We are committed to taking steps that make a significant and credible difference to protecting students including working with specialist local and national partners, working with students and the Students’ Union, and publishing and analysing our data on safeguarding, including harassment and sexual misconduct, to react to local support need.  Our published polices and procedures, shown below, also help us protect students.  

Policies, Procedures and Annual Report

Safeguarding Policy
The University of Manchester is committed to keeping all our students, staff, and visitors safe, especially children and adults at risk.  We promote a culture of listening, respect, and timely action when concerns arise. If you're ever worried about someone’s safety, there are clear steps and support available to help. 

Safeguarding Concerns and Disclosures Procedure
If you're worried about someone’s safety or wellbeing, you can report it through the University’s Report and Support system. Our Advice and Response team offer confidential, trauma-informed support and will guide next steps. You don’t need to handle concerns alone—support is available to help you act safely and appropriately. 

Sexual Misconduct and Gender-Based Violence Procedure
This procedure explains how the University supports students who report sexual misconduct or gender-based violence. You can make a disclosure and receive support or submit a formal report that may lead to disciplinary action. We take these issues seriously and aim to create a safe and respectful environment. Support is available whether or not you choose to make a formal report. 

Regulation XVII - Conduct and Discipline of Students
This regulation outlines what counts as student misconduct and how the University handles disciplinary issues. The goal is to maintain a respectful and safe learning environment for everyone. 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
The University is committed to treating everyone fairly, regardless of background or identity.  We work to eliminate discrimination and promote equal opportunities for students and staff. You’re encouraged to challenge unfair behaviour and report concerns safely. This policy supports a diverse and inclusive community where everyone can thrive. 

Dignity at Work and Study Policies and Procedures
We want everyone to feel respected and safe from bullying, harassment, or discrimination. This policy applies to both staff and students and encourages a culture of dignity and inclusion. If you experience or witness unacceptable behaviour, there are informal and formal ways to report it. Support is available through dedicated advisors and services. Everyone is expected to treat others with kindness and respect. 

Personal Relationships Policy
Universities are required to have policies that clearly define their stance on personal relationships between employees and students, including what is deemed unacceptable. At the University of Manchester, employees (including students who are also employed by the University such as Graduate Teaching Assistants or Student Ambassadors) must not enter in to intimate or close personal relationships with anyone they have an element of responsibility for e.g. teach, supervise, assess or support, or with under 18s and vulnerable adults.

Student Terms and Conditions 2025/26

Student Charter
Our Student Charter, developed jointly by the University and the Students' Union, is an important part of how we establish and maintain clear mutual expectations for the experience of all undergraduate and taught postgraduates. It sets out what we can expect from each other as partners in a learning community. 

Guidance on Social Media for Students
The University encourages responsible use of social media and reminds students that online posts can have real-world consequences. You should avoid sharing personal or harmful content and never post anything discriminatory or threatening. If something goes wrong, there are ways to report it and get support. We ask our students to always use social media in a way that reflects respect and integrity. 

Report and Support Annual Report
This report aims to provide the necessary context and information about the disclosures the University receives and our response, and services that offer support and guidance to those affected. 

We want to make sure that our students are informed about harassment and sexual misconduct, and that you understand what the University is doing to protect you. All new undergraduates and foundation year students will receive personalised links to training on consent, harassment and bystander intervention. All new PGT and PGR students will receive information on training as part of induction. For these groups training is mandatory and you may not be able to progress in your course or to graduate if you do not complete the training. The training does include details about alternative guidance for individuals who may need to opt out due to specific needs.

We train relevant staff groups on the topics of harassment and sexual misconduct and on receiving disclosures about incidents of harassment and sexual misconduct. Relevant staff groups include Residential Life staff, central support staff and Campus Support and Security.

Advice and Response also offer bespoke training for staff and student groups.

There is lots of support available to you.  The University has a specialist team – Advice and Response -  that supports with safeguarding issues, including harassment and sexual misconduct. Reports made to Report and Support will be received by the Advice and Response team. Support is available to you whether you have experienced harassment and/or sexual misconduct or a report has been made against you in this area.

Support for those affected

Safeguarding Concerns flowchart

How Advice and Response can support you

Support for responding students - Who have had a report made against them

Support for students in UoM accommodation

School or Doctoral Academy Student Support Hub - For local support within your school/PGR area

Mental Health Support (The University of Manchester)

General Student Support links

University of Manchester Students' Union Advice

You can find details of external organisations relevant to harassment and sexual misconduct at Report and Support on the tiles under the ‘Support’ title.

You can report safeguarding concerns, including harassment and sexual misconduct, at Report and Support. Information on reporting for students is available here.

The University will handle the information we receive sensitively and fairly.  You can find details on handling information here.  If you tell us something about an incident of harassment and/or sexual misconduct, we are led by you in what we do with that information.  This means that in most cases you can decide if you want to make a formal report or whether you just want to access support or just tell us that something has happened. 

If there is a concern about someone’s safety or welfare, we might need to share information with other appropriate services or individuals, or take other precautionary and/or disciplinary actions. This will be done with your consent if possible.  More detail on confidentiality is available here.

The University has a highly trained team of investigators.  Where reports reach investigation stage, these are handled in a thorough and credible way, and in a way that reflects ‘natural justice’ – this means in a way that is not biased and enables a fair hearing.  You can find details on reporting and investigating here. 

You can find a flow chart to describe what happens when you are the reporting party here (Reporting party flowchart). 

You can find a flow chart to describe what happens when you are the responding (or reported) party here (Responding/Reported party flowchart).

The FAQs page can be viewed here.