The dataset underpinned the mini-dissertation titled "The lived experiences of sexual minority students' sexual identity development and related stressors at a South African university." This study used a qualitative research approach, specifically, an interpretive phenomenological research design, focusing on participant experiences. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis and guided by minority stress theory, this study explored the lived experiences of 10 sexual minority students at a large urban university in Gauteng. Purposive sampling was used, as participants were chosen based on their inherent qualities. The study recruited a sample of ten participants, allowing for a detailed analysis of individual lived experiences.