Student guide to harassment and sexual misconduct

We monitor the universities and colleges that are registered with us to make sure they meet our regulations.

Students should only contact us if they think that a university or college is not meeting these rules.

In the case of harassment and sexual misconduct, we have explained what students can expect from their university or college, from 1 August 2025.

If the university or college is not doing this, then students can raise a 'notification' with us.

Please note, we have provided a full description of everything we require universities and colleges to do in the area of harassment and sexual misconduct.

Notifications

It is important to note that a notification is not the same as a complaint.

At the OfS, we do not have a direct role in dealing with individual disputes between a student and their university or college in relation to harassment and sexual misconduct.

We can’t mediate, adjudicate on, or offer a personal resolution to a specific complaint in this area.

Rather, we want to know when a university or college is more generally failing to provide the policies, procedures and support that students can expect.

A notification can be submitted by any student, student representative or students' union.