Sexual and romantic relationships between PhD students and their academic mentors are being banned as universities seek to promote respect.

New guidelines are being introduced that would require PhD supervisors to replace themselves if their relationship with someone they are mentoring goes beyond learning and research.

Universities Australia released the framework on Wednesday, the first anniversary of the Respect Now Always campaign against sexual violence and harassment.

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"We understand when you're a post-grad student doing a thesis there is a genuine power imbalance with your supervisor," Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said.

"It's just not appropriate to have a romantic or sexual relationship."

The guidelines warn the unequal power dynamic can make students vulnerable to exploitation and calls on universities to take immediate action to investigate complaints.

"A student's academic progress must never depend on consenting to a sexual relationship with their supervisor or a member of staff."

Federal Labor's education spokesperson Tanya Plibersek said it was "extraordinary" there wasn't already a formal policy in place.

"It's a sensible thing to clarify it, although it amazes me that it hasn't been clear to people," Ms Plibersek told ABC TV.

Ms Jackson said a lot of universities have been on the front foot on the issue and the policy was in response to that, rather than any one specific incident or concern.

The guidelines would require universities' policies for staff members to remove themselves from supervisory, teaching or assessment roles involving students with whom they're in a relationship, and a policy to determine alternative arrangements.

The guidelines suggest co-supervisory arrangements or a panel of supervisors working with each student could mitigate the risk when the prospect of finding another specialist in a highly specialised or niche field is low.