This investigation deals with topics such as sexual assault, grooming, stalking, physical violence, and harassment
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Some of the world’s most elite universities are failing to protect their students when it comes to sexual misconduct by staff or other students.
Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit has spent two years examining how British universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Glasgow, and Warwick deal with complaints of sexual harassment, sexist, drunken behaviour, and coercive control.
A series of podcasts and videos reveal why students say university complaints systems are stacked against them and how sexual misconduct by university staff and students has extensively affected the lives of women in academia.
Multiple complaints against the same abuser are regularly not heard together so individual complaints are dismissed as he-said-she said. Complaints take months, even years to be heard.
Al Jazeera sent 164 freedom of information requests to every university across the UK, requesting data on the total sexual misconduct complaints made against both students and staff members between 2017 and 2020, how many of these complaints were fully investigated and how many led to an outcome for the complainant.
The personal stories featured in the podcasts and videos, combined with the trove of documents obtained through the freedom of information requests, reveal a hard to navigate system that to many students is bewildering and traumatic.
Podcasts
The World Renowned Oxford Don
He’s a famous professor at Oxford, one of the world’s most prestigious universities. But across three decades and three institutions, women have described him as a sexual predator.
Episode 1
The Oxford Historian
He’s a leading academic at the University of Oxford. His expertise is in times gone by. Both students and other lecturers say his drunken and abusive behaviour is also a throw back and he’s unfit to teach.
Episode 2
Crossing professional boundaries
Six women describe the behaviour of a lecturer who taught at Glasgow University. They say he broke the acceptable boundaries of a professional teaching relationship.
Episode 3
Why complaints fail
In the second part of the story, the women describe what happened when they complained about the lecturer and the outcome, which one woman says could have ended her academic career
Episode 4
'He had deliberately obscured who he was'
The PhD student at Glasgow University was charismatic and charming and part of his appeal was his tragic past. But his relationships with several women became violent and controlling. As our investigation dug deeper into his history in his home country, we uncovered his lies and the real story of his murdered wife..
Episode 5
‘He lies to avoid accountability’
More incredible revelations about how a PhD student at Glasgow University lied about his dead wife and falsely accused innocent people of killing her. Question is, why has it taken almost four years for Glasgow University to investigate multiple complaints about him?
Episode 6
Videos
Harriet’s Oxford Story
When an Oxford PhD student, Harriet, complained that she’d been sexually assaulted by a fellow student, she expected Balliol College to investigate.
However, Harriet then discovered Balliol is one of several colleges at Oxford University to have a clause in their policy which means they don’t have to investigate her complaint. Harriet also claims the college put the emphasis on her behaviour, not the student she says assaulted her.
Millie's Warwick Story
When Millie started at Warwick University, she chose to live in a mixed flat. But a series of incidents with a flatmate led to Millie filing a complaint about him.
After a long investigation and a conduct committee meeting, Millie’s complaint was dismissed because it came down to one person’s word against another. Millie says her case shows some men still don’t understand what consent to sex really means.
Freedom of Information Requests
As part of Degrees of Abuse, Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit created a database with summaries and the original documents sent by 125 universities in response to Al Jazeera’s Freedom of Information Requests.
The documents expose the broader scale of just how few complaints result in any action being taken, especially for students.
In total, 125 out of 164 universities responded to Al Jazeera's request for information, revealing 1,403 student sexual misconduct complaints were reported over the period 2017-2020.
The documents show only 487 out of 1,403 of all student sexual misconduct complaints were investigated.
Out of those that were investigated, 309 led to no further action by the university.
That means that about 83 percent of university students' complaints of sexual misconduct did not result in disciplinary action of any kind for the respondent.
The documents also show only 35 out of 252 of sexual misconduct complaints against staff were investigated.
In several cases where the victim filed an official police report, universities said they intended to do a full investigation pending the result of the police inquiry. However, most complaints that were dropped by the police were then not investigated by the universities.
Although many universities claim they can investigate even if police cases are dropped, some universities such as Oxford University have policies that claim if a student doesn’t report to the police, they have no obligation to investigate.
Select a university
Total number of reported complaints
1,654
Aberdeen
Reported complaints: 14
Fourteen complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2016-17 and 2019-20.
Aberdeen University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Abertay
Reported complaints: 2
Two complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2017-18 and 2019-20.
Abertay University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Anglia Ruskin
Reported complaints: 10
Five student sexual misconduct complaints made between 2017 and 2020 led to no internal hearings.
Three cases are on hold due to police investigations. Five staff sexual misconduct complaints led to one internal hearing.
Anglia Ruskin did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Arden
Arden University is not a public authority and is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
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Arts University Bournemouth
Arts University Bournemouth did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Bangor
Reported complaints: 22
Twenty-two complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2017-18 and 2019-20 led to the expulsion of three of the accused.
No complaints of staff sexual misconduct during this time.
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Bath
Reported complaints: 8
Eight student sexual misconduct complaints made in the academic year 2018-19. Between 2017-18 and 2019-20, complaints resulted in three expulsions.
Bath did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Bath Spa
Reported complaints: 3
Three complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2017 and 2020. The university has 18 conduct agreements on record since 2010.
Bath Spa did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Bedfordshire
Reported complaints: 18
Sixteen complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020.
Eight of these were investigated; four cases led to no further action, one led to the accused being suspended, two led to final written warnings, and one was expelled.
In addition, two cases of staff sexual misconduct led to no further action.
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Birkbeck
Reported complaints: 4
Four complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2017 and 2020.
Three cases were upheld, leading to one formal warning and two of the accused being expelled.
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Birmingham
Reported complaints: 7
In the academic year 2017-18, there were seven student sexual misconduct complaints.
Birmingham University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Birmingham City
Birmingham City University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported between 2014 and 2016.
The combined number of complaints since 2010 is still less than five. This means that the university is exempt from sharing further details regarding any complaints.
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Bishop Grosseteste
Bishop Grosseteste did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Bolton
Bolton did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Bournemouth
Reported complaints: 3
Two student sexual misconduct cases reported between 2017 and 2019 led to internal hearings and were upheld.
One occurrence led to a written warning, while the other respondent received advice and guidance.
In addition, one staff sexual misconduct case was confirmed, and the employee received a final written warning.
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BPP University
BPP University did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Bradford
Reported complaints: 9
Nine sexual misconduct complaints made between 2017 and 2020.
Bradford University combined the complaints against staff members and students, so we are unable to identify the accused.
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Brighton
Reported complaints: 8
Eight complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017-18 and 2019-20.
None of these complaints led to an internal hearing. Three of the accused voluntarily withdrew, and three cases were continuing at the time of response.
There were no reported cases of staff sexual misconduct.
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Bristol
Reported complaints: 28
Twenty-eight complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017-18 and 2018-19. Fewer than five complaints in 2019-20.
The University of Bristol did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons because less than five complaints were made in 2019-20.
The response did not include information on how many complaints were investigated nor the outcomes of these investigations.
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Brunel
Reported complaints: 43
Eight formal complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2016-17 and 2019-20. Three of these were heard and led to a formal warning, restriction of movement on campus, and expulsion.
There were also 35 informal complaints of student sexual misconduct, 13 of which were investigated.
No reported complaints of staff sexual misconduct.
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Buckingham
Buckingham University did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Bucks New
Reported complaints: 6
Six complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020.
One confirmed case led to a recommendation that the respondent improve their verbal and non-verbal communication. Two cases were on hold due to continuing police investigations.
There was also one complaint of staff sexual misconduct which was upheld and led to a formal warning.
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Cambridge
Reported complaints: 29
Twenty-five formal complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2015-16 and 2018-19, 18 of which were investigated and eight upheld; none led to expulsion.
Four complaints of staff sexual misconduct, one of which was partially endorsed and led to a no-contact agreement.
There were 175 informal student sexual misconduct complaints and 33 informal staff sexual misconduct complaints made through the anonymous reporting system. These complaints were all sent to the central university.
Complaints made to any of the 31 colleges are not included in this number. The I-Unit contacted all Cambridge colleges, but few responded and used exemptions to avoid disclosing complaint numbers.
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Canterbury Christ Church
Reported complaints: 5
Four complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020. One case led to an internal hearing, and three cases were continuing at the time of response.
Additionally, a staff member resigned after one complaint of staff sexual misconduct.
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Cardiff
Reported complaints: 27
Twenty-six complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2017-18 and 2019-20.
Expulsion is one result of these complaints, but Cardiff withheld numbers for different outcomes.
There were two complaints of staff sexual misconduct during the same period.
The University of Cardiff did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Cardiff Metropolitan
Reported complaints: 13
Eleven complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2017-18 and 2019-20. Sanctions are unspecified.
Two complaints of staff sexual misconduct led to one of the accused having their employment terminated before the hearing.
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Central Lancashire
Reported complaints: 26
Twenty-four complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2016-17 and 2019-20. Seven cases were upheld, leading to no expulsions.
Two complaints of staff sexual misconduct, neither of which were upheld. However, one staff member resigned before the complaint could be thoroughly investigated.
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Chester
Reported complaints: 22
Nineteen student sexual misconduct complaints; four of these led to internal hearings, and one student was expelled.
In addition, three complaints of staff sexual misconduct led to one staff member being dismissed.
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Chichester
Reported complaints: 22
Chichester University shared information according to whether the complainants were students or staff rather than respondents.
Students made 22 complaints of sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020; one led to a hearing and a staff member’s dismissal. Police handled the rest.
No grievances were brought forth by staff members.
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City, University of London
City, University of London did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing the small number of complaints reported.
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Conservatoire for Dance and Drama
Reported complaints: 0
No complaints were made during the requested period.
Courtauld Institute of Art
Courtauld Institute of Art did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Coventry
Reported complaints: 15
Fifteen student sexual misconduct complaints between 2017 and 2020, two of which were upheld.
There were two complaints of staff sexual misconduct.
Coventry University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Cumbria
Reported complaints: 16
Sixteen student sexual misconduct complaints, three of which were upheld, and 13 which required no further action.
Cumbria University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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De Montfort
Reported complaints: 33
Twenty-six complaints of student sexual misconduct; one led to one of the accused being expelled.
There were seven complaints of staff sexual misconduct; none led to a dismissal.
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Derby
Reported complaints: 16
Sixteen complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Derby University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported about staff misconduct.
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Dundee
Reported complaints:
Dundee University publishes sexual misconduct complaints online which can be found here.
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Durham
Durham university publishes it's sexual misconduct complaints publicly on it's website here.
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East Anglia
East Anglia University refused Al Jazeera’s Freedom of Information request because the information requested is so specific and the number of internal hearings so small there could be a risk of individuals being identified.
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East London
University of East London refused Al Jazeera’s Freedom of Information request because they could not access the information requested remotely during the COVID-19 lockdown.
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Edge Hill
Edge Hill did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Edinburgh Napier
Reported complaints: 7
One complaint of student sexual misconduct made between 2017-18 and 2019-20 and one classified as 'other'.
Additionally, five complaints of staff sexual misconduct were made in the same period, leading to the dismissal of one of the accused.
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Essex
Reported complaints: 38
Thirty-six complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017-18 and 2019-20. None of the accused was expelled.
Two complaints of staff sexual misconduct, both of which were dismissed.
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Exeter
Reported complaints: 19
Ten complaints of student sexual misconduct were reported, none of which were upheld or led to any outcome. Some complaints were ongoing at the time of response.
There were also nine complaints of staff sexual misconduct, which didn’t lead to any dismissals.
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Falmouth
Falmouth University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Glasgow
Reported complaints: 14
Fourteen complaints of staff sexual misconduct between 2017-18 and 2019-20, with no respondents being dismissed.
University of Glasgow did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request.
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Glasgow Caledonian
Reported complaints: 3
Three complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2017-18 and 2019-20.
None of the accused was expelled.
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Glasgow School of Art
Reported complaints: 1
One student sexual misconduct complaint made between 2017 and 2020.
None of the accused was expelled.
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Gloucestershire
Between 2015-16 and 2019-20, the number of sexual misconduct complaints against students and staff was fewer than five
Due to the small number of complaints reported, the university cited privacy reasons for not fully responding to Al Jazeera’s request.
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Goldsmiths
Goldsmiths did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Greenwich
Reported complaints: 11
Eleven student sexual misconduct complaints made between 2017 and 2020.
Greenwich University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Reported complaints: 5
Five complaints of student sexual misconduct.
did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Harper Adams
Reported complaints: 7
Seven complaints of student sexual misconduct reported, none of which led to disciplinary action.
No complaints of staff sexual misconduct.
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Hartpury University
Reported complaints: 0
No complaints of sexual misconduct between 2017-18 and 2019-20.
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Heriot-Watt
Heriot-Watt University did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Hertfordshire University
Reported complaints: 34
Thirty-two complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2016-17 and 2019-20.
Hertfordshire University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Highlands and Islands
Highlands and Islands did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Huddersfield
Reported complaints: 19
Thirteen complaints of student sexual misconduct reported, along with six complaints of staff sexual misconduct.
Huddersfield University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Hull
University of Hull did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Imperial College London
Reported complaints: 29
Twenty-nine complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2017-18 and 2019-20; none of the accused was expelled.
Imperial College did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of staff complaints reported.
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Keele
Keele University did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Kent
Reported complaints: 17
Seventeen complaints of student sexual misconduct in 2018-19.
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King's College London
Reported complaints: 16
King’s College London did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Kingston
Reported complaints: 29
Twenty-nine complaints of student sexual misconduct led to one expulsion.
Five complaints of staff sexual misconduct were directed at one staff member. The complaint was not investigated.
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Lancaster
Reported complaints: 41
Forty complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2018-19 and 2020-21, 16 of which were upheld.
Lancaster University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Leeds
Reported complaints: 13
No cases of student sexual misconduct reported.
However, 13 claims of staff sexual misconduct were noted, four of which were upheld and led to the accused being dismissed or disciplined.
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Leeds Arts University
Leeds Art University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Leeds Beckett
Reported complaints: 12
Twelve complaints of sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020.
Leeds Beckett University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Leeds Trinity University
Reported complaints: 3
One case of student sexual misconduct was reported between 2017 and 2020 with an ongoing inquiry at the time of response.
Two complaints of staff sexual misconduct, one of which led to unspecified disciplinary action.
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Leicester
Reported complaints: 21
Fifteen complaints of student sexual misconduct noted between 2017 and 2020. None of the accused was expelled.
No complaints of staff sexual misconduct.
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Lincoln
Lincoln University did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Liverpool
Reported complaints: 36
Thirty-six complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2016-17 and 2019-20.
University of Liverpool did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Liverpool Hope
Reported complaints: 5
Five complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2016-17 and 2019-20, two of which were investigated.
No complaints of staff sexual misconduct.
Liverpool Hope University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Liverpool John Moores
Liverpool John Moores did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
London Institute of Banking and Finance
Reported complaints: 0
No complaints of sexual misconduct.
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London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
London School of Economics
Reported complaints: 12
Twelve complaints of student sexual misconduct reported; none led to expulsion.
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London South Bank
Reported complaints: 12
Twelve complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017-18 and 2019-20.
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Loughborough
Reported complaints: 24
Twenty-four complaints of student sexual misconduct reported between 2017-18 and 2019-20, five of which led to disciplinary proceedings and were upheld.
Loughborough University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Manchester
Reported complaints: 18
Fifteen complaints of student sexual misconduct noted between 2017-18 and 2019-20.
Seven grievances proceeded to internal hearings; none led to the respondent’s expulsion, and police investigated four cases.
Three cases of staff sexual misconduct; two led to the accused being dismissed.
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Manchester Metropolitan
Reported complaints: 18
Eighteen reports of student sexual misconduct between 2017-18 and 2019-20, eight of which were investigated by the police.
None of the accused was expelled.
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Manchester School of Architecture
Manchester School of Architecture did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Medway School of Pharmacy
Medway School of Pharmacy did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Middlesex
Middlesex University did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
New College of the Humanities
Reported complaints: 0
No complaints of sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020.
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Newcastle
University of Newcastle did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Newman
Reported complaints: 3
Three complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020.
In all three complaints, the complainant dropped out of university.
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Northampton
University of Northampton did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Northumbria
Reported complaints: 29
Twenty-nine complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020
Three complaints were upheld and led to the suspension or expulsion of the accused.
Northumbria University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Norwich University of the Arts
Reported complaints: 13
Thirteen complaints of student sexual misconduct received in 2018-19.
Norwich University of the Arts did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Nottingham
Reported complaints: 19
One hundred complaints of student sexual misconduct reported between 2017-18 and 2019-20. Eleven complaints were heard by a sexual misconduct panel.
No complaints of staff sexual misconduct between 2019 and 2020.
Nottingham University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Nottingham Trent
Reported complaints: 49
Forty-four complaints of student sexual misconduct, noted between 2017-18 and 2019-20. None of the accused was expelled.
Five complaints of staff sexual misconduct led to one of the accused being dismissed.
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Open University
Reported complaints: 3
The only complaint of student sexual misconduct reported between 2017-18 and 2019-20 did not progress to a hearing.
Two complaints of staff sexual misconduct were also noted, neither of which were upheld.
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Oxford
Reported complaints: 26
Twenty-six complaints of student sexual misconduct reported between 2016-17 and 2020-21.
All were investigated and one was upheld. None of the proceedings led to the raccused being expelled.
These complaints were all sent to the central university.
Complaints made to any of the 39 colleges are not included in this number. The I-Unit contacted all Oxford colleges, but few responded and used exemptions to avoid disclosing complaint numbers.
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Oxford Brookes
Reported complaints: 63
Sixty-three complaints of student sexual misconduct noted between 2014 and 2020.
All of these were investigated and seven cases led to the accused being expelled or suspended.
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Pearson Business School
Pearson Business School did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Plymouth
Plymouth University refused Al Jazeera’s Freedom of Information request because “the granularity of the request” could lead to individuals involved in complaints being identified.
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Plymouth Marjon
Reported complaints: 8
Fourteen complaints of student sexual misconduct reported between 2017-18 and 2019-20, resulting in no expulsions.
There was one complaint of staff sexual misconduct, and the respondent withdrew from the university.
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Portsmouth
Reported complaints: 5
Five complaints of student sexual misconduct signalled between 2017-18 and 2019-20.
Three inquiries were ongoing at the time of response, and one complaint led to a penalty for the accused.
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Queen Margaret
Reported complaints: 2
TTwo complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2016-17 and 2019-20.
None of the accused was expelled. Police investigated one complaint.
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Queen Mary
Reported complaints: 56
Forty-nine complaints of staff sexual misconduct between 2015-16 and 2019-20.
Queen Mary University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Queen's Belfast
Reported complaints: 4
Four complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2016-17 and 2018-19.
Queen’s Belfast University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy concerns due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Ravensbourne
Reported complaints: 1
Police investigated the sole complaint of student sexual misconduct made in 2018-19.
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Reading
Reported complaints: 14
Fourteen complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2010 and 2020.
Reading University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy concerns due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Regent's University London
Regent’s University London did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Robert Gordon
Robert Gordon University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy concerns due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Roehampton
Reported complaints: 24
Twenty-one complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017-18 and 2019-20 led to two of the accused being expelled.
Three complaints of staff sexual misconduct led to one staff member being dismissed concerning other allegations.
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Rose Bruford College
Reported complaints: 6
Six complaints of student sexual misconduct noted between 2017-18 and 2019-20, none of which was upheld.
One informal complaint against a staff member was also reported in 2018-19.
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Royal Academy of Music
Reported complaints: 1
One complaint of student sexual misconduct in 2017. Outcome unspecified.
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Royal Agricultural University
Royal Agricultural University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy concerns due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported
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Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy concerns due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Royal Holloway
Reported complaints: 95
Ninety-five complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2016-17 and 2019-20.
Royal Holloway University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Royal Veterinary College
Reported complaints: 0
No complaints of sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020.
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Salford
Salford University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Sheffield
Reported complaints: 11
Eleven complaints of staff misconduct between 2016 and 2020 led to four of the accused being dismissed.
Sheffield University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request.
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Sheffield Hallam
Reported complaints: 27
Twenty-seven complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020 led to no expulsions for the respondents.
Sheffield Hallam University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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SOAS University of London
Reported complaints: 11
Eleven complaints of sexual misconduct, made between 2017-18 and 2019-20. None of the accused was expelled.
Two inquiries were ongoing at the time of response.
SOAS combined the complaints made against both staff members and students, so we are unable to identify the respondents.
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Solent University
Solent University did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
South Wales
University of South Wales did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Southampton
University of Southampton did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
St Andrews
Reported complaints: 35
Thirty-one complaints of student sexual misconduct reported between 2016-17 and 2019-20. One outcome of these complaints was expulsion, but the number of outcomes was withheld.
Four complaints of staff sexual misconduct were signalled in this period, with three proceeding to disciplinary hearings.
St Andrews did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request.
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St George's, University of London
St George’s, University of London did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints.
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St Mary's
St. Mary’s University did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Staffordshire
Staffordshire University did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Stirling
Reported complaints: 21
Eighteen complaints of student sexual misconduct, made between 2016-17 and 2019-20.
None of the accused was expelled. Three cases of staff sexual misconduct were reported, two of which progressed to hearings.
Stirling University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Strathclyde
Reported complaints: 9
Five complaints of student sexual misconduct flagged between 2016-17 and 2019-20, three of which were fully investigated.
Two complaints of staff sexual misconduct from the same period were also noted.
Strathclyde University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Suffolk
Suffolk University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request. The university cited privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Sunderland
Reported complaints: 20
Twenty complaints of student sexual misconduct in 2018-19 led to six of the accused being expelled.
Sunderland University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Surrey
Reported complaints: 24
Twenty-one complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017-18 and 2019-20 led to two of the accused being expelled.
In addition, two complaints of staff sexual misconduct were also flagged.
Surrey University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Sussex
Reported complaints: 26
Twenty-five complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2017-18 and 2019-20 led to two of the accused being expelled.
One complaint of staff sexual misconduct resulted in a formal warning.
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Swansea
Reported complaints: 46
Forty-three complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2016-17 and 2019-20.
Three complaints of staff sexual misconduct during the same period.
Swansea University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Teesside
Reported complaints: 16
Eight complaints of student sexual misconduct and 10 complaints of staff sexual misconduct flagged between 2017-18 and 2019-20.
Teesside University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy concerns due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Trinity Laban
Trinity Laban University did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
UCFB
UCFB did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Ulster
Ulster University sent Al Jazeera a response tailored to another individual’s FOI request.
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University College Birmingham
University College Birmingham did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
University College London
University College London did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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University College of Estate Management
Reported complaints: 0
No complaints of sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020.
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University College of Osteopathy
University College of Osteopathy did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
University for the Creative Arts
Reported complaints: 9
Seven complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020. None of the accused was expelled.
In addition, there were two complaints of staff sexual misconduct. None of the accused was expelled.
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University of Law
University of Law did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
University of the Arts London
University of the Arts London publishes its sexual misconduct complaints publicly online here.
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
University of Wales Trinity Saint David did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
Warwick
University of Warwick did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for information.
West London
Reported complaints: 3
Three complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2016-17 and 2018-19.
None of the accused was expelled. No complaints of staff sexual misconduct.
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West of England, Bristol
Reported complaints: 22
Twenty-two complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017 and 2020 led to no expulsions.
The University of West of England, Bristol did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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West of Scotland
Reported complaints: 0
No complaints of sexual misconduct made during the period.
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Westminster
Reported complaints: 9
Eight complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2016-17 and 2019-20 led to three of the accused being expelled. Police investigated two complaints.
One complaint of staff sexual misconduct was not upheld.
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Winchester
Reported complaints: 3
Three complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017-18 and 2019-20.
None of the accused was expelled.
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Wolverhampton
Reported complaints: 7
Six complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2017-18 and 2019-20 led to one respondent being expelled.
One complaint of staff sexual misconduct was also flagged.
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Worcester
Reported complaints: 14
Six student sexual misconduct complaints between 2017-18 and 2019-20 led to no expulsions.
Four respondents withdrew before the complaints could be thoroughly investigated.
Two complaints of staff sexual misconduct resulted in no dismissals.
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Wrexham Glyndwr
Reported complaints: 4
Three complaints of student sexual misconduct made between 2016-17 and 2019-20 resulted in no expulsions for respondents. The police instead investigated three complaints.
In addition, one complaint of staff sexual misconduct during the same period was dismissed.
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Writtle University College
Reported complaints: 16
hirteen complaints of student sexual misconduct between 2016-17 and 2019-20 led to one respondent being expelled.
Three complaints of staff sexual misconduct were signalled, none of which led to internal hearings.
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York St John
York St John University did not fully respond to Al Jazeera’s request, citing privacy reasons due to the small number of complaints reported.
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Help lines
If you believe you are suffering from sexual abuse, misconduct, grooming, domestic violence or any other traumatic experience, the following organisations provide support to anyone wanting to talk about their experiences.