As the new academic year begins, a global survey by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) has found that more than three-quarters of Jewish students at universities worldwide conceal their religious identity (78%) and their Zionist identity (81%).
The comprehensive study, conducted during the 2024–25 academic year, surveyed 1,727 Jewish students from over 60 countries across six continents. It complements the ADL’s U.S.-focused research by providing a critical international perspective.
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Students in support of Palestinians demonstrate at Humboldt University in Berlin
(Photo: Michele Tantussi / Getty Images)
Victoria B., a Jewish studies student at the University of Vienna, described her experience: “There was an ‘Intifada Camp’ glorifying Hamas on campus, and our building already had antisemitic graffiti on it. One day, I was terrified to attend a seminar — there were only 10 of us in the lecture hall, and there were rumors that camp participants would roam campus looking for ‘Zionists.’ We canceled the seminar and fled through the back exit. For a moment, I felt like it was the 1930s, and Jewish students were being chased from their universities.”
Among the survey’s findings:
- One in three respondents (34%) knew Jewish students who had been physically threatened in the past year, and nearly one in five (19%) knew students who had been physically assaulted.
- Jewish women were more likely than men to hide both their Jewish identity (82% vs. 73%) and Zionist identity (85% vs. 75%).
- Nearly one-third (29%) experienced discrimination from fellow students, compared to just 9% who reported it from professors or staff.
- Orthodox Jewish students reported twice the rate of discrimination compared with other Jewish students.
- Almost 30% of Jewish students who requested academic accommodations for religious observance were denied fully or partially. In Europe, the refusal rate (44%) was more than double that of the rest of the world (20%).
The report recommends that universities adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism; appoint dedicated coordinators to address antisemitism and support Jewish and Israeli students, staff and faculty; conduct regular campus climate surveys; implement peer-to-peer training programs; and establish clear, accessible policies for religious accommodations.
“This survey exposes a devastating reality: Jewish students around the world are forced to hide essential aspects of their identity just to feel safe on campus. When more than three-quarters of Jewish students feel they must conceal their religious and Zionist identity for their own security, it is an alarming situation," said Marina Rosenberg, ADL’s vice president for international affair. "These findings provide university administrations with critical insights to address this crisis head-on.”
Josh Cohen, president of WUJS, added: “As the global umbrella for Jewish student unions, we are deeply concerned and disappointed by the survey’s results, though not surprised. Since Oct. 7, Jewish students worldwide have reported rising antisemitism and social exclusion. This survey underscores just how severe the situation has become on campuses.”