they sort out where to live:
By halls of residence or specific dorms.
Off-campus housing advice and flatmate finder.
Commuter students’ group.
🌍 International & Identity-Based Groups
Offer spaces for students to find community around shared experiences:
By home country or region (e.g., “Students from India”).
First-generation university students.
Mature, online, caregiver, or research students.
🎉 Social & Interest-Based Groups
Help students build friendships around common hobbies:
Sports and fitness.
Gaming, music, arts, or film.
Volunteer opportunities.
💬 Support & Wellbeing Groups
Provide spaces where students can feel supported:
Wellbeing and mental health check-in.
Accessibility, neurodiversity & disability support.
LGBTQ+ student community.
How do I create a new Group?
In order to create new Groups within your Community, see the step-by-step instructions below:
Log into your University Dashboard.
Select the Community tab on the left-hand navigation menu.
Click on the Community you'd like to add new Groups to.
Select the Groups tab, then click on Create New Group.
Add your new Group's name - something that clearly defines to your students what this Group is about. Feel free to add emojis to the Group's name! You can do this by right-clicking > selecting Emojis and Symbols on Mac, or following these steps on Windows.
Add a description for the Group - this description is visible to students in your Community, and you can use this to go into a little more detail and set expectations - what will a student get out of this Group?
Add the tags that apply to your Group - students can search for relevant Groups using these tags. You can add as many tags as are relevant.
Click on Create Group.
Your Group has now been created and will be visible to everyone who has been invited to join your Community.
To see a video of the steps above, see below: