A recent survey conducted by the Office for Students (OfS) found that 20% of students experienced sexual harassment during the 2022-2023 academic year (OfS, 2023).
As of August 1, 2025, all universities registered with the OfS must implement and maintain clear policies and procedures to prevent and respond to harassment and sexual misconduct. These regulations aim to enhance student safety, strengthen reporting systems, and ensure institutions take a proactive approach in supporting those affected.
Here’s what you need to know about these upcoming changes and how they will shape student welfare and staff responsibilities moving forward.
What do the new regulations mean for universities?
Universities must take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment before incidents occur.
This underscores the urgent need for stronger prevention efforts, including awareness campaigns, educational programmes for students, and targeted staff training to help faculty identify risks and intervene appropriately.
At the same time, Universities will be expected to take swift and appropriate action when incidents are reported, with greater transparency in how cases are handled.
To comply with the OfS Regulations, Universities must:
- Establish Clear Policies – Define harassment and sexual misconduct in line with Office for Student guidelines, ensuring policies are transparent, accessible, and consistently enforced.
- Implement Stronger Reporting & Support Systems – Provide safe, confidential, and well-publicised channels for students to report incidents, ensuring timely and appropriate action.
- Improve Staff Training – Equip Staff with the knowledge and skills to handle reports sensitively and effectively while building a culture of accountability and support.
- Educate Students & Build Awareness – Clearly communicate with students through awareness campaigns and training on what constitutes as sexual harassment, as well as providing them with the skills to be effective allies.
- Regularly Review Policies and Procedures – Demonstrate accountability by assessing the effectiveness of policies, support and disciplinary processes, and then making necessary improvements, taking into account any past incidents and analysing how this could have been approached differently, and more effectively.
By strengthening these areas, universities will not only meet regulatory requirements and avoid penalties but also create a safer, more inclusive environment for students and staff.
Why are these regulations important?
Susan Lapworth, chief executive at the OfS, said:
“Students have told us clearly that they want to see more active regulation to tackle harassment and sexual misconduct in higher education. We’ve heard them, and our new regulation will help ensure they are better protected and better able to succeed on their courses.“
With sexual harassment so widely experienced among students, it is vital that universities follow this clear framework to help prevent sexual harassment and to create a safer, more supportive learning environment. The new regulations provide students with the confidence that their wellbeing is a priority while ensuring staff receive the guidance needed to handle cases with care and professionalism.
How training can help universities become safer and comply with OfS Regulations…
As universities prepare for these new regulations, staff and students need to be trained on what constitutes sexual misconduct, how to prevent it, how to be an active bystander, and how to handle reports.
The need for training is evident –
– Exposing serious gaps in university responses and a lack of understanding of how to handle cases.
Staff training is crucial to ensuring reports are handled sensitively and effectively, building student confidence in the reporting process and creating a safer, more supportive environment.
For students, training will help them understand boundaries, recognise misconduct, and step in as active bystanders to support their peers.
RightTrack Learning supports university staff and students through tailored, interactive training solutions, including:
♦ Workshops – Engaging, discussion-led sessions for students and staff.
♦ Webinars – Flexible, interactive online learning.
♦ Bitesize Learning Videos – Short, informative videos for ongoing education.
♦ Training Toolkits – Resources to reinforce key learning points.
♦ Train the Trainer – Equipping internal staff to deliver effective training.
♦ Policy Creation – Helping institutions develop clear, compliant policies.
By investing in training, universities can not only meet OfS regulations but also create a culture where students and staff feel safe, respected, and supported.