Reported instances of antisemitism at UK universities have fallen for the second year in a row despite a rise in incidents in wider society.
In the first six months of 2026, 28 incidents in which either victims or offenders were studying or teaching at a university, or which involved student unions, societies or other campus-based groups, were reported to the Community Security Trust (CST) – a drop of approximately 20 per cent from 2025, when there were 35 cases.
The most recent figures suggests that antisemitic hate has diminished within the university sector, despite the CST findings showing an overall rise in reported incidents. The charity’s report identified 1,926 anti-Jewish hate incidents in the UK in the first six months of this year – the second highest total on record.
Dave Rich, director of policy for the charity, praised universities for helping to tackle the issue but also suggested that the fall was partly as a result of a dip in campus activism relating to the Israel-Gaza war. Universities across the UK saw pro-Palestinian encampments set up on campuses in 2024.
Rich told Times Higher Education (THE): “I think on most university campuses, things are a bit calmer – not everywhere, but most.
