Personal safety tips

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Personal Safety Tips

Your safety matters to us. Here are some simple ways to stay safe around campus and in the town:

Stay aware of your surroundings. Avoid using your phone or wearing headphones when walking alone, they can distract you from what’s happening around you
Plan your route ahead of time. Stick to well-lit, busy areas whenever possible
Keep your belongings close. Don’t leave bags, laptops, or other valuables unattended in public spaces
Be cautious at cash machines. Shield your PIN and keep an eye out for anything unusual
Mark your valuables. Use a UV pen to write your name and student ID on your items available from Protection Services

See something suspicious? Call Campus Security on 02477 658555.

If you suspect you’re being followed, cross the road or enter a nearby shop and stay there until you are sure you are safe.

If you see any suspicious activity, please contact campus security on 02477 685555.

Getting around safely

Whether you're heading to lectures or out with friends, here’s how to travel smart:

Use licensed taxis only. Look for official plates and company branding
Avoid getting into unmarked vehicles, especially outside clubs or pubs
Walk with friends when you can, especially at night
Let someone know your plans. Share where you’re going and when you expect to be back

Alcohol and drug awareness

We want you to enjoy student life safely and responsibly:

Eat before drinking and alternate alcoholic drinks with water or soft drinks
Know your limits. Mixing different types of alcohol can increase the risk of harm
Coventry University has a zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs
Drug convictions can affect your future, including job prospects and travel opportunities

For more information, visit:

Looking after your mental wellbeing

Safety isn’t just physical, it’s emotional too.

Stay connected. Keep in touch with friends, family, or support networks
Don’t bottle things up. If something’s bothering you, talk to someone, friends, tutors, or the university’s wellbeing team
Take breaks. Uni life can be intense; make time for rest and things you enjoy

Support is available through Health and Wellbeing Services.

Online safety

Students are often targeted by scams, phishing, and cyber threats.

Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication
Be cautious of emails or messages asking for personal or financial information
Don’t share your university login details with anyone
Use university Wi-Fi for secure access and avoid public networks for sensitive tasks
Report suspicious emails to the university’s digital services support team

Online fraud awareness

We want to ensure safety across all our students when online.

How to check texts

You may receive a text that seems like a scam. If you do receive a suspicious text you can do the following:

Report it by forwarding the text to 7726.
You can also report to Action Fraud any time of the day or night using its online reporting tool. Reporting online is quick, easy, and can be done on any device.

How to report emails

There is a built-in service for reporting phishing, spam and junk emals to Infrastructure Services. The ‘Report Suspicious’ button gives students across the Group the ability to report suspicious emails directly from any Outlook or Office365 client.

If you believe the email to be a standard junk email, select the junk option which will delete the message from your inbox and automatically block the sender.
If the email is asking for secure or confidential information, select the Report Suspicious option. This will report the email to Microsoft and the Cyber Security team. If the email proves to be harmful, the email will be blocked and removed from your inbox and the University systems automatically.

Please note: The Report Suspicious button may be found in various locations depending on what device and version of Outlook you are using.

Log into the Coventry University Group's Support Portal and read the article Guide: reporting junk and suspicious emails for more information.

How to check calls

You may receive a phone call that seems like a scam. The caller may seem genuine and convincing because they have some limited information about you. They may say they are from the Home Office, UKCISA, University, police, post office, etc. They may say there is a serious problem with something related to you such as your immigration status or bank account and that they need you to send a payment (commonly through western union) or provide them with your personal details. There usually will be dramatic terms used to make you panic (e.g. talking about deportation, cancelling your visa, etc.), unless you make the payment.

If you do receive a suspicious phone call asking you to make an immediate payment or face severe consequences, you can do the following:

Do not give the caller/sender any personal information, and do not confirm that any information they have is correct.
Do not make any payment. The Home Office does not issue financial penalties. Nor does UKCISA.
Hang up and contact Customer Services for advice.
You can also report to Action Fraud anytime of the day or night using its online reporting tool reporting online is quick, easy, and can be done on any device.
If you have transferred money, you should contact your bank as soon as possible.