The Office for Students has published new data on the scale of sexual misconduct in higher education — and the findings are deeply concerning. At the University of Manchester, we stand by our values of respect, inclusion, and consent. But the data shows we must do more.
📊 What the data shows
The University has also done an initial analysis of its own specific data. The survey, completed by 1220 final year University of Manchester undergraduates, shows the distressing experiences that many of our students faced in the last year:
- 18.7% of UoM students who completed the survey experienced sexual harassment
- 6.7% of these students experienced sexual assault or violence
- Just under half of those who reported felt the process was good
- Only just over half felt confident about where to seek support
- 1.5% of respondents reported having had an intimate relationship with a member of staff
These figures reflect national trends — and they demand action.
You can find a fuller breakdown of the figures here.
🛠️ What we’re doing
We will continue to work collaboratively with students, the Students’ Union and other groups through the Gender-Based Violence Action Network for Students, to raise awareness of and to combat sexual harm. Full details of our approach can be found in the Support for Harassment and Sexual Misconduct webpage.
Report + Support
If you’ve experienced sexual harassment or harm, you can report it via the University’s Report + Support service. Our specialist caseworkers are here for you and will support you through every step of the process.