Home / Education / Elite University Students Face Double Harassment Risk
Elite University Students Face Double Harassment Risk
8 May
Summary
- 35% of students at high-tariff universities report sexual harassment.
- This figure is more than double the rate at lower-entry-grade institutions.
- Hotspots identified in courses like medicine and languages at top universities.
Students attending England's highest-tariff universities are more than twice as likely to experience sexual harassment than those at institutions with lower entry requirements. Data indicates 35% of students at top-tier universities reported such incidents, compared to just over 17% at lower-tariff institutions.
The Office for Students' analysis also pinpointed specific courses requiring high entry grades, such as medicine and languages, as hotspots for sexual harassment, assault, or violence. While the reasons for this variation remain unexamined by the regulator, experts speculate that factors like a higher proportion of young undergraduates living away from home at these elite institutions could contribute.
University and college unions have expressed alarm, noting that perpetrators from these prestigious institutions may later hold powerful positions, potentially perpetuating toxic cultures. The Russell Group acknowledged the troubling findings and committed to further efforts to understand risks and prevent harassment, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy and enhanced support processes.
