The Escalating Crisis of Antisemitism on UK Campuses
In recent months, Jewish students at universities across the United Kingdom have faced an alarming wave of hostility, including explicit death threats, physical intimidation, and social ostracisation. This surge in antisemitic behaviour has transformed what should be safe spaces for learning into environments fraught with fear and division. Reports from organisations like the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) and StandWithUs UK paint a picture of normalised prejudice, where glorification of terrorist groups and justification of violent acts have become disturbingly common. As campus tensions rise, particularly amid ongoing global conflicts, the higher education sector grapples with how to protect its most vulnerable students while upholding free speech.
The problem is not isolated; it spans prestigious institutions from Russell Group universities to others nationwide. Students report being followed home after lectures, screamed at in hallways, and targeted in group chats with messages calling for their harm. These incidents underscore a broader failure to address the root causes, leaving Jewish undergraduates questioning their place in British academia.
High-Profile Incidents Spotlighting the Dangers
One of the most shocking cases emerged at Homerton College, part of the University of Cambridge, in early May 2026. Bradley Smart, a 21-year-old undergraduate, received multiple death threats in a student group chat after participating in a fact-finding trip to Israel and the Palestinian Authority organised by the Pinsker Centre. Messages included phrases like "I’m going to kill him," "kill him," and "he needs to die," laced with antisemitic rhetoric comparing Israel to Nazi Germany. Despite reporting the threats, Smart was advised by college officials to seek welfare support rather than immediate disciplinary action against the perpetrators. The college issued formal reprimands but stopped short of suspension, drawing sharp criticism for leniency.
Similar horrors have unfolded elsewhere. At the University of Birmingham, Jewish students have been doxxed and harassed online, with peers sending death threats and organising boycotts. University College London (UCL) has seen vigils disrupted by chants and physical encirclement, while Royal Holloway students report being followed off-campus. These events highlight a pattern where political views on the Middle East spill into personal vendettas against Jewish individuals, regardless of their own stances.
Statistics Revealing the Scale of the Problem
Quantitative data underscores the crisis. The UJS's "Time for Change" report, based on polling over 1,000 students in early 2026, found that 20% would be reluctant or unwilling to share housing with a Jewish peer. Nearly half (49%) had witnessed glorification of Hamas or Hezbollah on campus, and 47% saw the October 7, 2023, attacks justified. The Community Security Trust (CST) documented thousands of antisemitic incidents across the UK in 2025, with campus cases rising 117% in recent years, including assaults and threats.
StandWithUs UK's 2025 survey across 20 universities revealed 29% of students viewing October 7 as "understandable resistance," escalating to 38% at Russell Group sites. A third believed pro-Israel supporters should "expect" abuse. These figures indicate not fringe extremism but pervasive attitudes eroding campus cohesion.
- 20% of students unwilling to house-share with Jews (UJS polling)
- 49% witnessed terror group glorification
- 117% rise in campus incidents (CST)
- 38% at elite unis justify violence
Student Testimonies: Living in Fear
Personal stories amplify the data. At King's College London, a Jewish student endured group chat threats like "Can’t wait to see you tomorrow" and needed family escorts to classes. Swastikas carved on desks were dismissed as "ancient symbols." In Manchester, doxxing followed criticism of attack celebrants, leading to the victim's own scrutiny. Brunel University saw direct slurs: "I think your people should not be alive."
These accounts reveal psychological tolls: disrupted studies, lost friendships, and constant vigilance. Many hide their identity, avoiding Hebrew texts or Jewish events. Wellbeing services often prioritise "understanding the other side" over victim support, exacerbating isolation.
Photo by James Yarema on Unsplash
University Responses: Progress and Shortfalls
Institutions have rolled out antisemitism training and welfare protocols, but implementation varies. Universities UK issued guidance emphasising zero tolerance, including staff training and incident reporting. Yet, critics argue responses remain reactive. In Cambridge, reprimands over suspensions signal weak deterrence. Police often deem threats "academic," deferring to colleges.
Some progress: mandatory IHRA definition adoption in many policies, partnerships with UJS for education. However, student unions frequently amplify tensions via biased motions or event bans. Oversight is urged to align unions with institutional values. Universities UK's latest statement calls for coordinated action.
Government and Regulatory Interventions
The UK government has intensified efforts. In April 2026, an independent review into school and college antisemitism launched, extending calls to universities for data sharing. Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared "zero tolerance for inaction," mandating audits and police coordination. The Office for Students (OfS) threatens sanctions for non-compliance, focusing on Jewish student safety.
£3 million invested in resilience programs; Prevent strategy expanded for extremism. Cross-party pressure demands inquiries into systemic failures, ensuring campuses prioritise education over ideology.
Root Causes: From Protests to Normalisation
Rising tensions trace to post-October 7 protests, blending legitimate discourse with hate. Chants like "Globalise the Intifada" at Queen Mary vigils intimidate. Anti-Zionism often veils antisemitism, denying Jewish self-determination per IHRA. Social media amplifies echo chambers; 69% of students disapprove disruptive protests, yet they persist unchecked.
Impacts on Education and Wellbeing
Jewish students skip classes, drop societies, or transfer. Mental health crises surge: anxiety, depression from constant threat. Academic performance suffers; diversity enriches campuses, but exclusion stifles it. Long-term, UK higher education risks talent exodus, damaging global reputation.
Photo by James Eades on Unsplash
Expert Recommendations and Solutions
StandWithUs advocates: recognise anti-Zionism as potential antisemitism, expel hate promoters, mandate reporting.Their full report details cases. UJS proposes union governance reforms, police-university links.Time for Change outlines six steps.
- Embed IHRA training in DEI
- Annual OfS incident audits
- Zero-tolerance expulsions
- Student union oversight
- Public inquiries
- Jewish inclusion in policies
Path Forward: Rebuilding Safe Campuses
UK universities must lead: proactive training, swift justice, free speech safeguards. Partnerships with Jewish groups, balanced discourse foster inclusion. As threats evolve, vigilance ensures higher education remains a beacon of enlightenment, not division. Jewish students deserve campuses where identity strengthens, not endangers, their journey.
