A SCANDAL has engulfed a UK university after it was accused of encouraging students to turn to prostitution to pay their bills.

The furore started when Brighton University in southern England hosted its annual fair for new undergraduate students.

The fair featured stalls representing a number of student groups as well as other external organisations, including the Sex Workers’ Outreach Project Sussex (SWOP).

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During the event, SWOP distributed condoms, lubricant and flyers to students — as well as handing out underwear prizes — and also provided advice on how to get into sex work.

And in several tweets promoting the group’s attendance at the fair, it posted: “1 in 6 students does sex work or thinks about turning to sex work. We can help.”

It also tweeted: “If you’re topping up your fees with sex work, or struggling to balance work and studies, or want to talk and don’t know where to go... we’re here for you. We respect your autonomy, privacy and confidentiality.”

The group describes itself as “a discreet and confidential trans inclusive service for women working in the sex industry who live or work in Sussex.”

Included in the information were tips on “safer escorting”, including: “If you don’t have anyone to look out for you, fake it!

“Make your punter think that someone else knows where you are.

“Pretend to make a call... to make it look like you are confirming your arrival... put men’s shoes or clothes out.”

This is beyond disgraceful. It makes me so angry that the sex trade's

become normalised & pimped to women as though it is a harmless and respectable way to earn a living. There should be an enquiry by the University into this: https://t.co/ls2N03jmNh — Julie Bindel (@bindelj) September 30, 2018

Since the festival, the university has been slammed for allowing the group to promote itself to students, with some accusing the campus of promoting and normalising sex work.

Law reform group Justice for Women co-founder Julie Bindel said the stall was “beyond disgraceful”.

“It makes me so angry that the sex trade’s become normalised and pimped to women as though it is a harmless and respectable way to earn a living,” Ms Bindel posted on Twitter.

Other social media users described the stall as “disgusting”, “appalling” and “sad”.

As the outrage unfolded, SWOP defended its position on Twitter, posting: “SWOP have never idealised sex work. However, we understand why students may turn to sex work, and navigating the legal precariousness as well as potential danger mean that students are extra vulnerable and we will help.”

But a University of Brighton spokesman told The Guardian it would launch an investigation into the incident.

He said the institution “does not promote sex work to its students”.

alexis.carey@news.com.au