General information

Bullying advice

The University will not tolerate the harassment, bullying and/or intimidation of one member of the University community by another. We are all responsible for helping to ensure that individuals do not suffer any form of harassment.

Bullying and intimidation is offensive behaviour that humiliates or undermines an individual or a group. If you think you are suffering such behaviour from a student or a member of staff, do not feel you have to tolerate it. Take the following action:

Don't ignore it

If you feel that you are being subjected to harassment, bullying or intimidation, do not feel that it is your fault or that you have to tolerate it.

Many people are tempted to ignore harassment for fear of being labelled a troublemaker, but it is unlikely that the harasser will stop if you ignore it.

The harasser is often doing this to try to exert control, so silence will be interpreted as weakness and consent.

Get support

Talk informally about the problem with any of the following:

A Harassment Adviser

A network of harassment advisers is available to help all students and staff who feel they may have been bullied or have themselves been accused of bullying.

The advisers will inform you of your options and offer support; they will never tell you what to do. That decision is always yours. 

All discussions with a harassment adviser are confidential, and brief records of their discussions will be recorded purely for statistical purposes. This information is anonymous and will be held in complete confidence.

An appropriate person in your department

For example, your Course Representative.

A Students' Union representative

You can find all UPSU reps at www.upsu.net.

Another person you feel comfortable talking to

For example, a friend or a family member.

Do not hesitate to contact someone even when an incident happens only once. They may be able to suggest ways of resolving the problem. Any such discussion will be confidential and no further action will be taken without your permission.

Ask the harasser to stop

Tell the harasser that you find the behaviour offensive and ask the person to stop. If you wish, take a Harassment Adviser, a Students' Union representative or a friend with you.

Collect evidence of the harassment

It is important to keep a note of all relevant incidents including dates, times and places. This will be invaluable in proving your case if you decide to make a formal complaint.

Wherever possible, get witnesses to provide factual evidence. If there are no witnesses to an incident, tell a Harassment Adviser, Students' Union representative or friend and make a note of it.

Make a formal complaint

If you or your representative cannot resolve the problem by asking the harasser to stop, you or your representative should make a formal written complaint to the University Secretary. If the matter is formalised, a full investigation will be made. Disciplinary action may be appropriate, with a view to addressing the behaviour of the harasser.

For full details of what to do in this situation view our codes on harassment, bullying and intimidation, racial harassment and sexual harassment.

As far as is practicable the University will ensure that no one who establishes that they have been harassed, bullied or intimidated will, as a result, be disadvantaged in their course progression.

If you are being harassed, bullied or intimidated, the University will support you and safeguard your interests. Please approach the appropriate person for help and guidance rather than leaving your course or the University.

Other support agencies