Survey Reveals Antisemitism on UK Campuses
One in five students would be reluctant to, or would never, houseshare with a Jewish student, according to a survey by the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) that states antisemitism has “become normalised” on UK campuses.
A UJS poll of 1,000 students “of all faiths and none” found that almost a quarter (23%) have witnessed behaviour targeting Jewish students because of their religion or ethnicity, and nearly half (47%) have observed justification of the 7 October attacks by Hamas.
Half (49%) of those surveyed reported hearing slogans or chants glorifying Hamas, Hezbollah, or other proscribed groups, while 65% said their learning had been disrupted by protests.
Social Ostracisation and Hostility
The report, titled Time for Change, highlighted increased social ostracisation faced by Jewish students. It cited an example where a flat of non-Jewish students shared on social media that they had “only one rule – no Zios in the flat.”
One in four (26%) respondents said they know of, or have personally experienced, friendships with Jewish students becoming more distant or strained. Testimonies from some of the UK’s 10,000 Jewish students described incidents of being chased home, threatened, verbally abused, and physically attacked.
Apathy and Responses to Antisemitism
The report also noted an “apathy” towards antisemitism. One in four (25%) of those polled said they did not care much, or at all, if students could openly express their Jewish identity on campus. Among those who witnessed antisemitism, 20% challenged it directly, 22% reported it to the students’ union, and 23% reported it to their university.
“Jewish students are facing direct threats, verbal and physical abuse and being isolated by their peers for their presumed views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the UJS report said. “Ignorance about Jewish people is embedded in campus culture, and too little is being done in response.”
Reactions from Community Leaders and Institutions
Karen Newman, vice-president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, described the report as “sickening reading.”
“Jewish students should not have to worry that a fifth of their peers would not live with them because they are Jewish, or about the prevalence of support being expressed for banned terrorist groups.”
A spokesperson for Universities UK (UUK), representing 142 universities across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, stated:
“We work hard with the leaders of our universities and with the UJS, the Community Security Trust and the Jewish Chaplaincy service to tackle antisemitism and to support university leaders to take action to prevent it, and respond appropriately when it occurs.”
Historical Context and Calls for Action
In a foreword to the report, Labour peer and former MP Luciana Berger reflected on her own experiences two decades ago, which led to her resignation from the National Union of Students’ national executive committee.
“Jewish students continue to be attacked at the hands of the same people, year after year after year. What will British campuses feel like for Jewish students when my own children, now aged just six and eight, reach university age?”
Author and journalist Daniel Finkelstein emphasized the unacceptability of bullying based on ethnicity, history, or political views.
“Bullying people because of their ethnicity or history or political views is completely unacceptable and a university administration that ignores such bullying is failing in its duties.”
Government and Regulatory Responses
Earlier this month, the government announced measures to tackle harassment and intimidation, including plans for a campus cohesion charter aimed at strengthening respect and shared values within university life.
The Office for Students, the regulator of higher education in England, indicated it will take action against universities that fail to protect students from harassment or intimidation, with powers to sanction or deregister institutions that do not comply with registration conditions.
Survey Methodology
The UJS survey was conducted by JL Partners, polling a nationally representative sample of 1,000 UK university students from 170 higher education institutions. The sample was weighted to reflect the demographic profile of the student population.
