News Talks podcast: Sussex v OfS – what could it mean for UK HE?

We discuss why the University of Sussex is challenging the OfS in court and what it could mean for freedom of speech, institutional autonomy and the role of the regulator

Published on
February 6, 2026
Last updated
February 6, 2026
Montage of podcast icon with Sasha Roseneil, vice-chancellor of University of Sussex, the Royal Courts of Justice and Kathleen Stock
Source: University of Sussex/iStock/Shutterstock montage

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We discuss why the University of Sussex has mounted a legal challenge against a £585,000 fine imposed by the Office for Students (OfS) for failing to uphold freedom of speech.

The case, being heard in the High Court in London this week, brings to the fore questions over academic freedom, institutional autonomy, trans rights and the role of the English regulator.

On this episode of News Talks Times Higher Education editor Chris Havergal talks to Miranda Prynne about the background to the case, the key points upon which Sussex is disputing the OfS findings and the broader implications for universities and the way they are regulated.

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Reader's comments (1)

The Sussex policies are very much open to interpretation. In this case it appears that the applied interpretation was a problem itself too. Separately there appears to be a significant case of selective enforcement. Finally, just because Sussex was the one caught doesn't per se mean that it is invalid because others weren't.

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