Spaces in Community are one of the most powerful ways to help incoming students find friends and build a sense of belonging.
By creating targeted Spaces for different interests, backgrounds, and needs, you can help build connections, reduce pre-arrival attrition, and set the stage for a smoother transition into university life.
Here’s how to approach creating Spaces for your accepted and new students, along with some best practices and inspiration for the types of Spaces that we have seen work well.
Who can join my Spaces?
Any member of your Community can join any public Space you add. Community is designed to be self-select in nature, so students can freely join any Space which aligns with their experiences or interests.
Best Practices for Spaces in Community
Start broad, then go niche
Begin with a few core Spaces (e.g., subject-based or housing) and expand as students join and express their interests.Encourage student-led activity
Assign Student Ambassadors to key Spaces, where they can answer questions, monitor what's happening, start conversations, and keep Spaces vibrant.Keep it simple and relevant
Avoid overwhelming students with too many options. Focus on the types of Spaces that directly support their transition.Promote inclusivity
Ensure there’s a mix of Spaces where every student can see themselves represented - academic, social, and support-based.Use clear names and descriptions
A Space named “Psychology Offer Holders 2026” is more effective than “Psychology Chat.”
Ideas for Spaces You Can Create
🎓 Academic
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
Support students as they finalise where they will live:
By halls of residence or specific dorms.
Off-campus housing advice and flatmate finder.
Local commuter students’ Space.
🌍 International & Identity-Based
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/distance learning, parent/caregiver, or research students.
🎉 Social & Interest-Based
Help students build friendships around common hobbies:
Sports and fitness.
Gaming, music, arts, or film.
Volunteer opportunities.
💬 Support & Wellbeing
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 Space?
In order to create new Spaces 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 Spaces to.
Select the Spaces tab, then click on Create New Space.
Add your new Space's name - something that clearly defines to your students what this Space is all about. Feel free to add emojis to the 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 Space - 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 joining this particular Space?
Add a cover photo - you might have one to hand, or you can AI-generate an image.
Add the tags that apply to your Space - students can search for relevant Spaces using these tags. You can add as many tags as are relevant.
Click on Create Space.
Your Space has now been created and will be visible to everyone who has been invited to join your Community.