Free Speech University Rankings 2017: the best universities

Spiked’s 2017 Free Speech University Rankings reveal which UK universities have the best record on free speech

Rankings for Students
Student life

John Elmes

Junior reporter

February 10 2017

The online magazine Spiked has released its 2017 Free Speech University Rankings, an analysis of the state of free speech on UK university campuses.

Essentially, it’s a guide to what universities do or do not allow on their campuses when it comes to, say, controversial speakers, newspapers, adverts, student societies, fancy dress; and the policies that it has in place relating to equality and dignity, gender identity, “safe spaces” and “no platforming” – the banning of individuals or groups thought to hold far-Right or extremist views.

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Ranking institutions as either red, amber, or green in terms of how restrictive they are, the survey of 115 universities found that 108 – when taking university administration and students’ unions as a whole – censor or chill free speech to some degree. Some 73 were assessed as red, 35 were amber, and only seven were green, meaning that as far as Spiked was aware, they placed no restrictions on free speech and expression – other than where it was unlawful.

The report said that there was a ban on dressing up as Caitlyn Jenner at University of Surrey insisting that its mascot, Steve the Stag, isn’t depicted by students “drinking, smoking or ‘involved in lewd acts’”.

There were only three institutions in the UK with no instances of censorship in 2017: the University of the West of Scotland.

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The best universities for free speech 2017 according to Spiked

Below, we list all the universities awarded either green or amber awards in the��Free Speech University Rankings.

Rating	University
Green	University of Buckingham
Green	Glasgow Caledonian University
Green	University of Hertfordshire
Green	Loughborough University
Green	Robert Gordon University
Green	University of Wales Trinity Saint David
Green	University of the West of Scotland
Amber	University of Aberdeen
Amber	Anglia Ruskin University
Amber	Bangor University
Amber	University of Bolton
Amber	University of Brighton
Amber	University of Cambridge
Amber	University of Canterbury
Amber	University of Chester
Amber	De Montfort University
Amber	Edinburgh Napier University
Amber	University of Exeter
Amber	University of Glasgow
Amber	Imperial College London
Amber	Keele University
Amber	University of Kent
Amber	Trinity University
Amber	University of Liverpool
Amber	London Metropolitan University
Amber	Northumbria University
Amber	Trent University
Amber	Oxford Brookes University
Amber	Queen’s University Belfast
Amber	Soas, University of London
Amber	Southampton Solent University
Amber	University of South Wales
Amber	University of St Andrews
Amber	University of Sunderland
Amber	Teesside University
Amber	University of Central Lancashire
Amber	Ulster University
Amber	University of West London
Amber	University of Winchester
Amber	University of Worcester
Amber	University of York

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