Antisemitic incidents at British universities have risen by 14% in the past year and remain significantly higher than levels before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel, according to a recent report by the Community Security Trust (CST). The charity, which monitors antisemitism across the United Kingdom, recorded 95 cases affecting Jewish students, academics, university staff, or campus organizations during the 2025/26 academic year, compared with 83 incidents the previous year and 53 incidents in 2022/23 before the conflict.

While the total for 2024/25 and 2025/26 is substantially lower than the unprecedented peak of 272 incidents reported in 2023/24 immediately following the attacks and subsequent Gaza war, the CST notes a new baseline of antisemitism that remains elevated compared to prior years. The majority of reported incidents—149 over the two years—consisted of abusive behavior, including verbal harassment, antisemitic comments, and hostile social media posts directed at Jewish members of university communities.

The report also highlights a concerning development: two recorded incidents classified as extreme violence in 2024/25, one in Edinburgh and another in Leeds. These are the first instances of this severity documented within British universities by the CST and involve actions that could have resulted in grievous bodily harm or loss of life.

Another notable aspect identified by the charity is the involvement of university staff in antisemitic incidents. Over 16 cases in the past two academic years were linked to university personnel, a point the CST emphasizes as particularly significant given the authority and influence that staff members hold within academic settings. The charity expressed concern about the impact of such behavior in classrooms and campus environments.

The CST also noted that the beginning of the academic year tends to be a period of heightened risk for antisemitic activity on campuses.

Mark Gardner, chief executive of the Community Security Trust, described the persistence of antisemitism on university campuses as a serious ongoing problem for Jewish students and staff. Education Secretary Lucy Powell commented on the findings, calling them “deeply troubling” and underscoring that no student should have to choose between expressing their identity and feeling safe while at university.