OfS introduces new freedom of speech complaints scheme for academics

The Office for Students (OfS), a higher education watchdog, is set to introduce a new complaints scheme for university staff and speakers to report freedom of speech violations. The Department for Education said this “first-of-its kind” scheme, which will be cost-free and “streamlined”, would become effective for the 2026-27 academic year. 

Currently, university staff must use internal complaints processes, which may lead to costly downstream legal action. Imperial College has a procedure available to staff, students, and visitors, where complaints are eventually judged by a panel established by the Registrar and University Secretary.

From April 2027, the OfS will also be granted the power to fine universities that contravene academic freedom regulations set out in the Freedom of Speech Act, which came in force in August. Such universities could be fined up to £500,000 or 2% of their income, in addition to losing access to government funding.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson denounced “far too many cases where academics and speakers are being silenced,” with the Department for Education specifically mentioning instances of foreign interference and educators being harassed for holding gender-critical or religious views.

In November, it was revealed that China had effectively bullied Sheffield Hallam University into silencing its research into Uyghur forced labour, leading the government to ramp up protections against academic foreign interference. 

The OfS has also fined the University of Sussex over half a million pounds in March 2025 for failing to uphold academic freedom, after one academic resigned amid student backlash against her gender-critical views.