University antisemitism incidents increased during the 2025-26 academic year, according to the Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitic incidents in the UK.
The charity recorded 95 university-related incidents involving students, staff and academics, compared with 83 in the previous academic year. Although the figure remained below the level recorded immediately after the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the start of the war in Gaza, the CST said it was still substantially higher than before that period.
University Antisemitism Remains a Serious Concern
The latest figures have prompted renewed concern among organisations representing universities and Jewish students. Universities UK (UUK), which represents more than 140 institutions, said universities must protect Jewish students and staff from abuse.
Lucy Powell, education secretary in England, described the findings as “deeply troubling”. She said universities were expected to take a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism and said the government was providing training to help university staff identify and respond to incidents quickly.
The CST considers an incident to be university-related when it involves a student, staff member or academic at a UK university in their academic or student capacity. This includes incidents occurring both on campus and online.
Antisemitic Incidents Rose Again in 2025-26
The scale of the increase becomes clearer when compared with figures from before the 7 October 2023 attack. In 2022-23, the final academic year before the attack, the CST recorded 53 university-related incidents.
That number increased sharply to 272 in 2023-24. The charity said incidents then declined during 2024-25 before increasing again to 95 in the 2025-26 academic year.
Abusive behaviour was the most frequently recorded type of university antisemitism across the two years covered by the latest report. This included verbal abuse, comments made in person or online, as well as antisemitic graffiti.
The report also recorded more serious incidents. For the first time, two cases of extreme violence were recorded in 2024-25. Across the two academic years, there were six reported assaults, eight incidents involving damage or desecration of Jewish property and 10 threats.
Five of the property-related incidents occurred in student accommodation, according to the CST.
University Antisemitism Linked to Middle East Conflict
Around two-thirds of the incidents reported across the two academic years involved antisemitic language or targeting alongside references to Israel, Gaza, Hamas, the 7 October attack or subsequent conflicts in the Middle East.
The war in Gaza followed the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage. Israel subsequently launched a major military offensive in Gaza, where around 74,000 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The CST stressed that criticism of Israel and Zionism is not automatically antisemitic. However, its report said the data continued to show that anti-Zionist language was frequently used alongside hostility towards Jewish people and Jewish organisations.
Mark Gardner, chief executive of the CST, said Jewish people continued to face a serious problem with antisemitism on university campuses. He also highlighted what he described as a growing proportion of anti-Jewish actions involving university staff.
Gardner said universities had “a duty to ensure that Jewish students and staff can study, work and participate on campus the same as anyone else”.
Universities Urged to Strengthen Action
Raphi Leon, president of the Union of Jewish Students, said the report should encourage stronger action to support Jewish students and address university antisemitism.
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said the increase in antisemitic incidents across the UK, including on university campuses, was a serious concern.
“Universities have a responsibility to protect Jewish students and staff from abuse, and to ensure that students and staff clearly understand where the expression of a strongly held view becomes antisemitism and harassment,” she said.
Stern said Universities UK had worked with organisations including the CST to develop guidance for universities. However, she said more work was needed, particularly to increase confidence in the effectiveness of disciplinary processes.