We are working with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to ensure that all our students are included in Census 2021 on Sunday, 21 March 2021.
Whether you are living in halls, in private accommodation, with your parents or guardians, or are an international student – all students are an important part of the census and must be included.
We understand that students’ circumstances may have changed this year, with many of you not living where you normally would during term-time. It is important though that you are included in the census and complete the form for your normal university, or term-time address, even if you’re not currently living there.
If you are currently living at home (away from your term-time address, if different), you will also need to be included on your household census as well as completing one for your university address.
Specific guidance from the ONS has been produced for students to guide you through how to complete the census correctly for your current accommodation arrangements. Here, we’ve listed some of the main frequently asked questions to get you started.
Census FAQs
What is the census?
The census is a national survey that happens once every 10 years and provides a snapshot of all the people and households in England and Wales. To provide the fullest picture, it’s important that everyone participates in the survey which takes around 10 minutes to complete.
It asks about who lives in each household, their ages, occupations, education, country of birth and health among a wide range of things.
All kinds of organisations, from local authorities to charities, use the information to help provide the services we all need, including transport, education and healthcare. Without the census, it would be much more difficult to do this.
Why is it important for University students to complete the census?
By filling in the census, you’ll be helping make sure you and your student community get the services needed now and in the future. As well as everything listed above, the information students provide helps to inform decisions on things like university campus bus links and bike lanes, jobs and training.
Therefore, it is important that you complete the form for your university address.
It’s also important to remember that you must complete the census by law, and could be fined up to £1000 for failure to complete.
When do I need to complete the census by?
The census deadline is Sunday, 21 March 2021, however, students are able to complete theirs now.
How do I complete the census?
A letter with an access code will be sent to your university address. You may have already received this. The code allows you to complete the census online.
If you’re not currently staying there, lost or cannot access your code, you can request a new access code for your university address, which can be sent to you by text.
Do I have to answer all the questions?
You must complete the census by law and if you supply false information, you could be fined up to £1000.
Some questions are clearly labelled as voluntary. It is not an offence if you do not answer these.
I’m not staying in Liverpool at my term-time address at the moment, should I still complete the census?
Yes. Even if you stayed at home when the latest national lockdown came into place, or returned home since, you should be included in the census for your term-time address. You can request a new access code to complete the census at https://census.gov.uk/students
If you have a separate home address in England or Wales, you will need to be included on the household questionnaire there as well. Those at your separate home address will not need to answer all the individual questions about you.
If you no longer have a term-time address then you should only be included in the census for your permanent home address.
I don’t have a term-time address in Liverpool, what should I do?
If you live permanently at home during term-time, you need to be included on the household questionnaire.
You can answer separately from your household if you’d prefer to keep your answers private. You will be able to request an access code to fill in an individual questionnaire at https://census.gov.uk/students
I share private accommodation with other students, how do we complete the census?
If this is your term-time address then you and your housemates will need to either use the access code on the letter sent to you, or request an access code to fill in a household census questionnaire at https://census.gov.uk/students.
It’s your joint responsibility to do this, not your landlord’s. The form needs to include information on everyone who normally lives in the household. Some of your housemates may not be living at the term-time address because of the pandemic. They still need to complete the census.
It’s recommended that one person should take responsibility for answering the questions about the household accommodation and the people who live there. You can then share the household access code so that each person can complete their own individual questions.
You can answer separately from your student household if you’d prefer to keep your answers private. You will be able to request an access code to fill in an individual questionnaire at https://census.gov.uk/students
I live in halls, how do I complete the census?
A letter with an access code will be sent to your university address. You may have already received this. The code allows you to complete the census online.
If you’re not currently staying there, lost or cannot access your code, you can request a new access code for your university address, which can be sent to you by text.
It’s your responsibility to do this, not your halls manager. Even if you are currently not residing at your halls of residence, you still need to complete the census for your university address.
I’m an international student, should I complete the census?
If you have a term-time address in Liverpool you need to complete the census. If you are not currently living at your term-time address because of the pandemic you still need to complete the census.
Where you are not currently living at your term-time address you will need to request an access code to complete the census at https://census.gov.uk/students
You can get help to fill in your questionnaire if you need it. Guidance and support will be available in different languages. You can get help over the phone, or on live chat or social media.
Further information
For more information on the census, or if you need help, visit: www.census.gov.uk/students. You can also contact the Census team, and you might also find it useful to follow Census2021 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.