Gender and Legal Sex
Gender and Legal Sex
The University collects sex- and gender-related information for equity monitoring and statutory reporting purposes, as explained below.
The University collects a range of information on legal sex, gender, and gender identity for equity monitoring purposes. We are also required to provide some of this data to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for statutory reporting purposes.
You are required to provide your legal sex (whether as defined at birth or following gender reassignment), but you can choose whether or not to give further details about your gender or gender identity. We encourage students to provide this data so that we have a better understanding of the makeup of our student population.
You will also be asked to indicate your preferred forename and personal pronouns, so that we know how to refer to you. You can update these fields, along with other protected characteristics data, at any point via the Student Self-service portal.
When you make a change to your data through the Student Self-Service portal, your details will be updated immediately in the University’s main student records database – you will be able to see the new changes in the Student Self-Service portal. Gender information (but not legal sex or gender identity) is also held in some other University systems and will update overnight following any changes you make. If you have any questions about this, you can contact studentenquiries@lboro.ac.uk.
Sources of support at Loughborough
Support is available across the University, from:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ‘legal sex’ mean?
Your legal sex is the sex assigned to you at birth or subsequently. Your student record should reflect the information shown on your birth certificate or, if this has changed, other legal documentation such as your passport, a gender recognition certificate or statement from a medical professional. You will not be asked to provide evidence of your legal sex.
What does ‘gender’ mean?
Your gender is your own personal way of describing your identity. This may or may not be the same as the legal sex assigned to you at birth or subsequently. Providing this data helps us to ensure that Loughborough University is an inclusive environment, in which students are supported to achieve their full potential regardless of their background, although you may choose not to provide it if you prefer.
What does ‘gender identity’ mean?
This refers to whether or not you would describe your gender as being the same as the legal sex assigned to you at birth. Providing this data helps us to ensure that Loughborough University is an inclusive environment, in which students are supported to achieve their full potential regardless of their background, although you may choose not to provide it if you prefer.
How can I update my information?
You can amend the data we hold on you, including a range of other personal characteristics, your preferred name and your personal pronouns, at any point through the Student Self-service portal.
You will also be asked to confirm your data for each year of study you have at the University through the annual re-registration process.
What information is shared externally?
We have a statutory duty to provide data on all of the University’s higher education students to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). This includes information on legal sex and gender identity. Information on gender is not provided to HESA.
If you are on our Foundation Art & Design programme, then we are instead required to provide data to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), including legal sex. Information on gender and gender identity is not provided to ESFA.
If you are on one of our degree apprenticeship programmes, then we are required to provide your data to both HESA and ESFA.