From Thursday 8 January 2026, you’ll see a refreshed design when you log into Blackboard with some discreet changes and tweaks to course menus and navigation.
These updates are part of a regular improvement cycle and are designed to make things clearer, faster loading, and more user-friendly in response to your feedback.
There are no changes to your course content. All your materials, tools, and settings remain the same. This update is just about the interface.
What’s changing?
Look out for…
1. Full screen courses
When you enter a course, it now opens in full-screen to reduce clutter and make better use of space.
2. Simpler way to leave a Course
The “X” button to close a course has been replaced with a Home button and Course Switcher. This helps prevent accidentally closing courses. Click the Home button in the top left corner to return to the main Blackboard Home page or ‘Courses’ to go to a different Course.
3. New Course Switcher
Use the new ‘Courses’ link at the top of the page when you’re inside a course to quickly jump between your recent courses without going back to the main menu or view all of your courses.
4. Course menu repositioned
The horizontal course menu is now above the course banner giving you screen space to focus on the page content.
5. Course title displayed over banner image
The banner at the top of each course now stretches across the screen, with the Course Title overlaid.
6. Tidier Home page main menu
The left-hand menu has been cleaned up, with your Profile now at the top and other options easier to find, with Sign Out at the bottom of the page.
