Indian-origin student takes on UK universities on gender segregation

"I feel that religious sensibilities are taking precedence over basic equality laws and universal human rights protocols and I think equality must always trump religious belief. Of course religious belief is important, but equality trumps it," she added.

Bhatt has raised her concern about UUK's guidance in a letter sent through her lawyers to chief executive Nicola Dandridge and has demanded an explanation regarding the "confusion caused by the original version of the guidance".

A UUK spokeswoman said the organisation "has always maintained that enforced gender segregation at university events is wrong. However, where gender segregation is voluntary the law is unclear".

It is working with senior legal counsel and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) "to clarify the position for both universities and students".

The EHRC said last month that the type of segregation proposed by UUK was "not permissible" under gender equality laws.