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Census 2011

2011 Census for Students


On Sunday 27 March 2011, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will carry out a census in England and Wales, and students are a really important part of the census.

What is a census?
The census is a survey of the UK population, conducted every ten years. It will ask everyone all kinds of questions - about accommodation, work, language, national identity and ethnic background, educational qualifications and more to create an accurate picture of the population, and provides information which feeds into funding and creating the services we will need over the next ten years.

The questionnaire is strictly confidential, and personal information is protected by law, so it can't be shared with any person, organisation or government department.

Completing the 2011 Census questionnaire is compulsory; those who do not return their questionnaire can be fined up to £1,000 and face a criminal record.

Students living in private accommodation:
• Students living in private accommodation (eg rented houses) will receive a questionnaire through the post, just like every other household in the country.
• Each person living in the house must complete an Individual section of the questionnaire. This can be done on the paper form and then posted back, or online (everyone in the household needs to do it the same way).
• If required, additional Individual questionnaires can be requested via our helpline.

Students living in halls:
• Students living in halls will have a questionnaire delivered to their room by the hall warden shortly before census day.
• If completing the questionnaire online, the online completion confirmation code must be written onto the envelope and then returned to the warden.
• If completing the paper questionnaire, it should be sealed in the privacy envelope provided, and returned directly to the hall warden.
• Questionnaires must be returned directly to the hall warden before 30th March.

Online Completion
Questionnaires can be completed online at www.census.gov.uk using the unique internet access code which is found on the front of each questionnaire.

International Students
Students from overseas are still required to complete a census questionnaire if they have been or intend to be in the country for 3 months or more.

The questionnaire must be completed in English, but translation booklets are available via the website or helpline.

Won't my parents put me on their questionnaire?
Students need to be recorded where they spend most of their time, so it's essential that they complete their questionnaire at their term-time address.

What if I don't complete my questionnaire?
The census questionnaire is straightforward to complete, and should take on average about 10 minutes per person (doing it online makes it even simpler!).

Because of the importance of census data, completing the 2011 Census questionnaire is compulsory. If students don't return a questionnaire, they will be called upon by a member of our field staff, who can offer assistance and advice on completing it, as well as supply translation booklets and replacement or extra questionnaires.

Anyone who still does not return their questionnaire can be fined up to £1000 and receive a criminal record.

How to find out more
If students need help completing their questionnaire they can go to the census website for assistance more information: www.census.gov.uk

There are many accessibility tools on the website such as foreign language guidance booklets, information on how to request large print questionnaires and audio guidance cassettes/CDs as well as many more.

Alternatively, call the census helpline on 0300 0201 101 from 4th March.

The census is an opportunity for you to make sure your needs are properly represented and catered for in the communities in which you live.

Just because you’ll be moving on, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t matter.

Further information
For more information go to http://2011.census.gov.uk/

The Census Facebook group can be joined via www.tiny.cc/2011Census

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