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Records and Documents Retention

Information Assurance

Records and Documents Retention

The Records and Document Retention Schedule (link below) describes the time periods for which records should be retained by the University in order to comply with operational and legal requirements, including data protection legislation.

The Retention Schedule relates to both paper and electronic records (hard and soft copies).

Please note that the default action to be taken at the end of the retention period is the secure destruction or deletion of the record.  For hard copy records classed as Personal/Confidential or Highly Sensitive please use the University’s Confidential Waste Collection Service.  Details are available from Facilities and Estates.

Only one copy of each record needs to be kept for the full length of the retention period.  Duplicate and secondary copies should be destroyed as soon as they are no longer of immediate operational use. 

Emails that constitute a record which needs to be retained, including those containing personal data, must be stored in an appropriate filing system relevant to their confidentiality or criticality.  Please see Information Classification and Handling for more information.

The Retention Schedule is informed by legal requirements and the recommendations of the Records Retention Schedule for HE compiled by JISC

The Records and Document Retention Schedule can be accessed via this link.


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