Halls Life: creating community and supporting wellbeing
Living in University accommodation is many students’ first experience of being away from home. At St Andrews, we understand how important it is that students have a safe, supportive and enriching environment. This is where Halls Life comes in.
Halls Life is the University’s dedicated residential life programme, designed to help students transition from school to further education and feel at home from the moment they arrive. Our team works to build a vibrant, inclusive community across our undergraduate halls of residence, where every student feels safe, valued and empowered to thrive.
In recent years, the University has evolved from the traditional ‘warden’ model to an approach that provides consistent, professional and proactive wellbeing support. At the heart of this approach is a team of four full-time Halls Life Coordinators who lead on wellbeing, community engagement and student support. They are joined by our Assistant Wardens – often postgraduate students and some University staff – who live in halls and provide overnight support. Together, they offer a visible, approachable and compassionate presence, combining proactive community-building with responsive care.
We’re here to welcome our residents, help them settle in and create a sense of belonging. We support students through the ups and downs of university life, whether they’re facing emotional, academic, financial or personal challenges. We also help to manage wellbeing and behavioural concerns, uphold safety standards, and act as positive role models within the community.
We work closely with – and mentor – Hall Committees, which comprise groups of elected student representatives whose role it is to help us shape the social and cultural life in each residence. Student-led initiatives such as ceilidhs and quiz nights are a vital part of what makes life in halls so special. These complement our wellbeing-focused and traditional events including craft sessions, poetry-writing circles and cheese and wine nights. Our collaborative aim is to ensure there is something for every resident to take part in.
At its core, Halls Life is about connection, helping students build friendships, find their place and feel supported throughout their time in residence. We know that a strong sense of community can make all the difference to a student’s wellbeing and success, and we’re proud to be part of that journey, making halls a home away from home.
If your student is living in University accommodation, please know that they’re part of a caring, connected community. Our team is present every night and weekend that halls are open, forming part of a 24-hour, University-wide support network of people who are here to help every student make the most of their time at St Andrews.
Learn more about Halls Life.
This article first appeared in LINK – the newsletter for members of our Family Programme.