Choosing where to study
Crime rates in university cities and towns
Student safety is important. Here are the rates for crimes most likely to affect students in the areas they live during university term time.
Sophie Rogers
05 Mar 2025
大象传媒
CONTENTS
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Is your university a safe place to study?
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Crime statistics: England and Wales 2024
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Notes
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Police glossary of terms
Is your university a safe place to study?
If you鈥檙e moving to a new town or city to study for a degree, you or your parents might have concerns about safety. But it鈥檚 better to know the facts before you go.
- Some locations may have an unfair reputation that they鈥檙e not a safe place. But this might not be borne out by the statistics. A few London unis are among the safest in England and Wales.
- Others might have higher crime rates, but if you鈥檙e forewarned, you can prepare by taking measures to ensure your safety.
To help you, we鈥檝e gathered the crime rates for our league table universities in England and Wales, based on the areas where students live during term time. These are from official police statistics. Crime rates are not available for universities around Greater Manchester due to an issue with the data. Comparable data is also not available for Scotland or Northern Ireland.
We can鈥檛 tell if the crimes committed are actually against students; anyone living in the area may report these crimes. But we do know that these crimes are the ones most relevant to students: robbery, burglary, violent or sexual crimes, bike theft, or theft of items stolen from the person. The total reflects the combined rate of all five crimes that occurred in the past 12 months.
If you know that bike crime may be higher in the student neighbourhoods for a university, you can take steps to increase bike security. Unis also do a lot to help keep their students safe. Many Students鈥� Unions have a 鈥榮afe taxi scheme鈥� to help students return home safely after a night out. Other unis might have a bus service that runs late into the evening. The SafeZone app lets students alert security teams on campus or in student halls if required.
We intend our data to help students make decisions on where to study and how to prepare before moving there. We also have city guides that give an overview of where students live in each city, how to travel in the area, and what things there are to do for fun.
Crime statistics: England and Wales 2024
Average crime rates for where students live during term time. Incidents per 1,000 residents.
| Institution | Robbery | Burglary | Violent or sexual crime | Bike theft | Theft from the person | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harper Adams University | 0.0 | 1.1 | 7.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 8.7 |
| St Mary's University | 0.6 | 1.2 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 9.9 |
| University of Roehampton | 0.5 | 1.2 | 7.0 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 10.0 |
| Falmouth University | 0.1 | 0.6 | 10.1 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 11.0 |
| Royal Agricultural University | 0.2 | 0.9 | 9.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 11.1 |
| Keele University | 0.2 | 1.1 | 9.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 11.2 |
| Oxford Brookes University | 0.2 | 1.2 | 7.9 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 11.5 |
| University of York | 0.1 | 1.1 | 8.5 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 11.8 |
| University of East Anglia | 0.3 | 0.8 | 10.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 11.9 |
| Kingston University London | 0.6 | 1.1 | 7.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 12.3 |
| St George's, University of London | 0.9 | 1.3 | 7.9 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 12.4 |
| Royal Holloway, University of London | 0.2 | 1.2 | 10.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 12.7 |
| Leeds Trinity University | 0.3 | 2.1 | 9.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 12.8 |
| Edge Hill University | 0.3 | 1.1 | 10.9 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 12.8 |
| Aberystwyth University | 0.2 | 1.2 | 11.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 13.0 |
| University of Reading | 0.4 | 1.2 | 9.8 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 13.1 |
| University of East London | 0.9 | 1.4 | 8.4 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 13.7 |
| Cardiff Metropolitan University | 0.3 | 1.5 | 10.2 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 14.1 |
| University of West London | 0.9 | 1.6 | 9.1 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 14.2 |
| University of Bath | 0.6 | 1.3 | 11.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 14.3 |
| University of Winchester | 0.1 | 1.1 | 12.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 14.5 |
| Plymouth Marjon University | 0.3 | 0.7 | 13.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 14.5 |
| Bath Spa University | 0.5 | 1.4 | 12.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 14.5 |
| Middlesex University | 1.0 | 1.8 | 9.4 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 14.9 |
| Loughborough University | 0.4 | 2.3 | 10.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 15.3 |
| Cardiff University | 0.3 | 1.8 | 10.9 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 15.4 |
| University of Nottingham | 0.6 | 1.9 | 11.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 15.6 |
| University of Buckingham | 0.3 | 1.3 | 13.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 15.7 |
| University of Sussex | 0.4 | 1.2 | 12.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 15.8 |
| University of Greenwich | 1.0 | 1.6 | 10.8 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 15.9 |
| University of Warwick | 0.6 | 1.5 | 12.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 16.0 |
| University of Worcester | 0.4 | 1.1 | 13.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 16.1 |
| University of Sheffield | 0.6 | 2.4 | 11.1 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 16.1 |
| Bournemouth University | 0.3 | 1.6 | 13.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 16.3 |
| Brunel University of London | 0.7 | 1.4 | 12.3 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 16.4 |
| University of Suffolk | 0.3 | 1.0 | 14.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 16.5 |
| University of Hertfordshire | 0.5 | 1.4 | 13.0 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 16.5 |
| University of Brighton | 0.4 | 1.3 | 13.5 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 16.6 |
| University for the Creative Arts | 0.4 | 1.3 | 13.8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 16.6 |
| Birmingham Newman University | 0.7 | 1.8 | 13.9 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 16.7 |
| London Metropolitan University | 1.3 | 1.8 | 9.2 | 0.7 | 3.8 | 16.8 |
| Lancaster University | 0.3 | 3.8 | 12.1 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 17.3 |
| Goldsmiths, University of London | 1.5 | 2.0 | 9.4 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 18.0 |
| University of Kent | 0.3 | 1.2 | 15.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 18.0 |
| University of Exeter | 0.3 | 0.7 | 15.8 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 18.1 |
| Imperial College London | 1.2 | 2.2 | 8.5 | 0.9 | 5.5 | 18.4 |
| Buckinghamshire New University | 0.9 | 1.4 | 14.8 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 18.7 |
| York St John University | 0.3 | 1.7 | 13.8 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 18.9 |
| University of Essex | 0.4 | 1.1 | 16.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 19.1 |
| Arts University Bournemouth | 0.5 | 1.9 | 16.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 19.6 |
| University of Southampton | 0.4 | 2.0 | 15.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 19.7 |
| University of Hull | 0.4 | 1.9 | 16.2 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 20.0 |
| Swansea University | 0.3 | 1.2 | 17.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 20.1 |
| Liverpool Hope University | 0.5 | 1.5 | 16.6 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 20.2 |
| University of the West of England | 1.0 | 1.8 | 16.1 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 20.6 |
| Norwich University of the Arts | 0.7 | 1.3 | 16.7 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 20.6 |
| University of Cambridge | 0.4 | 1.2 | 11.5 | 4.9 | 2.8 | 20.8 |
| University of South Wales | 0.4 | 1.6 | 16.9 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 20.9 |
| University of Gloucestershire | 0.6 | 1.9 | 17.0 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 21.1 |
| University of Bedfordshire | 0.9 | 2.0 | 16.6 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 21.2 |
| University of Birmingham | 1.2 | 3.3 | 15.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 21.3 |
| University of Chester | 0.3 | 1.1 | 19.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 21.7 |
| University of Chichester | 0.5 | 1.6 | 18.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 21.8 |
| Anglia Ruskin University | 0.6 | 1.6 | 15.5 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 22.3 |
| University of Cumbria | 0.3 | 2.3 | 18.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 22.3 |
| Queen Mary University of London | 1.6 | 2.4 | 11.3 | 1.3 | 5.7 | 22.3 |
| University of Surrey | 0.3 | 0.9 | 20.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 22.4 |
| University of Leicester | 0.9 | 1.8 | 17.5 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 22.5 |
| Bishop Grosseteste University | 0.6 | 1.8 | 19.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 22.6 |
| Sheffield Hallam University | 1.0 | 2.6 | 17.0 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 23.4 |
| University of Staffordshire | 0.7 | 3.3 | 18.1 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 23.4 |
| University of the Arts, London | 2.0 | 2.2 | 10.1 | 1.1 | 8.3 | 23.6 |
| Wrexham University | 0.3 | 1.5 | 21.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 23.7 |
| Durham University | 0.4 | 1.8 | 19.7 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 23.9 |
| University of Portsmouth | 0.6 | 1.4 | 20.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 24.1 |
| University of Huddersfield | 0.7 | 2.0 | 21.2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 24.9 |
| University of Wales Trinity Saint David | 0.3 | 1.5 | 22.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 25.4 |
| University of Sunderland | 1.0 | 3.6 | 18.9 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 25.6 |
| University of Central Lancashire | 1.1 | 2.4 | 21.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 26.2 |
| University of Westminster | 1.8 | 2.2 | 12.1 | 0.7 | 9.5 | 26.3 |
| University of Bristol | 1.5 | 2.5 | 19.2 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 26.4 |
| Bangor University | 0.1 | 1.4 | 24.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 26.6 |
| Newcastle University | 0.9 | 2.3 | 20.2 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 26.6 |
| University of Plymouth | 0.5 | 1.6 | 23.5 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 26.9 |
| Leeds Beckett University | 1.6 | 3.8 | 19.8 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 28.6 |
| Nottingham Trent University | 1.4 | 2.4 | 21.8 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 28.6 |
| Canterbury Christ Church University | 0.8 | 1.5 | 25.4 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 29.6 |
| Northumbria University | 1.1 | 2.3 | 23.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 29.9 |
| University of Wolverhampton | 1.6 | 2.5 | 23.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 29.9 |
| University of Leeds | 1.8 | 3.9 | 20.7 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 30.3 |
| University of Lincoln | 1.1 | 2.1 | 25.0 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 30.4 |
| Hartpury University | 0.8 | 2.6 | 26.1 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 31.1 |
| Leeds Arts University | 1.8 | 4.0 | 21.4 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 31.2 |
| University of Liverpool | 0.9 | 2.3 | 24.9 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 31.5 |
| City, University of London | 2.5 | 3.0 | 11.7 | 1.5 | 14.5 | 33.2 |
| University of Oxford | 0.7 | 1.8 | 17.9 | 6.6 | 7.0 | 34.0 |
| The University of Northampton | 1.3 | 2.5 | 28.8 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 34.6 |
| Coventry University | 2.2 | 2.8 | 26.1 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 34.8 |
| University of Bradford | 1.3 | 3.3 | 29.5 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 36.6 |
| De Montfort University | 1.6 | 3.0 | 28.2 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 37.0 |
| University of Derby | 1.0 | 2.7 | 32.8 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 38.7 |
| Southampton Solent University | 1.2 | 3.4 | 31.9 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 39.7 |
| London South Bank University | 4.1 | 3.7 | 12.4 | 2.1 | 21.6 | 43.8 |
| SOAS University of London | 3.2 | 2.7 | 12.7 | 1.4 | 24.2 | 44.3 |
| King's College London | 3.6 | 3.3 | 13.3 | 1.7 | 22.9 | 44.9 |
| University College London | 3.4 | 3.1 | 13.1 | 1.5 | 25.0 | 46.1 |
| Teesside University | 2.0 | 4.2 | 39.8 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 48.5 |
| Liverpool John Moores University | 1.4 | 3.5 | 38.8 | 1.3 | 4.2 | 49.2 |
| Birmingham City University | 5.1 | 4.3 | 37.9 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 52.1 |
| Aston University | 5.8 | 4.3 | 40.8 | 1.2 | 4.0 | 56.1 |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | 4.7 | 3.9 | 15.4 | 2.3 | 36.5 | 62.8 |
Notes
- These data are supplied by UKCrimeStats.com, based on official police crime statistics.
- The figures in the table are the weighted average crime rates per thousand population, for the postcode sectors where students at the higher education provider are living. Only postcode sectors where students live in rented or provider-maintained accommodation are included.
- The crimes included are those most relevant to students.
- Comparable data are not available for Scotland or Northern Ireland.
- Bolton, Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan, and Salford are omitted from the table due to issues with the data supplied by the relevant police force.
Police glossary of terms
- Burglary includes offences where a person enters a house or other building with the intention of stealing.
- Robbery includes offences where a person uses force or threat of force to steal; it includes crimes like mugging.
- Theft from the person includes stealth theft like pickpocketing; it could also include snatch theft such as quickly taking a bag off a shoulder where the victim is not hurt.
- Violent and sexual crime includes offences against a person such as common assault, grievous bodily harm (GBH) and sexual offences.
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