Jewish students across the UK are living in fear on university campuses, forced to hide their identities due to a surge in antisemitic incidents. The Community Security Trust has reported a staggering 400% increase in campus antisemitism over just one academic year – from 53 incidents in 2022-23 to an alarming 272 in 2023-24.
The issue is widespread, with students at over ten universities in England and Wales describing a 'culture of antisemitism' that has become normalised. This has led to concerns about safety and inclusion within higher education institutions, where Jewish students make up an estimated 9,000 nationwide.
For Oliver, a 21-year-old student at Cardiff University, the situation is all too familiar. In his first week of term in 2023, he felt 'terrified' as what he perceived as legitimate criticism of Israel escalated into full-blown antisemitism. He had to hide his Star of David pendant and stop speaking Hebrew in public due to the relentless abuse.
Cardiff University claims it adopts a 'zero-tolerance approach to harassment and discrimination', but students feel this is not being put into practice. Oliver reported numerous incidents, only for them to be 'swept under the rug'. Universities UK, representing over 140 institutions, acknowledges antisemitism as a growing challenge and is working with Jewish students to implement change.
A report by the Union of Jewish Students in March 2026 called for new standards to guide universities on investigating and penalising hate crimes. The current procedures are seen as inadequate, leading to inconsistent responses to antisemitic behaviour on campus. Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive of Universities UK, underlined the importance of allowing Jewish students to express their identities freely – 'they should be able to wear their Star of David necklace or kippah without fear'.