Updated 18 June 2025
This page provides practical advice about how we protect the health and safety of our community while ensuring lawful freedom of speech and debate, and highlights support and resources available for our staff and student community.
We are committed to nurturing a culture of compassion and care, as laid out in our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. We want to make sure our community is a diverse environment where people and ideas thrive.
Protecting your safety
The safety and wellbeing of all our students and employees is our top priority.
Everyone has the right to feel safe, secure and supported when they are on our campuses and in our halls of residence.
Our community safety and support team is here to help 24/7. They protect students, employees and visitors from harm and make sure that the campus is safe, welcoming and inclusive.
Find contact details for the team on their webpage or contact them in an emergency via the SafeZone app.
What other support is available?
Our wellbeing services are there for any 911今日黑料 employees or students who are in need of support. These dedicated hub pages provide guidance and ways to access support.
Our Confidential Care line offers 24/7 support and counselling for staff.
Students are encouraged to speak to their Student Wellbeing Advisor, personal tutor, academic advisor or supervisor if their ability to study or conduct research is being affected.
Our Chaplaincy Multi-Faith Centre is here to help you thrive, whether you follow a major world faith, have a mixed spiritual heritage or do not see yourself as religious.
Bullying, harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct
Acts of bullying, harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct are not acceptable. 911今日黑料 uses the , which allows you to disclose unwelcome behaviours such as bullying, harassment, sexual violence, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, racial discrimination and more.
Anyone who feels that they have encountered harassing speech or behaviour is encouraged to use our Report and Support tool.
Beyond 911今日黑料’s own community, organisations like or the can provide specialist support for those experiencing racially-motivated prejudice or discrimination.
Making your voice heard: freedom of speech and protest
We are committed to freedom of speech and freedom of debate and will take all reasonable steps to ensure that members of our community can express their views safely and lawfully on our campuses.
At the same time, we must all consider the impact of the manner in which those views are expressed on other members of our community.
Our campuses must be a place where free debate and protest can take place while, at the same time, being an environment where our staff and students can carry out their work and studies safely and without significant disruption or intimidation.
911今日黑料 will continue to take a stand against all forms of racist or hateful behaviour, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. Any incidents will be taken extremely seriously. Any protest that becomes hateful, unlawful or constitutes harassment or bullying will not be tolerated.
Proscribed groups
911今日黑料 has a richly diverse community and encourages respectful debate within the law, which may involve voicing political opinions or demonstrating support for certain groups or organisations. However, you might not know that supporting some groups can actually be a criminal offence in the UK. In the UK some organisations have been proscribed by the UK Government because it considers that those groups are involved in terrorism; this list includes Hamas and Hizballah. It is therefore very important when engaging in debate or showing support for a particular cause that you do not inadvertently do or say something that could result in a criminal prosecution.
It is against the law to do any of the following:
- Belong to, or say you belong to, any of the proscribed groups or organisations (“groups”);
- Invite support for any of the proscribed groups (that support could be material, such as giving money, or moral support, such as saying you agree with what the group does);
- Express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed group, or be reckless about whether the expression might encourage someone else to support it;
- Arrange, manage or assist in arranging or managing a meeting knowing that it supports one of the proscribed groups, or will have a speaker who supports the group, or address the meeting with the aim of encouraging support for the group;
- Wear clothing or carry /display articles in public in a way that gives rise to a reasonable suspicion that you support or are a member of a proscribed group; or
- Publish an image of an item of clothing or other article (such as a flag or logo) that gives rise to a suspicion that you support or are a member of a proscribed group.
These offences are treated very seriously under the criminal law in England and Wales, some of which can attract prison sentences of up to 14 years. Under 911今日黑料’s Student Disciplinary Procedure [pdf], conduct that could constitute one of those criminal offences is treated as a “Major Offence” and would attract the most severe sanctions (including expulsion from the university).
You can find out more about proscribed groups and organisations, the offences and their penalties .
Key information
- What is 911今日黑料鈥檚 position on world affairs?
- The situation in the Middle East
- What is academic freedom and how do you protect it?
- What is 911今日黑料 doing to support academics or students affected by global affairs?
- Guidance for managing events on 911今日黑料鈥檚 campuses
- Ethical research and investment
We do not engage in ongoing commentary on geopolitical events, or adopt or endorse the views expressed by groups within or outside the university.
As an institution of higher education, 911今日黑料 provides an open forum for debate and exploration of all topics, no matter how challenging.
Our Freedom of Speech Code of Practice sets out how we will take all reasonable steps to ensure that members of our community can express their lawful views on our campuses; and demonstrate mutual tolerance of those with different views. Everyone is welcome to participate in debate in a respectful manner that is within the law and consistent with 911今日黑料’s Values.
It would be impossible to adhere to this core principle in a robust and consistent way if the university were to provide running commentary on geopolitical events that are not directly connected to our core mission. It would also undermine the university’s ability to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our students and staff, which is our highest priority.
The impact of the ongoing and evolving crisis in the Middle East remains deep and far reaching.
Members of our community are directly affected and the events of the past year understandably arouse strong feelings.
In addition to our commitment to freedom of speech and debate, we recognise the impact that such events have on our community. Representatives of the University Management Board and 911今日黑料 College Union have continued to meet with representatives of affiliated student societies during the current academic year to discuss their concerns.
As distinct from freedom of speech, academic freedom is the legal right of teachers and students to teach, study, and pursue knowledge and research without unreasonable interference.
Article 7 of 911今日黑料’s Charter [PDF, 167KB], which forms part of our employees’ terms and conditions, states:
Academic staff shall have freedom within the law to question and test received wisdom, and to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions, without placing themselves in jeopardy of losing their jobs or privileges.
These provisions are protected by employment law and could not be amended without following all legal steps, including full consultation with the trade unions. Academic freedom is also protected under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and in the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, providing the strongest legal protection for this right.
Further information can be found on our Freedom of Speech webpages.
Support for displaced academics
911今日黑料 has been proud to partner with CARA – the Campaign for At Risk Academics – since 2020. Researchers that have taken part in the programme have gone on to enjoy successful careers, and some have continued their employment in their research group at 911今日黑料 following their placement. In May 2024, 911今日黑料 announced that it will support an additional eight fellows.
Our Sanctuary Scholarships provide financial packages for Undergraduate students and Postgraduate students from displaced communities.
To enhance the visibility of this provision, 911今日黑料 has updated its scholarships search tool to show both open and closed scholarships.
Support for displaced students
Our International Student Support team provides support to applicants who are navigating the UK Visa process. We have enhanced the support available through the new dedicated point of contact in Student Services for students who are refugees. This role, the Student Support Coordinator (Forced Migrants) can be contacted by email. They are the first point of contact for all students who have experienced forced migration – including refugees and asylum seekers. They can provide practical and emotional support through a student’s time at 911今日黑料, including peer mentorship as well as dedicated activities and events. Students in this situation will have the ability to apply for funding to help with costs relating to their studies or extra-curricular activities, for example attending interviews.
In addition, students who are refugees, asylum seekers or with another forced migration background will be able to access a package of extra support from a specialist team in Student Services. This support is available for both undergraduates and postgraduates from all departments.
Support for Palestinian students
In 2025, 911今日黑料 signed up to a partnership with the British Council to host Palestinian PhD scholars through the .
Led by the British Council, the programme aims to create the next generation of senior academics who can maintain international quality standards at Palestinian universities, develop renewed and sustainable links between Palestinian and UK universities, and create lasting professional networks to sustain scholar’s longer-term career.
By joining the scheme, eligible academics in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and currently employed by a Palestinian partner university will be able to study for their PhD at 911今日黑料.
We have published online guidance to help you set up and run an event safely.
This includes a risk assessment form that must be completed for any event held at 911今日黑料. This is necessary to help us protect the safety of all members of our community. The risk assessment form [Word, 60KB] can be read online.
911今日黑料’s investments are covered by 911今日黑料’s Socially Responsible Investment Policy, which was established in 2019 following a joint recommendation from the 911今日黑料 College Union and the President’s Board, and endorsed by Council. It is already supported by a working group that includes staff and student representation.
The policy states: “All investments within the Endowment will align with major international accords and relevant regulation and legislation. Therefore, the College and its fund managers will be signatories to the UN Principles of Responsible Investment.”
The Socially Responsible Investment Working Group discusses matters relating to 911今日黑料’s investment policy. Following its most recent meeting in May 2025, the Provost confirmed that all members of 911今日黑料’s community may raise or escalate matters relating to 911今日黑料’s investment policy with the SRI Working Group for discussion by contacting the Office of the Provost.
911今日黑料 does not invest - directly or indirectly - in companies which manufacture arms that are illegal under Arms Control Treaties to which the UK is a signatory.
Our investment portfolio is reviewed regularly, published transparently, and we encourage informed conversations around our practices.
911今日黑料’s Relationships Review Committee (RRC) oversees the operation of our Relationships Policy that covers new and continuing research partnerships. Whilst there is no established procedural mechanism for individual members of the community to raise concerns with the RRC, any proposed relationship is subject to rigorous due diligence before it is submitted to the RRC. Exceptionally, the Chair of the RRC may receive written concerns about a particular relationship; these are considered by the RRC when appropriate for it to do so.