Oxford University has told colleges and academic departments to remove gender-specific titles such as Mr and Mrs from their websites and leaflets.

The guidance, contained in a document from the Equality and Diversity Unit, suggests only academic terms like Dr and Prof should be retained.

It advised that while the process of removing gender-specific titles is underway, people should be given the option of appearing without any prefix.

Oxford University has told colleges and academic departments to remove gender-specific titles such as Mr and Mrs from their websites and leaflets

It comes after reports that a leaflet from Oxford’s students’ union told people to use gender neutral pronouns like ‘ze’ instead of ‘he’ or ‘she’ to avoid causing offence.

The Union has since denied ever issuing this advice, saying it would be 'totally counterproductive'.

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell supported the University's stance on gender specific titles.

He told MailOnline: ‘A person's name is usually sufficient to identify their gender if an identification is required for some good, practical reason.

The guidance suggests only academic terms like Dr and Prof should be retained. File photo of Keble College

‘It is a positive thing to not always emphasise gender. We are all human. Why does our gender matter so much and why should it be constantly highlighted by titles?

‘In an age when more people are defining themselves as transgender or gender-fluid, using gender-based titles ignores the new reality and could cause needless offence.’

The University of Oxford Transgender Guidance report was published in June 2013 and remains online.

It reads: ‘The Equality and Diversity Unit suggests that departments and colleges remove all gender-specific titles from websites and print information, retaining only academic titles such as Dr, Prof.

‘In the meantime individuals should be given the option of appearing without a title.’

The Equality and Diversity Unit’s website states that the guidance is currently being revised.

An Oxford University spokesman told MailOnline he had nothing to add to the advice already published.

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell supported the Oxford University's stance on gender specific titles

Earlier this year, Jordan Peterson, a professor in Canada, uploaded a video on YouTube discussing his refusal to use gender neutral pronouns.

He said he was heckled and his office door was glued shut.