Academic freedom and freedom of speech

Our values

Academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law are fundamental to the University’s mission, and we promote them as core values and essential parts of an inclusive community.

What is academic freedom?

Academic freedom is the right to teach, learn, research, and explore ideas openly. It means you can ask questions, challenge ideas, and study topics freely — including ones that may be controversial — without fear of censorship, as long as it’s lawful . It’s essential for generating new knowledge and encouraging critical thinking at university.

What is freedom of speech?

Freedom of speech is the right to express your views and opinions openly. At university, this includes sharing ideas in classes, discussions, events, or public forums. These freedoms allow students and staff to explore ideas, express views, and debate different perspectives — even those that some may find objectionable or offensive— in a lawful way.

How the University upholds academic freedom and freedom of speech

The Code of Practice: Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech (.pdf) (the Code) sets out how we secure and promote the importance of academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law for students, staff and external speakers. The Code:

• ensures compliance with our statutory obligations, which are outlined in UK legislation and OfS regulatory advice: Guidance related to freedom of speech
• ensures students, staff or invited external speakers are not prevented from using University spaces for University-related activities or Students’ Union activities, simply because of their ideas, opinions, or beliefs where these are within the law
• promotes academic freedom and freedom of speech when making decisions or adopting policy
• establishes a proportionate and risk-based process when considering external speaker requests, as outlined in the Speaker Protocol (see Appendix A within the Code), which ensures that speakers are free to speak and express views that are within the law
• establishes a proportionate and risk-based approach to managing and facilitating safe, on campus protests through the Protest and Demonstration Management Protocol (.pdf) which allows counter-speech
• manages expectations around conduct. As a student, the Code secures your right to hear, discuss, and debate different ideas and makes clear that with these rights comes the responsibility to treat others with respect, even if you disagree, to allow others to speak and be heard, and to follow the law and University policies when sharing your views. The same expectations apply to staff and external speakers
• provides mechanisms for raising freedom of speech complaints and concerns for students, staff and external speakers. Further information can be found in the University’s Freedom of Speech Complaints Policy (.pdf).

What speech “within the law” means

While the University fully supports your right to express your views openly, some types of speech are illegal and therefore not protected. These requirements are enshrined in many different types of legislation.

For example, the law prohibits encouraging support for terrorist or illegal organisations, taking part in events that promote them, or using language or behaviour that could reasonably be understood as threatening, inciting violence, hatred, or other unlawful actions. This means that some chants, slogans, phrases, or behaviours might fall outside of the law. Other types of speech would be unlawful if they contravened the Equality Act, or if they were defamatory.

These examples are not comprehensive. If you need advice or aren’t sure whether certain actions or language might fall outside the law, please contact the Students’ Union Advice Centre before you attend an event or post any information online.