In January 2025, as a final year student you will be given the option to complete a survey regarding experiences of sexual harassment and misconduct. The Sexual Misconduct Survey seeks to understand whether university students have experienced either sexual harassment and/or sexual violence since they became a student, either within their university setting, or at other sites or events unconnected to the university.
If you have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment support is available from the University's Sexual Assault and Harassment Advice Service and from external specialist organisations. Please visit our support page for the full list of services. Please see below for more information about the survey and how to opt out.
Who is running the Sexual Misconduct Survey?
This confidential survey will be conducted by Ipsos, an independent research agency. It is commissioned on behalf of the Office for Students (OfS), the regulator of higher education in England. The OfS protect the interests of students by working with universities and colleges to ensure a high quality learning experience where students can thrive and feel safe. See Student guide to harassment and sexual misconduct - Office for Students for more information about their work in this area.
How to take part
To make taking part in the Sexual Misconduct Survey simpler, the survey will be offered to you by Ipsos after you have completed the NSS. This survey is entirely optional and you do not have to take part or answer any questions you don’t want to. In January, Ipsos will invite you to complete the NSS and provide you with a unique link to the survey. Once you have completed the NSS, you will be invited to opt-in to complete the sexual misconduct survey immediately afterwards. You will not be contacted about the sexual misconduct survey separately. Students cannot complete the sexual misconduct survey if they have not completed the NSS. Both surveys will be live from 8th January until 30th April 2025.
Opting out
You will be given the option to opt in/out of the sexual misconduct survey once you have completed the NSS and you will be asked if they wish to complete it there and then. If you out of the NSS, you will not be offered the option to complete the sexual misconduct survey.
If you do not wish to be presented with the opportunity to complete the sexual misconduct survey, you should email the Ipsos student helpline via thestudentsurvey@ipsos.com.
You can also request to have your personal data erased. Students may do this at any stage by contacting Ipsos.
Please view section 11 of the Survey Privacy Notice for more information.