Sexual violence in UK higher education

In 2025, the state of sexual misconduct in UK universities was described as a “national scandal”: 14% of final-year students had experienced sexual assaults during their studies, with women and marginalised groups disproportionately affected.

While sexual violence in UK universities is shaped by specific institutional and environmental failures, including a sexist lad culture and a legacy of institutional neglect, its persistence ultimately reflects deeper societal norms rooted in rape culture. University-level reforms, like those introduced by the Office for Students in August 2025, are therefore necessary and welcomed but are not sufficient. Without wider cultural change that challenges sexism and victim-blaming, sexual violence will continue to shape student life.