Please note that reports will not be monitored during the winter break, from 5pm on 23 December 2025 until 9am on 05 January 2026. Reports received during the break will be dealt with when the central University services resume. If you are in immediate danger, please call 999. Other emergency contact information can be viewed on this webpage.
Over the holidays, students’ first point of contact for anything related to their own or someone’s welfare is their College Student Support Office. Further wellbeing resources and advice (for students) can also be found on this SharePoint site.
Consent is when someone agrees, gives permission, or says 'yes' to sexual activity with another person(s). Consent needs to be enthusiastic, freely given, and can be withdrawn at any point during a sexual encounter.
Consent is not:
Silence
Passivity
Lack of resistance
Immobility
A smile
A revealing outfit
Friendly body language
Possible when someone is incapacitated by drugs or alcohol
Possible when someone is asleep
Mandatory because you are in a relationship (including marriage) with a person
Mandatory because someone has previously agreed to it
Mandatory because someone has agreed to go home with you
Mandatory because someone likes to regularly have sex
Consent is a mandatory and basic part of human relationships; no one has rights over anyone else's body, for any reason.
If you are still unsure about consent and how it works then watch this video that compares consent to tea.
Want to learn more?
Consent matters. That’s why all students at Durham University are required to complete an online course. Learn about sexual consent and how you can support others on campus. Access the course on DUO.Consent Matters information for new students
