Element E315 - Gender code
Description
A code which identifies the gender of a person
Input Packets
Packets/Groups it appears in:
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Validations
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Scheduled Validations
Format
| Code category | Element (E) |
|---|---|
| Element # | 315 |
| Element Type: | String |
| Width: | 1 |
| Version Revision Date: | |
| Version: | 9.00 |
| Years version active: | 2026 |
Allowable Values
| VALUE | MEANING |
|---|---|
| F | Female/Woman |
| M | Male/Man |
| N | Non-Binary |
| D | Different Term |
| P | Prefer not to answer |
| X | Indeterminate/Intersex/Unspecified |
The value ‘X - Indeterminate/Intersex/Unspecified’ is expected to be retired after 2026.
A person who does not provide their gender should not be coded, by default, as X, as this may misclassify the individual.
Applications and Offers only
HEPs/ TACs
Data is required in all submissions.
TCSI Support Change History
| Revision Data | Change Details | Change Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-05 | Allowable values have been updated |
Allowable values have been updated to align with the ABS statistical standard for sex and gender. |
Summary
Element 315 is a unique identifier and was included in the original Higher Education student data collection in 1987 as "Sex code" and changed to "Gender code" in 1989. It continued as part of the student data collection under the new policy and program initiatives introduced under the Opens in a new window: Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) which was implemented in 2005.
In 2009 it was included in the VET FEE‑HELP data collection. In the same year staff element 402 (Gender Code) was changed to element 315 so that it aligned with the elements used in the student data collection with the introduction of HEPCAT.
In 2010 its was included in the University Applications and Offers data collection.
Table 1. Change control information with links to relevant versions 1
| First year version applied | Last year version applied | Version | Change | Reason for change | Notice date | Issue date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Current | 9.00 | Allowable values have been updated. | Allowable values have been updated to align with the ABS statistical standard for sex and gender. | 5 November 2025 | 5 November 2025 |
| 2025 | 2025 | 8.10 | Updated coding note. The following text has been removed from Additional Information "Providers/TACs should make a determination of the gender of the student/ applicant/ staff member where the information has not been provided." | To Provide clarity | 25 Nov 2024 | 25 Nov 2024 |
| 2021 | 2024 | 8.00 | Incremental version number applied. | A new version number is applied to mark the transition from the Higher Education Information Management System (HEIMS) to the Tertiary Collection of Information (TCSI). | 3 Jul 2020 | 3 Jul 2020 |
| 2018 | 2020 | 7.00 | Updated coding notes | To provide clarity | 18 Sep 2017 | 18 Sep 2017 |
| 2015 | 2017 | 6.00 | Re‑format document to conform with the department's application upgrade | Ministerial Notice document system upgrade | 22 May 2014 | 22 May 2014 |
| 2014 | 2014 | 5.10 | Updated coding notes describing the reporting of code "X" for indeterminate / intersex / unspecified gender | For consistency with the Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender | 22 May 2014 | 22 May 2014 |
| 2014 | 2014 | 5.00 | Applications and Offers data collection - Updated coding notes to include reference to TAC's data elements map in the HEIMS web services specification | To clarify information | 27 Mar 2013 | 11 Mar 2011 |
| 2013 | 2013 | 4.00 | Moved coding notes from Application Details AD file structure documents | To streamline documentation | 14 Feb 2012 | 14 Feb 2012 |
| 2012 | 2012 | 3.00 | New version numbers applied to all data elements | No change in requirements Implementation of new departmental document management system | 11 Mar 2011 | 11 Mar 2011 |
| 2010 | 2011 | 1.20 | Addition of coding notes of Application and Offers input files; and change to element description or code meanings to accommodate use for Applications and Offers | New Collection | 30 Nov 2009 | 30 Nov 2009 |
| 2009 | 2009 | 1.10 | Addition of coding notes of VET input files; and change to element description and code meanings to accommodate use by VET providers. Staff element 402 (Gender code) changed to 315 to align with student data collection. | Introduction of VET FEE‑HELP. Staff element 402 changed to 315 to align with student data collection. | 5 Dec 2008 | 5 Dec 2008 |
| 2005 | 2008 | 1.00 | Inclusion in 2005 student data collection | Implementation of new policy and initiatives under HESA 2003. | 9 Dec 2004 | 9 Dec 2004 |
| Pre-HESA: Element 315 was included in the original Higher Education student data collection in 1987 as "Sex code" and changed to "Gender code" in 1989. It continued as part of the student data collection under the new policy and program initiatives introduced under the Opens in a new window: Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) which was implemented in 2005. There have been no significant coding changes to this element. | ||||||
Note 1: A version of an element can be associated with one or more reporting years. Where there are multiple versions applicable to a reporting year, only a link to the latest version is provided.
