Students will now retain the same candidate number throughout their programme of study, following an improvement to the way candidate numbers are managed at LSE.
Candidate numbers are unique five-digit numbers used to identify assessment work without revealing a student’s identity to markers. They play an important role in supporting fair and anonymous marking.
Previously, new candidate numbers were generated annually. Under the new arrangement, students continuing on the same programme will keep their existing number from one academic year to the next.
This will make the assessment process simpler and more consistent for students and mean that departments will no longer need to manage and communicate annual changes to candidate numbers.
Why did the change happen?
The Business Change team in the Academic Registrar’s Division (ARD) introduced the change in response to feedback from students, departments and central divisions.
Issues raised included management issues with the same candidate numbers being used by different students across multiple academic years rather than remaining unique to one user.
What does this mean for students?
Students continuing on the same programme will retain their existing candidate number each academic year. This also applies to students returning from interruption and, in most cases, those who transfer programmes without completing their original programme. Students who leave LSE and later begin a new programme will receive a new candidate number.
For students who began their programme in 2024/25 or earlier, their 2025/26 candidate number will become their permanent number for the remainder of their current programme. They should continue to use it whenever a candidate number is required for an assessment or examination.
Students who started in 2025/26 already have a candidate number intended to remain with them throughout their programme.
What does this mean for departments?
Departments should review local guidance, Moodle resources and student communications to ensure they reflect the new arrangements.
Students can be referred to information on candidate numbers and what it means for them.
The change has been delivered by the Business Change team in the Academic Registrar’s Division (ARD) as part of ongoing improvements to support education and student experience.
You can read more about the work underway as part of the Education and Student Experience Strategy.