Statutory Instruments
2025 No. 528 (C. 23)
EDUCATION, ENGLAND
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2025
Made
28th April 2025
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 13(3) and (4) of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023(1).
Citation and extent
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2025.
(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales only, subject to paragraph (3).
(3) Regulation 2(g) extends to England and Wales and Scotland.
Provisions coming into force on 1st August 2025
2. The following provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 come into force on 1st August 2025—
(a)section 1 (duties of registered higher education providers);
(b)section 2 (duties of constituent institutions);
(c)section 3 (duties of students’ unions) insofar as it inserts the definition of “students’ union” in a new section A5(6) of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017(2);
(d)section 5 (general functions);
(e)section 11 (minor and consequential amendments) insofar as it relates to the provisions in paragraphs (f) to (h);
(f)in Part 1 (Higher Education and Research Act 2017) of the Schedule (minor and consequential amendments)—
(i)paragraph 1 insofar as it relates to the provisions brought into force by sub-paragraphs (ii) to (viii);
(ii)paragraph 2(1) insofar as it relates to the provisions brought into force by sub-paragraphs (iii) and (iv);
(iii)paragraph 2(2);
(iv)paragraph 2(4);
(v)paragraph 3;
(vi)paragraph 4;
(vii)paragraph 8;
(viii)paragraph 10;
(g)Part 2 (the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015) of the Schedule; and
(h)in Part 3 (other Acts) of the Schedule, paragraph 18.
Bridget Phillipson
Secretary of State for Education
Department for Education
28th April 2025
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/566 (C. 34)) (“the Regulations”) were revoked by the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2) (Revocation) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/824 (C. 52)) before the dates on which the remaining provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (c. 16) would have been commenced by the Regulations.