Duties of students’ unions
- Secure freedom of speech and maintain a code of practice Any Person
UK Act of Parliament
2023
United Kingdom
Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
5 compliance obligations
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Employer 1
- Director or Officer 1
- Any Person 1
Plus 2 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Employers also bound by 171 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 199 duties
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 119 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 46 duties
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 45 duties
- WTR 1998 1998 40 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 229 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 75 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 63 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 46 duties
- CCBSA 2014 2014 21 duties
- Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 2023 18 duties
Any Person also bound by 770 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 78 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Regulation of duties of registered higher education providers
- Maintain compliant governance and report student unions to the OfS Director or Officer
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- OfS must enforce freedom of speech conditions on higher education providers Statutory regulator
Complaints scheme
- Comply with the free‑speech complaints scheme Employer
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- OfS must operate a free speech complaints scheme Statutory regulator
Browse 12 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Duties of registered higher education providers
Duties of constituent institutions
Civil claims
General functions
Regulation of duties of students’ unions
Overseas funding
Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom
Minor and consequential amendments
Extent
Commencement
Short title
Minor and consequential amendments
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Office for Students
Independent regulator for higher education in England. Registers and monitors higher education providers. Ensures students receive quality education and value for money.
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.