News/Blog
Today Marks the Start of the OfS Condition E6 - Here’s What You Need to Know
Today, 1st August 2025, a major change comes into effect in England’s higher education sector. The Office for Students (OfS) has officially introduced Condition E6 – a new regulation that requires universities in England to take meaningful action to prevent and respond to harassment and sexual misconduct.
This is a landmark introduction in the sector. For the first time, these expectations are not just guidance or best practice – they are enforceable rules. The aim is simple: to make sure every student is protected, supported, treated with dignity and that institutions create safe, respectful environments for everyone.
What is Condition E6?
Condition E6 gives the OfS the power to hold institutions accountable if they fail to protect students from harassment and sexual misconduct. From today, all registered providers in England must meet a detailed set of requirements. For more insight into what the Condition E6 outlines, you can read the regulations here.
What does this mean for Scotland?
Although Condition E6 only applies to universities in England, the issues it addresses exists across the UK. At EmilyTest, we believe every student, regardless of where they study, deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported. That’s why we encourage Scottish institutions to look closely at the principles behind regulations such as this and consider how similar approaches could strengthen their own efforts to prevent and respond to harassment and sexual misconduct. Exploring how these measures could be adopted voluntarily is an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and a commitment to student safety.
What does this mean for EmilyTest?
The introduction of Condition E6 played a key role in shaping our GBV Charter Pilot with five universities in England, ensuring strong alignment between the Charter and the new regulatory requirements. The pilot has been both successful and instrumental in adapting the Charter to the English higher education context. The insights, collaboration, and commitment of our pilot institutions have been invaluable in developing a robust and responsive framework that supports universities to meet - and where possible, go beyond - the expectations set out in Condition E6.
If this is something your institution is considering engaging with, we invite you to register your interest to be among the first to hear when we officially launch the English GBV Charter.
Additionally, in response to increasing demand, we’re launching the EmilyTest Network – a new space for universities and colleges across the UK and Ireland to join EmilyTest’s mission and commit to improving prevention, intervention and support within their institution.
The EmilyTest Network was developed following discussions with institutions throughout the UK and Ireland who are committed to improving GBV approaches at their institution, but who may not be able to commit to the more focused Charter Award at this time. This may be as a result of common challenges with finance and staffing faced across the sector, or simply because the Charter Award is not yet available in their country. To express your interest, please fill out the form here.
Real change happens not just through regulation, but through commitment, collaboration, and community. At EmilyTest, we’re proud to be part of that journey, and we look forward to working with institutions across the UK and Ireland to make safety, respect, and support the norm - not the exception - in every student’s experience.
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