University & Student Accommodation Noticeboards: Best Practice Guide
Noticeboards for Universities and Student Accommodation
University students arrive somewhere new, often not knowing a soul, and a good noticeboard is one of the simplest ways to help them settle, stay safe and feel part of a community. This guide covers what to display in halls and on campus, where boards work hardest, and how noticeboards support freshers, events, safety and student wellbeing.
A noticeboard is the one channel that reaches every student who walks past, with no app to download, login to remember or inbox to check. In halls and on campus it carries the things students need on the spot: who to contact, what is on this week, how to stay safe, and where to turn for support.
of people aged 16 to 24 report high levels of loneliness on the survey's indirect measure, the highest of any age group and above the 9% average for adults in England (Community Life Survey 2024/25). Welcoming, well-signposted displays are one small way student accommodation can help build connections.
What Should Be on a University or Student Accommodation Noticeboard?
A university or halls noticeboard should answer the questions a student actually has, from how to get online to who to call in an emergency. A strong board usually includes:
Where Should Noticeboards Go on Campus and in Halls?
Put boards where students naturally pause, since shared spaces with a few seconds of dwell time work best. The highest-value spots include:
- Hall entrances and reception. The first thing students and visitors see on the way in.
- Kitchens and common rooms. Where flatmates gather, ideal for events and house messages.
- Laundry rooms and lift lobbies. Captive moments while students wait.
- The students' union. The hub for societies, events and campaigns.
- Campus entrances and walkways. Weatherproof external boards for whole-campus notices.
- Departmental corridors. Course news, deadlines and opportunities close to teaching.
- Libraries and study spaces. Quiet, high-dwell spots for opportunities and support information.
How Should Universities Communicate With Students?
No single channel reaches every student, so the best approach uses a few together. A noticeboard is the dependable, always-on layer that needs no login, while digital channels handle reminders and detail.
| Communication channel | What it works best for |
|---|---|
| Noticeboard | Always-on, on-the-spot information in shared spaces |
| Formal notices and detailed updates students can keep | |
| Student app or portal | Personalised timetables, alerts and account information |
| Social media | Reaching students quickly where they already are |
| Digital signage | Rotating, time-sensitive messages in busy foyers |
How Do You Reach Students During Freshers?
Freshers week is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming, and it is when students form their first impressions and habits. A clear board cuts through the noise and helps them settle and find their people.
of students said they had felt lonely at least once during the academic year, and 43% worried they would be judged for admitting it (government research). Visible welcome displays, society sign-ups and support contacts help them connect early.
Focus the freshers display on the essentials:
- A freshers welcome board. Key dates, who is who, and what to do first.
- A what is on timetable. Socials, taster sessions and society fairs at a glance.
- Society and sports sign-ups. How to join, with dates and locations.
- Getting settled basics. Wifi, laundry, bins, deliveries and quiet hours.
- Safety and looking out for each other. Getting home safely, consent and support.
- Peer mentors and RAs. Friendly faces to ask, with contact details.
What Safety Information Should Student Accommodation Display?
Some information needs to be permanent, clearly displayed and easy to find in a hurry. Student accommodation noticeboards usually carry:
How Can Noticeboards Support Student Wellbeing?
By making support easy to find and helping students feel part of a community. Young adults are the age group most likely to report high levels of loneliness, and government research found that almost half of students worry they would be judged if they admitted feeling lonely. Visible wellbeing displays help normalise the conversation, signpost help and promote shared events, lowering the barrier to reaching out.
Keep wellbeing visible all year, not just in freshers week. Display counselling and student support contacts, out-of-hours helplines and how to register with a local GP, alongside peer-led activities, common room socials and a "you said, we did" panel so students can see their feedback acted on.
How Do PBSA Providers Use Noticeboards?
Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) providers manage large buildings where residents share kitchens, study spaces and social areas, so a well-placed noticeboard is a quick, reliable way to reach everyone on site. Providers typically use boards for:
- Event promotion. Resident socials, wellbeing sessions and community activities.
- Maintenance updates. Planned works, lift servicing and parcel or laundry notices.
- Safety information. Fire procedures, assembly points and out-of-hours contacts.
- Wellbeing communications. Support services, helplines and reporting routes.
A lockable board in a communal area keeps these notices tidy and tamper-free, while a weatherproof external board suits a building entrance or courtyard.
Example University and Halls Noticeboard Layouts
To pull this together, here is what a few common boards might show in practice. Use these as starting points and adapt them to your own halls and campus:
| Noticeboard location and setting | What to display on this board |
|---|---|
| Halls reception board | Welcome information, RA and warden contacts, fire safety and support contacts |
| Common room board | Events, society sign-ups and wellbeing activities |
| Laundry room board | Maintenance updates, parcel information and quiet hours |
| Students' union board | Society events, campaigns, volunteering and elections |
Whatever the layout, a board that is easy to refresh and, in shared areas, lockable will keep these displays current and tidy.
Which Noticeboards Are Best for Universities and Halls?
For halls and campus you want boards that handle heavy footfall and, in communal areas, resist tampering. A lockable board keeps shared notices secure, a large felt board suits a students' union or foyer, and weatherproof external boards work for campus entrances and walkways.
Lockable doors keep shared notices secure and tidy in communal halls areas and busy corridors.
View Board
A large board for a students' union, foyer or departmental display wall.
View Board
A bright framed felt board for a common room, kitchen or office noticeboard.
View BoardBrowse the felt noticeboards, lockable noticeboards, or external noticeboards for outdoor campus displays.
Noticeboards in Real Universities
A look at noticeboards in real university and student accommodation settings, from hall receptions and common rooms to study spaces and campus entrances.
A welcome and freshers board in a lift lobby, the first thing new residents see, with key dates and friendly faces to ask in the early days.
A noticeboard in a shared kitchen and dining area, where flatmates gather, ideal for house messages, quiet hours and what is on this week.
A common room board pairing what is on with wellbeing support, keeping socials and where to turn for help visible side by side.
A lounge board promoting societies and socials, helping residents find their people and join in beyond their own flat.
A bold information board in a lift lobby, a captive moment while residents wait, good for safety notices and maintenance updates.
Displaysense supplies lockable, external and felt noticeboards for universities and student accommodation, with free UK delivery and 30-day credit terms for public sector and education buyers.
A noticeboard is the always-on channel that reaches every student in halls and on campus, with no login required. Show the essentials clearly: key contacts, wifi, what is on, fire and safety information, and where to find support. Put boards where students pause, use lockable boards in communal areas and weatherproof boards outdoors, and keep wellbeing and community visible all year to help students settle and stay connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be on a university or student accommodation noticeboard?
Where should noticeboards go in student halls?
Why do student accommodation noticeboards matter?
What safety information should student accommodation display?
What type of noticeboard is best for student accommodation?
This guide draws on two Department for Culture, Media and Sport sources: government-commissioned research on student loneliness (2023), which found loneliness was experienced by 92% of students and that 43% worried they would be judged for admitting it; and the Community Life Survey 2024/25, which found adults aged 16 to 24 were the age group most likely to report high levels of indirect loneliness (12%), above the 9% average for adults in England. Practical guidance reflects common practice in UK universities and student accommodation; institutions should confirm fire, safety and support arrangements in their own setting.
How noticeboards, email, apps and signage work together to reach a whole community.
Felt, lockable, fire-rated or outdoor? How to choose the right board for any space.
Wellbeing display ideas, from worry walls to exam support and support contacts.
