Religion(RELIGION)

Compulsory for all Students at providers in England and Wales except where (Leaver.ENGENDDATE - Engagement.ENGSTARTDATE <= 14 days and RSNENGEND = 03, 05, 11, 12).

Optional for all Students at providers in Northern Ireland and Scotland except where (Leaver.ENGENDDATE - Engagement.ENGSTARTDATE <= 14 days and RSNENGEND = 03, 05, 11, 12), or (CourseInitiative.COURSEINITID = 027 or StudentInitiative.STUINITID = 027 or 030).

Continuing students should be asked this question every year, and the data must be updated throughout a student's Engagement where applicable.

The data is recorded on the basis of the student’s own self-assessment.

98 Prefer not to say: this code should be used when the student does not wish to declare this information.

99 Not available: this code should be used when the provider is unable to obtain the data in order to submit it to HESA. Note that this option should not be presented to students explicitly.

Suggested question for providers in England and Wales: ‘What is your religion or belief?’

Suggested question for providers in Northern Ireland and Scotland: ‘What religion or religious denomination or body do you belong to?’

The coverages of the valid entries have been aligned with the census in each country and are shown in the following table. Please note that providers in Northern Ireland should display the options to students with 20 'No religion' at the bottom of the list in order to align with the methodology used in the census: