This field records the national identity of the student. National identity is different from both ethnicity and nationality and could be based on many things including, for example, culture, language or ancestry/family history. National identity reflects how an individual chooses to classify himself or herself.

Optional, but strongly encouraged for all students.

The coding structure reflects that used in other national surveys and so allows comparative statistics to be derived both within and outside the sector.

A student can identify himself or herself as having up to two national identities.

Code 'U' Unknown should be used where a student has either not been asked or has failed to respond to a request for information about his or her national identity.

Code 'R' Information refused should be used when the student has explicitly refused to provide the information.

When collecting this data, providers can choose to use the answer option 'Prefer not to say' which can be mapped to 'Information Refused'.

To respond to Parliamentary Questions, Written Questions, FOI requests on complex citizenship/nationality issues. To be able to perform analysis on trainee demographics at the start of an academic year.