Prevent and address harassment and sexual misconduct

Examples of effective practice

We are asking universities and colleges to share examples of how they are implementing effective policies to prevent and address sexual misconduct and harassment to protect students.

We’re looking for effective practice that other providers can consider when reviewing and developing their own arrangements, to improve their understanding of how they could address and prevent harassment and sexual misconduct and establish safer environments for students.

Universities and colleges can submit expressions of interests through our survey, which has further information on what to include in a submission.

Please submit your expression of interest by 1700 on Tuesday 5 January 2027.

External reports and resources

Here are some reports and resources that providers may find useful in developing their approaches to tackling harassment and sexual misconduct.

Please note that these were produced before we developed and implemented our condition of registration. Providers should use the condition and accompanying guidance to make sure they understand our regulatory requirements.

General:

• OfS, UK HUN, UUK: The intersection of sexual violence, alcohol and drugs at universities and colleges (PDF)
  A briefing note following a meeting hosted by the UK Healthy Universities Network in collaboration with the Office for Students and Universities UK on the impact alcohol and drugs can have on sexual violence in universities and colleges.
• UUK: ‘Changing the culture’, ‘One year on’ and ‘Two years on’
  Reports that examine evidence of violence against women, harassment and hate crime affecting students. Makes a series of recommendations for universities
• UUK: ‘Changing the culture: sharing personal data in harassment cases’ 
  Sector guidance to increase understanding around when it is appropriate to share personal data when managing harassment complaints.
• Advance HE: Evaluation reports of student safeguarding Catalyst programme
  Includes recommendations for the sector for tackling harassment, hate and sexual misconduct
• UUK & Pinsent Masons: ‘Guidance for higher education institutions: how to handle alleged student misconduct’
  These guidelines related to all types of student misconduct which may constitute a criminal offence and provide specific recommendations in relation to sexual misconduct
• OIA: Good practice framework for disciplinary procedures (PDF)
  Good practice guidance for providers in designing disciplinary procedures and in handling individual cases
• URKI: ‘Preventing harm (safeguarding) in research and innovation policy’
  UKRI expectations of the individuals and organisation in their approach to safeguarding those involved in, or that come into contact with, the research and innovation activities they fund.
• AVA, NUS and UUK: Combat Misconduct toolkit (PDF)
  This toolkit offers practical support for vice-chancellors, principal and senior leaders who are developing strategies to address sexual misconduct, harassment and hate incidents at university.
• CUC: ‘Tackling Harassment and Sexual Misconduct’ (PDF)
  Practical guidance for chairs and governing bodies in leading and managing harassment and sexual misconduct in their universities.

Addressing harassment:

• UUK: ‘Tackling online harassment and promoting online welfare’
  Guidance outlines a set of principles to support universities to prevent and respond to online harassment occurring between students
• UUK: ‘Tackling racial harassment in higher education’
  Recommendations designed to decisively tackle racial harassment as part of efforts to address racial inequality in UK higher education
• UUK: ‘Beginning the conversation’ and ‘Continuing the conversation’
  Briefings on responding to domestic violence and technology mediated abuse in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic
• UUK: Tackling antisemitism: practical guidance for universities
  This guidance suggests actions universities can take to tackle antisemitism.
• UUK: Tackling Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred: practical guidance for universities
  This guidance suggests actions universities can take to tackle Islamophobia.
• NUS: The experience of Muslim Students in 2017-18
  Research into the experiences of Muslim students in further and higher education in the UK. Includes recommendations for the sector.
• EHRC: Tackling racial harassment: universities challenged
  Report that presents the findings of the EHRC inquiry into racial harassment in publicly funded universities in England, Scotland and Wales. Includes recommendations for change
• London Metropolitan University, Sofia Akel: The rise of Islamophobia in Higher Education
  Research into the experiences of Muslim staff and students in higher education. The report specifically examines Islamophobia at London Metropolitan University and sets out recommendations for the university
• CST: Campus antisemitism in Britain 2020-2022 (PDF)
  An investigation of antisemitic incidents affecting Jewish students, academics and student bodies in the UK.
• CST: Antisemitic Incidents Report 2022 (PDF)
  An investigation found that antisemitic incidents affecting Jewish students, academics and student bodies in 2022 were more likely to occur online than incidents outside of the higher education sector.
• UCLAN Honour Abuse Research Matrix (HARM) network, Dr Roxanne Khan: Domestic abuse policy guidance for UK universities (PDF)
  This guidance was written to support university policymakers to develop effective and inclusive domestic abuse policies.
• SOAS: ‘Islam and Muslims on University Campuses: perceptions and challenges’ 
  This report offers the first cross-sector examination of how Muslims are viewed, treated and subjected to processes of inclusion and exclusion within UK universities.
• HEPI: ‘Living Black at University’
  This research explores the experiences of Black students across university accommodation and private halls of residence, amplifying their voices and stories to the wider higher education sector.

Addressing sexual misconduct:

• OfS: Insight brief - Tackling sexual misconduct in universities and colleges
  An Insight brief looking at the duties of universities to protect students, and summarising data on the prevalence and effects of sexual misconduct.
• NUS: Hidden Marks
  A study of women student’s experiences of harassment, stalking, violence and sexual assault. Includes recommendations for the sector.
• NUS and The 1752 Group: Power in the academy
  Research of the patterns and behaviours involved in staff-to-student sexual misconduct and students experiences of reporting to their institution. Includes recommendations for the sector
• The 1752 Group & McAllister Olivarius: ‘Sector guidance to address staff sexual misconduct in UK higher education’
  Recommendations for reporting, investigation and decision-making procedures relating to student complaints of staff sexual misconduct
• Empowered Campus: ‘A lot left to learn: Student experiences of gender based violence at university’
• #CombatMisconduct Resource Hub has been developed by AVA (Against Violence & Abuse) in partnership with Universities UK and the NUS
• AVA, UUK and NUS: Combat Misconduct Impact Matrix
  This Impact Matrix tool has been designed to help institutions measure and improve their approach to tackling and preventing sexual misconduct.
• Epigram: Bristol SU shares results of consent culture and sexual harassment research
  An article on Bristol Students' Union's research project into consent culture and sexual harassment at the University of Bristol.
• UUK: ‘Changing the culture: tackling staff-to-student sexual misconduct’
  Guidance on how to prevent and respond to cases of staff-to-student sexual misconduct in higher education