UK Universities Report Rise In Campus Antisemitism

A new report has highlighted a rise in antisemitic incidents at British universities, with the Community Security Trust recording 95 university-related incidents during the 2025-26 academic year. The figures were reported on September 30, 2026, and show an increase from 83 incidents recorded during the previous academic year.

The Community Security Trust, a charity that provides security advice to Britain's Jewish community, recorded 178 university-related antisemitic incidents across the two academic years covered by its latest report. The organisation said the 2025-26 total was 14 percent higher than the previous year's figure.

The report includes a range of incidents. Many involved abusive behaviour, including verbal abuse, antisemitic comments and graffiti directed at Jewish students, staff or organisations. The report also recorded more serious cases involving physical assaults and incidents described as extreme violence.

The figures are being discussed alongside wider concerns about university safety. Universities are places where students from different backgrounds live and study together, and institutions have responsibilities to respond when students face harassment or threats.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said the findings were deeply troubling and stressed that students should be able to express their identity without fearing for their safety. Her comments came as the new figures were released.

The report also compares recent figures with the period before the October 2023 attacks by Hamas and the subsequent war in Gaza. The CST said the 2025-26 figure of 95 incidents was 79 percent higher than the 53 incidents recorded during the 2022-23 academic year.

The increase needs to be understood in the context of a wider rise in tensions connected with the conflict in the Middle East. Universities across Britain have experienced protests, political disagreements and debates over Israel and Palestine since the war began.

However, criticism of a government, country or political movement is not automatically antisemitic. The CST figures concern incidents that the organisation classified as antisemitic based on its monitoring criteria. Universities and security organisations therefore need to distinguish between political debate and conduct directed against Jewish people or institutions because of their identity.

The report also highlights the role of university staff. Sixteen antisemitic incidents recorded during the two-year period were attributed to university staff, according to the CST. This is a small part of the overall total but is significant because staff have professional responsibilities toward students.

The figures also show why universities need clear reporting systems. Students may be reluctant to report harassment if they believe nothing will happen or if they are unsure where to seek help. Clear procedures can make it easier for institutions to identify patterns and respond to serious incidents.

Campus security is also linked to the wider question of student wellbeing. Universities are expected to provide environments where students can study, attend events and take part in campus life without facing discrimination or threats.

The report does not suggest that every British university is experiencing the same level of incidents. Conditions can vary significantly between campuses, cities and student communities. National figures provide a broad picture rather than a measure of every individual institution.

The September 30 publication is nevertheless significant because it provides updated information about university-related antisemitism during the latest academic year. The rise from 83 to 95 recorded incidents shows that the issue remains active.

British universities will now face continued pressure to monitor antisemitic incidents and other forms of hate. They must also protect space for lawful political expression while preventing harassment and violence.

For Jewish students and staff, the figures provide evidence of a continuing problem that requires attention from universities and public authorities. For institutions, the challenge is ensuring that reporting systems, security measures and disciplinary procedures are effective.

The latest figures do not by themselves explain why individual incidents occurred or establish a single cause for the overall rise. They do, however, document an increase in reported incidents and provide a basis for further discussion about campus safety.

The September 30 report therefore places university security and antisemitism back into the national conversation. The figures will likely lead to further discussion among education officials, universities and student groups about how campuses can respond to discrimination while protecting open academic debate.