These are the Russell Group unis that disciplined the most students for pro-Palestine protests

Students across the UK have been protesting about the conflict in Gaza. Protestors keep organising rallies outside uni buildings. In 2024, students camped out on the campuses at several unis. It turns out that the Russell Group unis have dealt very differently with students involved in pro-Palestine protests.

New research by Sky reveals how many people were formally disciplined for their involvement in pro-Palestine protests at different unis. Unis contacted the police about student protestors at 12 out of 24 Russell Group unis – Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Imperial, King’s, LSE, Newcastle, Queen Mary, Southampton, Warwick and York.

Here are all the Russell Group unis which formally disciplined people for involvement in pro-Palestine protests.

University of Sheffield – 1 person

Just one person from Sheffield Uni faced disciplinary action.

Sheffield students organised several protests over the last year. The uni spent £137,945 dealing with an encampment. Masked protesters disrupted last year’s University of Sheffield Education Awards. The vice-chancellor had to be escorted out.

University of Birmingham – 2 people

The uni didn’t respond to Sky’s request. But we know two students called Mariyah and Antonia have been facing disciplinary action for their involvement in protests. The students are known as the “Birmingham 2”, and student activists have been calling on the uni to drop the investigation.

One of the students is facing allegations of “alleged participation in an unauthorised protest” during Welcome Week. Students set up a picnic to reach out to freehsers.

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A University of Birmingham spokesperson told the Birmingham Tab: “The University of Birmingham has a very strong and longstanding commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom – supported by our longstanding Code of Practice. However, we are unable to comment on active case matters involving individual students.”

Imperial College London – 2 people

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8pOaCEtbnT/

Students have organised several protests, including a large rally at the Great Exhibition Road Festival in June. Protesters wanted to draw attention to how researchers at Imperial have developed technology used in warfare.

Two students at Imperial have faced disciplinary action for pro-Palestine protests.

Cardiff University – 3 people

Three students and five staff members have been disciplined. The uni contacted the police about the protests.

Cardiff uni spent £125,522 dealing with the pro-Palestine encampment. Two students were suspended after participating in a protest in October. This week, a van hit protesters outside Cardiff University’s Centre for Student Life.

University of Bristol – 1-4 people

The uni has a very active pro-Palestine society. On February 2025, students joined a huge protest in Bristol to raise awareness of the uni’s links to the defence industry.

The uni has previously disciplined between one and four people for pro-Palestine protests.

University of Glasgow – 1-4 people

On 12th February, 50 Glasgow students blockaded the engineering building in protest of the uni’s alleged financial links to Israel. This was controversial among some students who wanted to get to their lectures.

A spokesperson for the University of Glasgow said: “The University of Glasgow upholds the right to freedom of expression, including the right of staff and students to engage in peaceful demonstrations. However, we do not tolerate activities which interfere with the rights of others to go about their business in peace.”

The uni has previously punished between one and four people for participating in protests.

Newcastle University – 1-4 people

Students and staff at Newcastle Uni have been protesting on campus by waving banners and chanting for the uni to take action to support Palestine.

The uni disclosed between one and four people were formally disciplined.

University of York – 1-4 people

The pro-Palestine encampment at York
(Credit: Lydia Chowdhury and Sarika Patel)

Protesters camped on the lawn by the main Uni of York buildings in May. A rally took place at the West campus on 2nd October. Students marched from Heslington Hall to Greg’s place.

Between one and four people from the Uni of York have been disciplined.

University of Leeds

Five people faced disciplinary action for involvement in various pro-Palestine protests.

The encampment at Leeds lasted for 47 days until students were threatened with legal action.

Queen Mary University of London – 5-8 people

Between five and eight people at Queen Mary have been punished for their participation in pro-Palestine protests.

In May, Queen Mary students camped on the lawn at the uni’s east London campus.

Queen Mary Students have just set up an encampment in solidarity with Palestine.

More details to follow… pic.twitter.com/A4rB6htjM9

— Queen Mary Palestine Solidarity (@QMULPalestine) May 13, 2024

The uni spent £411,673 between October 2023 and June 2024 dealing with pro-Palestine protests.

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) – 1-9 people

Huge protest at LSE in central London in support of the student encampment for Palestine which is being forcibly evicted. Disclose, divest! pic.twitter.com/gfcflAX0xy

— Lukas Slothuus (@lslothuus) June 17, 2024

The uni disclosed that between 1 and 9 people faced disciplinary action for pro-Palestine protests. Sky says media records show at least seven students were impacted.

Students began occupying the Marshall Building on 17th May. LSE became the first uni to use legal action to make the students leave. The protestors had to pack up on 17th June.

King’s College London – 7 people

KCL Students for Justice for Palestine society is very active – as well as arranging protests, they run film nights and a book club so students can learn about Palestinian culture.

Seven King’s students have been punished by the uni for pro-Palestine protests.

University College London (UCL) – 13-16 people

The uni has formally disciplined a huge 12 students, plus between one and four members of staff.

Students set up an encampment on the campus in May. The uni eventually won a court order getting the students to leave. UCL students joined a huge protest across London in October.