New study finds one in ten students have had a romantic affair with a university staff member

One in ten students has had an intimate relationship with a university staff member in the past year, a survey has found.

A further 15 per cent said staff had tried to pressure them into a romantic affair.

Half of the students who had been in a relationship with a university employee said the person was involved in their education, such as a lecturer or tutor.

Meanwhile, 35 per cent of students in relationships said they felt pressure to “take it further” because they feared refusing would affect their studies.

The poll of 3,017 English students was commissioned by the Office for Students regulator, which has told universities they should ban intimate relationships between staff and students.

Six in ten students said they had been sexually harassed and more than a third had experienced sexual assault or violence.

Saranya Thambirajah of the National Union of Students said: “Universities must do more to protect students.”