For 2025, the Office for Students (OfS) will be asking all final year students across England to complete an optional pilot Sexual Misconduct Survey which asks about their experiences of sexual harassment, sexual assault and/or sexual violence since they became a student eitherwithin or outside of a university or college setting. The objective is to understand the prevalence of sexual misconduct in higher education and help universities and colleges develop strategies to tackle this serious issue. The survey is part of new condition of registration with the OfS regulation E6 Harassment and Sexual Misconduct.
The Sexual Misconduct Survey asks students about experiences of sexual harassment, sexual assault and/or sexual violence; experiences, understanding and awareness or reporting sexual misconduct; relationships between staff and students. You can access a copy of the questionnaire through the OfS website.
Whilst this survey is entirely separate from the National Student Survey (NSS), it is being conducted by the same agency, Ipsos, on behalf of OfS, and uses the same survey platform as the NSS. Once students finish and submit their NSS, they will be presented with the option to take the Sexual Misconduct Survey. Participation is entirely optional and completely confidential. Students are able to opt out following the details in the OfS privacy notice, and can also skip questions in the survey should they wish.
How to complete the survey
Once you have finished and submitted your NSS you will be presented with the option to take the Sexual Misconduct Survey. It is entirely optional and completely confidential.
You can skip any questions you do not wish to answer or can opt our entirely following the details in the OfS privacy notice (PDF).
Support available to you
The wellbeing of our students is our utmost priority. If you have experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct, there are several ways to get support: