Message for our community

The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is our top priority. 

Our campuses must be a place where free debate and protest can take place within the law while, at the same time, being an environment where our staff and students can carry out their work and studies safely and without significant disruption or intimidation. 

Imperial will continue to take a stand against all forms of racist or hateful behaviour, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. Any incidents will be taken extremely seriously. 

Any protest that becomes hateful, unlawful or constitutes harassment or bullying will not be tolerated. 

Imperial has security on campus 24/7. They can be contacted in an emergency by using the SafeZone app. SafeZone allows any student or member of staff to directly contact and alert the Security team in the event of an emergency. Alternatively, you can telephone 0207 594 1000. 

Anyone who feels that they have encountered harassing speech or behaviour is encouraged to use our Report and Support tool, to ensure we can take any necessary action. You can remain entirely anonymous, should you wish.

In May 2024, a number of unauthorised tents were placed on the Dangoor Plaza on our South Kensington campus. To protect the health and safety of our entire community, we set out to the protestors what the University expected in terms of behaviour. 

Our wellbeing services for staff and students are available for anyone in need of support. These include our Chaplaincy Multi-Faith Centre and our Confidential Care line which offers 24/7 support and counselling for staff. 

We encourage our students to speak to their Student Wellbeing Advisor, personal tutor or supervisor if their ability to study or conduct research is being affected. 

Beyond Imperial’s own community, organisations like TellMama or the CST can provide specialist support.

Please continue to show support and compassion for colleagues and students across the university in response to the distressing and complex situation in the Middle East. Imperial must stand as one community and show understanding and care for each other.

IImperial has been proud to partner with CARA – the Campaign for At Risk Academics – since 2020. Researchers that have taken part in the programme have gone on to enjoy successful careers, and some have continued their employment in their research group at Imperial following their placement.  In May 2024, Imperial announced that it will support an additional eight fellows.

Our Sanctuary Scholarships provide financial packages for Undergraduate students and Postgraduate students from displaced communities.

Imperial is working to update its scholarships search tool to show both open and closed scholarships.

Our International Student Support team provides support to applicants who are navigating the UK Visa process. We have recently enhanced the support available through the new dedicated point of contact in Student Services for students who are refugees. This role, the Student Support Coordinator (Forced Migrants) can be contacted by email. They are the first point of contact for all students who have experienced forced migration – including refugees and asylum seekers. They can provide practical and emotional support through a student’s time at Imperial, including peer mentorship as well as dedicated activities and events. They will have the ability to apply for funding to help with costs relating to their studies or extra-curricular activities, for example attending interviews.

Read our guidance to help you set up and run an event safely.

This includes a risk assessment form that must be completed for any event held at Imperial. This is necessary to help us protect the safety of all members of our community. The risk assessment form can be read online.

Imperial’s investments are covered by Imperial’s Socially Responsible Investment Policy.

The policy states: “All investments within the Endowment will align with major international accords and relevant regulation and legislation. Therefore, the College and its fund managers will be signatories to the UN Principles of Responsible Investment.” 

Research relationships at Imperial with external parties are subject to the Relationships Policy.

Imperial is in discussion with the Imperial College Union about how they can engage in a discussion about our Socially Responsible Investment policy.

Imperial is committed to upholding the fundamental rights of lawful freedom of speech and academic freedom and will take all reasonable steps to ensure that members of our community can express their views safely and lawfully on our campuses.  

Academic freedom for Imperial staff is protected in law and also by Article 7 of Imperial’s Charter as well as the provisions of its Appendix, which form part of relevant staff terms and conditions. These provisions are covered by employment law protections and could not be amended without following all legal steps, which include full consultation with the trade unions.  Academic freedom is also protected under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and in the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, providing the strongest legal protection for this right. 

In addition to the legal and regulatory protections for academic freedom, recent legislation on freedom of speech has strengthened protection for lawful free speech for all members of our community. 

Further information can be found on our Freedom of Speech webpages.

We do not, as a matter of policy, engage in ongoing commentary on geopolitical events. As an institution of higher education, Imperial provides an open forum for debate and exploration of all topics, no matter how challenging. Everyone is welcome to participate in this debate in a respectful manner that is within the law. It would be impossible to adhere to this core principle in a robust and consistent way if the University were to provide running commentary on geopolitical events that are not directly connected to our core mission. It would also undermine the University’s ability to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our students and staff, which is our highest priority. Therefore, while we acknowledge the rights of these groups to issue their opinions, Imperial does not propose to adopt or endorse them.