“Who could help me? There was nothing. I brought it on myself”: A qualitative study exploring UK university student experiences of sexual violence

Research suggests that university students are disproportionately affected by sexual violence and that most incidents remain unreported. Little qualitative research has been conducted to explore this further in the context of the UK. The current study used qualitative semi-structured interviews to explore the lived experiences of 11 university students currently studying at UK institutions, with data analysed used reflexive thematic analysis. Three key themes were generated, which collectively narrate the decision-making progress students navigate after experiencing sexual violence: (1) Making sense of sexual violence; (2) Barriers to disclosure; and (3) Navigating support. Three key take-home messages are outlined.