Sexual harassment and misconduct continue to impact students across the UK. Too often, those affected suffer in silence. Most times unsupported, unheard, and unsure where to turn.
That’s changing.
From 1 August 2025, every university in England must meet a new condition introduced by the Office for Students (OfS). This is more than a policy update. It’s a mandate for visible, meaningful cultural change across the higher education sector. This is a wake-up call that can’t be ignored. And this is not just about compliance.
It’s about proving your institution is serious about:
- Ending the culture of silence
- Supporting those who speak up
- Building a community where everyone feels safe and respected
The Realities Driving Reform
The OfS condition follows an extensive consultation and a national pilot survey that highlighted the real-world student experience:
- 90% of students who experienced sexual assault last year did not report it to police
- Only 12% of those who experienced harassment reported it to their university
- Of those who reported, 43% described their experience as poor
- Women were over twice as likely to experience harassment, and more than three times as likely to experience sexual assault
These statistics tell an alarming story. Behind each number is a student who needed support and often didn’t get it.
What the New Condition Requires
The new requirement calls on universities to go beyond policy. Institutions must demonstrate an approach that’s clear, consistent, and effective in both preventing and responding to harassment and sexual misconduct
This includes but is not limited to:
- Implementing proactive prevention strategies through training, awareness, and culture-building
- Ensuring accessible, trusted reporting pathways
- Offering sensitive and fair handling of disclosures
- Providing comprehensive support to everyone involved
- Conducting credible, timely investigations
- Ensuring staff are properly trained to respond with care and confidence
- Communicating outcomes clearly and transparently
The OfS conditions also require that institutions must support students from the moment they arrive on campus, through to every stage of a disclosure, and the support and resolution that follows. This includes mandatory training and targeted communications for all students, as well as staff who are prepared, confident, and competent in handling disclosures and acting appropriately.
Non-compliance won’t go unnoticed. Universities and colleges that fail to meet the condition may face:
- Financial penalties
- Suspension or deregistration, limiting their ability to offer higher education courses
- Severe reputational damage and legal exposure
- And most of all, loss of trust from students and staff
But beyond the formal risks lies a greater cost which could be the continued harm to students who don’t feel safe, supported, or believed.
What You Do Now Matters Most
We believe universities and colleges are uniquely placed to lead this change, not just to comply with the new condition, but to go a step further. To build environments where students and staff are educated, empowered, and protected.
This moment is about ensuring staff are trained, students are informed, and the systems in place are not only visible, but trusted. Because we know this isn’t just about policy. It’s about people.
At Me Learning, we believe that compliance is just the beginning. Real impact comes when institutions commit to changing culture, not just checking boxes. We’ve worked alongside organisations that want more than surface-level fixes. And we’ve seen what’s possible when training is engaging, when information is clear, and when leaders take the issue seriously.
Our Preventing Sexual Harassment – For Universities blended learning package is designed to help you meet and exceed the new requirements, while creating a safer, more transparent culture on campus. We also offer customisable solutions tailored to your institution’s specific needs and our method is backed by research and designed for measurable impact and long-term culture change.
The 1 August 2025 deadline is approaching fast. But there’s still time to act with intention and lead the shift that is really needed across the higher education sector.
If you would like to speak to one of our learning experts, please email keyanodonnell@melearning.co.uk or call us 01273 091 301
