WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Vice-President Joe Biden will be a special guest at this year's Oscars ceremony, introducing a performance by Lady Gaga, an administration official said on Thursday.

Biden will take a bit of the White House to Hollywood to push an initiative countering sexual assault on US university campuses.

An official said the vice-president will be introducing Lady Gaga's performance of nominated song Til It Happens To You, which features in The Hunting Ground, a documentary about campus sexual assault.

"The V-P will use the opportunity to call on everyone in the audience and watching at home to visit www.ItsOnUs.org to take the pledge to stand up, speak out and help change the culture around sexual assault," the official said.