Academic freedom and free speech - no ifs, no buts. Membership open to UK & Ireland postgraduates of all viewpoints. 🖋️🎓 Repost / follow is not an endorsement.
Joined February 2026
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Congratulations to everyone heading to university in the autumn! 🎉
Join @StudentAFAF and @postgradafaf to champion free speech and open debate on campus.
Sign up today!
The #Battlefest continues. Come to see us at the @AFAF_freespeech stand if you're around. @ProfDHayes chaired one of the first discussions of the day, 'Independent publishing for those who refuse to be cancelled'.
This was an insightful overview of contemporary issues and long-term developments. Broad agreement - serious engagement with heterogenous ideas is key for a healthy academic culture. Disagreement - can this culture be rebuilt or is harm prevention a more realistic goal?
First debates of the day begin at the #BattleFest. "The corruption of University?" has a great panel including representatives of @AFAF_freespeech academics and postgrads.
First debates of the day begin at the #BattleFest. "The corruption of University?" has a great panel including representatives of @AFAF_freespeech academics and postgrads.
See you there? If you are around, come and say hi to us at the @AFAF_freespeech stall. We have postgrad members there and in a panel.
What a weekend of discussion coming up at the #battlefest! There is still time to get your tickets before they sell out. @acadofideas @StudentAFAF @postgradafaf
eventbrite.co.uk/e/battle-of…
From 1 April 2027 the OfS is due to bring in new free speech conditions of registration for English universities, with the power to fine. Consultation is due later this year.
Six months to get ready. Has your university started?
#HigherEducation
commonslibrary.parliament.uk…
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The OfS complaints scheme opened on 1 September. By mid-September @ComAcFreedom found only 5 of 37 Russell Group staff procedures mentioned it.
Hard to use a route nobody has told you about. Does your university mention it?
#AcademicFreedom
afcomm.org.uk/2026/09/14/rus…
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Academic freedom in the UK is in decline. We're not alone. The 2026 Academic Freedom Index puts us with Germany, Italy, Austria, Portugal and Greece.
Less about what academics can say, more about governments reaching into how universities are run.
chemistryworld.com/news/acad…
Your university sponsors your visa. The government licenses your university. How freely can you speak?
Free to Think 2026 says US entry bans on 39 countries have left international students and scholars exposed. Worth knowing in the UK too.
#PGR
insidehighered.com/news/facu…
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For PhD researchers who also teach. If your academic freedom is breached, who do you complain to?
Staff go to the Office for Students. Students go to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.
Which would you use?
#AcademicFreedom #PhD
commonslibrary.parliament.uk…
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Looking forward to the Academy this weekend! 🎓 We’re delighted to have a few of our AFAF students and postgrads attending. @StudentAFAF @AFAF_freespeech @acadofideas
Special last-minute ticket offer! Academy 2026 THIS WEEKEND
The Academy 2026 is almost here. This year, our theme is Hollow Leviathan: The state against the demos.
We’re going to be probing state breakdown, the return of the national interest, the fracturing of society, the sorry state of the military, and the rise of Islamo-Leftism. All of this with brilliant speakers, in a beautiful setting at Wyboston Lakes. It’s a weekend intellectual retreat, and there is still time to get your tickets.
In fact, as we are almost sold out, we are offering a special offer for our last few rooms...
👇
open.substack.com/pub/claire…
Great to be at @ARC_Conference with the @AFAF_freespeech team. Excellent speakers, matchless event team & fantastic conversations at our stand.
Free speech - no ifs, no buts!
@ProfDHayes @Opropriodaniels @ruth_miesch @VPupavac @postgradafaf @StudentAFAF
Fantastic to see these coming up! We’re pleased that a number of our @postgradafaf & @StudentAFAF will be attending these events. Looking forward to the engaging conversations to be had. @ARC_Conference @spikedonline @AFAF_freespeech
This month an AFAF team will be at the @ARC_Conference and the @spikedonline Summit (only 50 tickets left). Come and visit our stall at these events. @postgradafaf @StudentAFAF
afaf.org.uk/events/
Happy International Academic Freedom Day to all! We look forward to speaking at tonight’s event and hearing from our AFAF branches and wider free speech network. 🗣️ #IAFD #IAFD2026
Today is IAFD — looking forward to seeing many AFAF members and friends online this evening. @postgradafaf @StudentAFAF @DubUnisAFAF @bristolafaf @AFFSUK @lucaf_london @Hypatia_freedom @samikshassotd @FreeSpeechIre @FSW_Wales
daysoftheyear.com/days/inter…
The next generation of academics who value academic rigour and have a sincere respect of the English language… should we unite against “trendy teacher syndrome”? We could be gloriously untrendy together. 😁
spectator.com/article/why-ar… My latest for the Spectator: on the new programme by King's College London to 'validate diverse knowledge systems and lived experience'
Ace North, a courageous gentleman with an incredible story. Long live the stickers!
Ace North was a research biologist at the University of Oxford’s biology department for nearly 15 years.
When he challenged the department’s promotion of gender ideology — on its EDI board and even in the staff break room — they tried to silence him.
In response, Ace put up stickers featuring quotes from prominent gender-critical figures to challenge the prevailing narrative that he deemed inappropriate in a science department.
Senior staff condemned the stickers as “defacement” and “hateful”, and threatened disciplinary action.
Rather than deter him, this only confirmed to Ace that his message needed to be heard.
He was later identified and called into meetings with both the head of administration and HR.
The Free Speech Union was proud to support Ace throughout.
It was suggested that if the stickers stopped, concerns about the promotion of gender ideology in the department might be addressed.
FSU Campaigns Officer @MaxHThompson recently visited Ace in Oxford.
Watch his story below 👇
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All disciplines.
🧪🩺📚🎹🎭🎨🦠
All corners of the United Kingdom.
🏴🏴🏴🇮🇪
Online monthly meetup for postgrads who actually want to talk freely. Join us.
Calling all postgraduate students! Join @postgradafaf and help defend free speech and academic freedom in research. Give them a follow - @DubUnisAFAF @acadofideas @CityUniAFAF @cakafaf @NottUnisAFAF @SheffUnisAFAF @PiPsOrgUK @StAnd_AFAF @EdinUniAFAF @OU_AFAF @AFAFNWE @BhamUnisAFAF @MancUniAFAF @LivUniAFAF @SpeechUnion @lucaf_london @samikshassotd @LibertarianEire @Togetherdec @AFAF_QMUL @NEUnis_AFAF @CardiffAFA @CUSocOfWomen
afaf.org.uk/postgraduate-saf…
“Under the proposed update, incidents would only now be recorded if they ‘may be relevant to policing for preventing or solving crime, safeguarding individuals or communities or fulfilling other statutory policing purposes’.” Oh dear, oh dear…
Non-crime hate incidents are still with us until 2027 when they will not go, they will just be rebranded. @WeAreFairCop @SpeechUnion @acadofideas @postgradafaf @StudentAFAF
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80m…
Worth a watch. A moment of self-reflection from the left on whether it’s lost touch with the working class. An interesting analysis which pushes for clearer thinking against the mainstream left which too often overlooks working-class struggles. @tcdphil
