Purpose: This paper examines necessary competencies in virtual communities in Higher Education. Therefore, we explore which competencies are needed to participate in a virtual community and how these competencies can be captured and developed. Study design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to achieve the research objectives. Findings: As a result, five core competencies were identified: digital competencies, (inter)cultural competencies and language, social and communication competencies, self-motivation and self-management, and collaboration. Consequently, a self-assessment test for virtual community members was designed to capture existing competencies. Originality/value: The Covid-19 pandemic as a driver of digitization has led to virtual collaboration being more prevalent than ever. This research paper contributes to the topic of virtual collaboration by informing about the necessary competencies and by developing an intuitive tool for self-assessing. Thus, preparing team members to become more successful in virtual teamwork.