This field records the sex of the student.

Compulsory for all students on designated courses or where designation is held at provider level. Optional for all students on non-designated courses.

The Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) has a number of resources relating to gathering information across the protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010. These resources can be found at Equality Challenge Unit. If you have any further queries regarding equality monitoring, please email ECU at [email protected] or view ECU's guidance on Monitoring sex and gender.

The use of 'other' is more appropriate for people who associate with the terms intersex, androgyne, intergender, ambigender, gender fluid, polygender and gender queer.

HESA will not be including a 'prefer not to say' option.