Is academic freedom an issue in British universities? It should be because there is no legal protection guaranteeing academic freedom. Individuals have some direct statutory references but nothing of substance that actually provides a definitive statement. There are a variety of statutory provisions dealing with what may appear to be aspects of academic freedom, but is the dispersed approach sufficient? Do individuals need a categorical provision providing coverage for all institutions with a clear and unambiguous statement of rights? In any case what is academic freedom? How do other countries deal with this? Should the Bologna Process be used as the opportunity to ensure parity of legal protection and thus enable parity of treatment in reality? This article examines each of these issues and seeks to make a case for the need for a common statutory framework in the UK within a broader context for all Bologna signatory countries. (Contains 1 table.)